World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesDouble-bind
/ˈdʌb.əl.baɪnd/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A psychologically distressing situation in which a person receives conflicting messages or imperatives, such that any choice or response they make will result in a negative outcome.
"Being told to be independent while simultaneously being punished for not following instructions puts an employee in a classic double-bind." - 2
A difficult predicament or dilemma from which there is no good or logical way out due to mutually exclusive constraints.
"The company faced a double-bind of needing to cut costs while instantly increasing productivity."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Coined in 1956 by anthropologist Gregory Bateson and his colleagues in the context of communication theory and psychiatric research on schizophrenia. It derives from the combination of 'double' (twofold) and 'bind' (to tie or restrain), originally describing a dilemma in communication in which an individual receives contradictory messages or commands from which no acceptable escape exists.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Double-bind"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Double-bind" is said worldwide
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injonction contradictoire
Transliteration: ɛ̃.ʒɔk.sjɔ̃ kɔ̃.tʁa.di.ktwaʁ
"Cette situation ubuesque ressemble à une véritable injonction contradictoire."
Dosschirm-Bind (Doppelbindung)
Transliteration: /ˈdɔpəlˌbɪndʊŋ/
Script: Doppelbindung
"Der Angestellte geriet durch die widersprüchlichen Anweisungen in eine Doppelbindung."
doppio legame
Transliteration: /ˈdɔp.pjo leˈɡa.me/
"Questa regola crea un vero e proprio doppio legame per i dipendenti."
doble vínculo
Transliteration: /ˈdo.βle ˈbiŋ.ku.lo/
"El directivo atrapó al equipo en un doble vínculo imposible de resolver."
duplo vínculo
Transliteration: /ˈdu.pɫu ˈvĩ.ku.lu/
"O funcionário sentiu-se preso num duplo vínculo laboral."
द्वि-बंधन
Transliteration: dvi-bandhan
"यह विरोधाभासी स्थिति एक प्रकार का द्वि-बंधन है।"
双重约束
Transliteration: shuāngchóng yuēshù
"这种矛盾的要求把员工陷入了双重约束之中。"
이중구속
Transliteration: ijung-gusok
"그 관리자는 직원들에게 이중구속적인 지시를 내렸다."
二重拘束
Transliteration: nijū kōsoku
"その矛盾した指示は従業員を二重拘束の状態に陥れた。"
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