Gregory Bateson, Second-Order Cybernetics, and Term Paper

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At the last level, Learning III, the individual is now, according to Bateson, undergoes a "corrective change in the system of sets of alternatives from which choice is made." This learning process in human communication shows how, upon learning of the differences in communication acts and meanings among people of various cultures, the individual decides for himself/herself what acts and meanings that s/he should commit in specific cultures. This process of communication learning is appropriately illustrated in group communication, wherein increased diversity and conflict are present. Bateson noted, however, that communication at this level is not as easily distinguished and accomplished when compared against the first three levels of learning. Elucidating on this point, he attests that:

Learning III is likely to be difficult and rare even in human beings. Expectably it will also be difficult for scientists, who are only human, to imagine or describe this process. But it is claimed that something of this sort does from time to time occur in psychotherapy, religious conversion, and in other sequences in which there is profound reorganization of character.

His contention that communication learning III is "difficult" and "rare" for scientists only proves the point that communication is not easily identifiable and determined through objective or quantitative means only. The need for a thorough understanding of human communication becomes possible through qualitative analysis and interpretation, thus necessitating the utilization of both the human element and researcher experience.

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Cybernetics process and metacommunication becomes more pronounced at this level, since, in the context of group communication, communicators who consciously decide to adopt their own communication acts and meanings contribute to the increased diversity, conflict, and complexity in interaction and communication. This increased diversity, conflict, and complexity is especially evident in the business setting, where people are compelled to group together to formulate solutions in a particular task, problem, or initiative.

In sum, Bateson's insights on cybernetics and metacommunication had been elucidated most clearly in his discourse in "Steps to an ecology of mind." The specific stages in communication learning showed how every level of communication (i.e., intrapersonal, interpersonal, and group communication), Bateson had concretely identified the processes involved while interacting with the self, another communicator, and other people with different cultures and values......

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