Gregory Bateson was a polymath whose body of work encompasses an expansive range of disciplines including ecology, anthropology, semiotics, psychology and visual communication. In every domain of study, Bateson endeavored to capture and communicate patterns of holistic thinking and connective relationship. His explicit interest in the interdependent nature of life gave rise to the concept of ‘ecology of mind’ - his overarching principle being that healthy, holistic approaches to life rely on being aware of the connections between systems, elements, and the environment. Bateson believed that the methodologies of family and systemic therapy, which recognized the relationships between people and their environments, were useful for further understanding and intervention.

See also: mutual learning, general semantics, living system, systems theory, double bind