In this article, we shall illustrate, by brief excerpts from contemporary romantic fiction, the four incongruent communication patterns, blamer, placater, irrelevant,and super-reasonable. In each of these the sender uses some kind of manipulation. (430)
By using romantic fiction novels to illustrate Satir's theory, we intend to throw some light on what researchers and critics rarely notice, namely the pathogenic nature of communication between the protagonists. (As an exception, note Douglas, 1980, who described the typical hero and heroine of these novels as "locked in a duel of sexual stupidity. Both are emotional illiterates".) [...] The verbal communications that characterize romantic fiction teem with pathology: insults, threats and other types of verbal aggressions appear alongside with lies, secrets, denials, double-binds and mystifications. (431)
Kramer and Moore (note the reversed name order) express similar concerns in "Gender Roles, Romantic Fiction and Family Therapy" (2001).
Kramer and Moore (note the reversed name order) express similar concerns in "Gender Roles, Romantic Fiction and Family Therapy" (2001).