Conservation of autonomy: Toward a second-order perspective on psychosomatic symptoms

Limited Options: Symptoms as Expressions of Ambivalence

“…These case discussions illustrate how the concept of conservation of autonomy/conservation of ambivalence (Fourie, 1993) can be utilized to become aware of the limitations existing in the systems seen in psychotherapy, limitations that are invariably brought into the therapy itself. They also show the kinds of pitfalls faced by psychotherapists when they do not have such awareness.…”

“…The shift from so-called first-to second-order cybernetics in systemic psychotherapy embodied a shift from a focus on intra-and inter-systemic interaction, as if these could be "objectively" observed, to an emphasis on the autonomy of living systems (Fourie, 1993;Griffith, Griffith, & Slovik, 1990;Kenny, 1988;Kruse, Stadler, Pavlekovic, & Gheorghiu, 1992;Maturana, 1975). This autonomy is continually expressed in verbal and nonverbal linguistic ways (Anderson & Goolishian, 1988).…”

“…This autonomy is continually expressed in verbal and nonverbal linguistic ways (Anderson & Goolishian, 1988). From this perspective all systemic actions are seen as aimed at the conservation of the system's autonomy; if the system's autonomy is lost, it ceases to function as a system and is therefore destroyed (Fourie, 1993;Maturana, 1975). The term "autonomy" is intended to be neutral, it does not necessarily refer only to something considered positive.…”

Look, but Don’t Touch: Narcissist Behavior and the Conservation of Ambivalence

“…In human systems, which operate largely in linguistic ways (Anderson & Goolishian, 1988), ideas, meanings, and attributions of meaning circulating in the system- Bateson's (1972) "ecology of ideas"-can be seen to express the system's conservation of its autonomy. Likewise, behavior in the system, including symptomatic behavior, can be construed as (verbal and/or nonverbal) reflections or expressions of this conservation process (Fourie, 1993).…”

Asking About Ambivalence: A Different Kind of Therapist Neutrality

“…One outflow of this is that families can be seen as continually expressing the conservation of their autonomy in the ways they exist in the wider social context, that is, they react to perturbations in such ways as to ensure that their autonomy is not lost or threatened (Maturana & Poerksen, 2004). Behavior in human systems, including symptomatic behavior, can be construed as (verbal and/or non-verbal) reflections or expressions of this conservation process (Fourie, 1993).…”