Bowenian Transgenerational Systems Theory

Murrary Bowen
1. MD
2. NIMH Project
  1. Schizophrenic mothers
3. Originated in early 1960s
Differentiation of Self
1. Bowen theorized families are living organisms with identifiable patterns of behavior
2. Individuals pulled between two competing needs
  1. Belong to a group and individuals separate from it
3. Anxiety present in all families
  1. Those with higher anxiety are emotionally reactive
Degree of Differentiation
1. Differentiation
  1. Balance; thinking and feeling
  2. Autonomous
2. Low Differentiation
  1. Cannot think clearly for themselves
  2. Emotionally reactive
  3. Respond in patterned bxs from family of origin
  4. Low autonomy
  5. Seek love, approval, and comfort in relationships
  6. Fused
Triangles
1. Smallest stable unit in the family system
2. form out of anxiety of 2 person system
3. Draws third party into it (often least differentiated person in family)
  1. Crosses generational boundaries
  2. Lessens anxiety
  3. Does NOT solve basic problem
Nuclear Family Emotional Process
1. Undifferentiated Ego Mass
2. Bowen - biological systems to human systems
  1. Interdependent emotional bonds
    1. Emotional systems
  2. People select partners with similar differentiation
    1. Lower differentiation before marriage; greater fusion between spouses
      1. 1. reactive emotional distance between spouses
      2. 2. physical or emotional dysfunction in one spouse
      3. 3. overt marital conflict
      4. 4. projection of problem onto children
      5. Undifferentiated individual cut off emotionally or geographically
        Undifferentiated Ego Mass
Sibling Position
1. to thoroughly understanding of family functioning
2. sibling configuration enables therapist to predict certain roles child may play in family emotional process
3. following Toman's work
Multigenerational Transmission Process
1. all generations part of continuous natural process with each generation pressing up against the next
2. emotional response passed down from generation to generation
3. process continues until unresolved emotional attachments and fusion resolved
Family Projection Process
1. undifferentiated parents transmit immaturity or lack of differentiation to children
  1. ex. anxious wife overly involved with one of the children; fused mother/child relationship
Extensions of Bowen's Model
1. Philip Guerin
  1. 1973; Center for Family Learning in NY
  2. Displacement story
    1. technique to help family members gain sufficient emotional distance from their problems and to become more self-reflective and less blaming
2. Betty Carter
  1. Trained with Guerin
  2. Feminist; specializes in couples (gender equality)
3. Monica McGoldrick
  1. Feminist; founded Family Institute of New Jersey
  2. extended model to include role that ethnicity/culture plays in families
  3. believes therapist should not remain neutral re: gender-based imbalances

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Bowenian Transgenerational Systems Theory

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	Created by ckusachi over 11 years ago