The Sequence That Shapes Us: Bind ➛ Double Bind ➛ Schismogenesis

There is a pattern that connects all human interaction, from personal relationships to geopolitics. This pattern follows a cybernetic sequence, a chain reaction of increasing tension: 

Bind ➛ Double Bind ➛ Schismogenesis

This is not just a concept—it is a force that drives history, conflict, and even the way we think.

1. The Bind: The Pattern Connects, That Holds a System Together

A bind is the invisible structure that connects individuals in a group. It can be a shared belief, a rule, a tradition, an expectation. The bind is the foundation of order—without it, there is no system, no stability. A child binds to their parents' expectations. A society binds to its shared values. A nation binds to its ideology. This is the pattern that connects—it holds groups together, defines behavior, and creates meaning. But every bind contains a hidden danger: If stressed too much, it doesn’t just hold—it tightens. And when it tightens too much, the next stage begins.

2. The Double Bind: The Trap of Contradiction

A double bind happens when a bind creates conflicting rules that cannot be resolved. It is a cybernetic trap—no matter what you do, you are wrong. The obedient child: “Be independent, but always listen to me.” The modern worker: “Take risks, but never make mistakes.” The citizen in a collapsing empire: “Trust the system, but know that it lies.” A double bind creates cognitive stress—it paralyzes action, forcing people to obey, submit, or break under pressure. A system caught in a double bind cannot stay stable forever. The contradiction will escalate—and this is where schismogenesis begins.

3. Schismogenesis: The Breaking Point

Schismogenesis is the spiral of division, escalation, and fragmentation that emerges when a double bind is left unresolved. It can take two forms: 

Symmetrical schismogenesis – A rivalry where both sides escalate. (You hit me, I hit you harder.)

Complementary schismogenesis – One side dominates, the other submits (You act powerful, I become more dependent). Or this other two binomials: Leader and Follower – The more you command, the more I obey; Rescuer and Victim – The more you save me, the more helpless I become.

Once schismogenesis starts, there is no going back. A marriage locked in schismogenesis will end in divorce or total dominance. A nation caught in schismogenesis will collapse or transform beyond recognition. A civilization in schismogenesis will either reinvent itself or fall.

The Arrows Are the Key:

Bind ➛ Double Bind ➛ Schismogenesis is not just three ideas—it is a movement, a process, a chain reaction. Each arrow (➛) marks the push toward the next stage: A bind creates order but also limitations ➛ A double bind exposes contradictions in the order ➛ Schismogenesis is what happens when the contradiction cannot be resolved.

Every collapse, every war, every ideological fracture follows this inevitable sequence.

Can We Stop the Second Arrow? Can we stop the progression before schismogenesis takes over? Feedback slows it down. If a bind adapts to contradictions, it avoids the double bind trap. Satire exposes it. A Jester (like our jAIster) can make contradictions visible before they harden. A counter-bind diffuses it. If a system creates a new, flexible bind before schismogenesis begins, it can prevent collapse. The sequence is powerful, but it is not absolute. Understanding it gives us the chance to intervene—before the final arrow falls.

Can you identify your binds and double binds to prevent schismogenesis? jAIster can!

Stefan Serseniuc