Hypothesizing, Circularity, and Neutrality Revisited: An Invitation to Curiosity

Abstract

This essay examines the systemic guiding principles of neutrality, hypothesizing, and circularity, historically developed by the Milan Team of Selvini-Palazzoli, Boscolo, Cecchin, and Prata (12, 13). With the reorganization of these team members (see 11 for a summary of the distinctions between the work of the Selvini-Palazzoli and Prata research team and the Cecchin and Boscolo training team), different reconstructions of the original systemic principles have evolved. New understanding of the concepts of circularity, hypothesizing, and neutrality are now possible, given the systemic epistemology on which the early Milan model was based. It should be emphasized, however, that the ideas presented in this essay are most associated with the systemic work of the Cecchin and Boscolo team.

La formulation de cas : un modèle d’évaluation psychologique de l’enfant et de l’adolescent

“…En outre, ces hypothèses systémiques devront être testées durant les entretiens cliniques. Cecchin [24] nous invite en effet à ne pas épouser notre hypothèse. Celle-ci devrait être changée et reformulée après chaque séance.…”

“…La richesse d'une analyse à partir de perspectives différentes tient au fait qu'elle invite le clinicien à revoir ses pré-supposés de base en se décentrant de son approche théorique de prédilection. La formulation de cas implique également un effort de recherche afin de tenir compte des dernières publications scientifiques en psychologique clinique et du développement [24,26]. Enfin, elle prend en compte la complexité du psychisme et du comportement humain en développement [1].…”

8. Systemic Family Therapy

“…One legacy of the Milan approach is the caution provided to family therapists against 'marrying' our own hypotheses, at which point they cease to be helpful (Cecchin, 1987). Instead, they should revise their hypotheses in light of feedback from the family, and there is some evidence that therapists' reformulation of events and behaviours are an important component of therapy, in that they open up new possibilities for action and experiences (Sundet, 2011 (Rober, 1999).…”

“…Circular questions would then be used more frequently to compel the family to experience the circularity of their family system, to shift away from more linear stances, leading to increased perceived membership of the problem (Penn, 1982). This would open up the possibility for new stories to develop within the family system based on familial patterns rather than "truths" and facts (Cecchin, 1987). We would also be interested in identifying patterns or scripts within the family that highlight how family roles have developed (Byng-Hall, 2008), and may use genograms of wider family relationships to reveal broader patterns (McGoldrick, Gerson, & Petry, 2008).…”

“…This means that a cause cannot be traced backwards in a linear or reductionist fashion to an original source, meaning that any solutions to an apparent problem do not need to tackle the problem 'at source', but can be found in many places in a system; successful change is therefore achieved through the spiralling effects of feedback throughout the system (Penn, 1982). Families and therapists often seek the satisfaction and certainty of a linear explanation for problems, but this carries the risk of closing down opportunities for change that lie in unexpected places (Cecchin, 1987).…”