Books / Systemic & family
Paradox and Counterparadox: A New Model in the Therapy of the Family in Schizophrenic Transaction
Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Luigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin and Giuliana Prata present a family therapy model in Paradox and Counterparadox. This entry describes the 1978 English translation of their Italian work.
Book details
Author of listed edition: Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Luigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin and Giuliana Prata
Edition: 1st English edition (1978; original Italian 1975, Feltrinelli)
Publisher: Jason Aronson
Edition year: 1978
First published: 1975
Original title: Paradosso e controparadosso: Un nuovo modello nella terapia della famiglia a transazione schizofrenica
Language and origin: Italian (Milan) · English translation by Elisabeth V. Burt
Form and genre: Clinical & Theoretical Monograph
Level: Advanced
Historical era: 1960–1979 · Humanistic, Cognitive & Systemic Turn
Covers: The authors’ systemic model of family therapy; Paradox and counterparadox as concepts in the authors’ approach
APA 7th reference: Selvini Palazzoli, M., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1978). Paradox and counterparadox: A new model in the therapy of the family in schizophrenic transaction (E. V. Burt, Trans.). Jason Aronson. (Original work published 1975)
What it is & historical context
The Italian work appeared in 1975; the English translation by Elisabeth V. Burt was published by Jason Aronson in 1978. The authors present a systemic family therapy model. The historical title uses language that reflects the book’s period and should not be taken as an explanation of schizophrenia.
Core clinical themes & arguments
The book presents paradox and counterparadox in family therapy. Its systemic account is a historical clinical framework; it does not establish that any particular family pattern causes a psychiatric diagnosis.
Clinical practice, reception & legacy
In a subsequent 1980 paper, the authors describe hypothesising, circularity and neutrality as principles for family interviewing. The publication of a clinical model does not demonstrate the effectiveness of a particular technique or session interval.
Reader level & educational scope
This advanced entry is an educational orientation. Library records and the abstract of the 1980 article were consulted; the full book and article were not reviewed. Historical clinical concepts should be read critically and in context.
Paired academic and clinical scholarship
Paired work: Hypothesizing: Circularity: Neutrality: Three Guidelines for the Conductor of the Session (Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Luigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin, and Giuliana Prata, 1980)
Reference: Selvini Palazzoli, M., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1980). Hypothesizing-circularity-neutrality: Three guidelines for the conductor of the session. Family Process, 19(1), 3–12.
The authors’ 1980 paper describes hypothesising, circularity and neutrality as principles for family interviewing. The abstract describes a clinical approach, not proof of treatment effectiveness.
Source-mapped claims and evidence notes
Claim 1: The authors describe a model of family therapy using the concepts of paradox and counterparadox. (The catalogue identifies the work and its clinical subject. The full book was not reviewed for this entry.) [Source 1: Selvini Palazzoli, M., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1978). Paradox and counterparadox: A new model in the therapy of the family in schizophrenic transaction (E. V. Burt, Trans.). Jason Aronson.]
Claim 2: In their 1980 paper, the authors describe hypothesising, circularity and neutrality as principles for interviewing families. (The paper abstract was consulted; the full article was not reviewed.) [Source 3: Selvini Palazzoli, M., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1980). Hypothesizing-circularity-neutrality: Three guidelines for the conductor of the session. Family Process, 19(1), 3–12.]
Sources and inspection notes
Supports: US National Library of Medicine catalogue record for the 1978 English-language edition and translator; the full book was not reviewed.
Bibliothèque Sigmund-Freud. Paradox and counterparadox: Catalogue record.
Supports: Catalogue listing the four authors and identifying the 1975 Italian original.
Supports: Abstract describing the three principles for family interviewing; the full paper was not reviewed.