According to Smith and Hamon, a double bind

• A. Creates distress because the individual cannot obey one command without disobeying the other.
• B. Is a type of healthy communication.
• C. Occurs when a person is given two commands that reinforce each other.
• D. Is unrelated to family communication

Answer: (A)

A double bind is a no‑win situation in which someone is confronted with two or more interrelated messages that conflict in a way that obeying one command makes it impossible to obey the other. Smith and Hamon highlight that the distress comes from this impossibility: you can’t satisfy both demands at the same time, so you’re left choosing between incompatible requirements. In family contexts, this often shows up when a caregiver gives an instruction while also sending signals or rules that undermine the possibility of meeting that instruction, leaving the child or member feeling trapped and anxious.

So the best description is that it creates distress because the individual cannot obey one command without disobeying the other. A healthy pattern would not trap someone in contradictory demands, and the idea is tied to how family members communicate and impose conflicting expectations rather than to unrelated or reinforcing two commands.