Its a family affair

1
Its a family affair

• Walden University
• Jay Seller, 036121

2
Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• Bowen family systems theory is a theory of human
  behavior that views the family as an emotional
  unit and uses systems thinking to describe the
  complex interactions in the unit. It is the
  nature of a family that its members are intensely
  connected emotionally.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
3
Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• Often people feel distant or disconnected from
  their families, but this is more feeling than
  fact.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
4
Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• Family members so profoundly affect each other's
  thoughts, feelings, and actions that it often
  seems as if people are living under the same
  "emotional skin."

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• The connectedness and reactivity make the
  functioning of family members interdependent.

• A change in one person's functioning is
  predictably followed by reciprocal changes in the
  functioning of others.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• Families differ somewhat in the degree of
  interdependence, but it is always present to some
  degree.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• The emotional interdependence presumably evolved
  to promote the cohesiveness and cooperation
  families require to protect, shelter, and feed
  their members.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
8
Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• Heightened tension, however, can intensify these
  processes that promote unity and teamwork, and
  this can lead to problems.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Family Systems TheoryBackground

• Dr. Murray Bowen, a psychiatrist, originated this
  theory and its eight interlocking concepts. He
  formulated the theory by using systems thinking
  to integrate knowledge of the human species as a
  product of evolution and knowledge from family
  research.

Photo courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Family
Center
(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• Why it is important to understand family systems
  theory?

• Knowledge of how the emotional system operates in
  one's family, work, and social systems reveals
  new and more effective options for solving
  problems in each of these areas.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Family Systems TheoryIntroduction

• There are eight interlocking concepts in Dr.
  Bowen's theory

• Triangles
• Differentiation of Self
• Family Projection Process
• Nuclear family emotional system
• Multigenerational Transmission Process
• Emotional Cutoff
• Sibling Position
• Societal Emotional Process

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Family Systems Theory Bowen's Interlocking
Concepts

• TRIANGLES

• Triangles The smallest stable relationship
  system. Triangles usually have one side in
  conflict and two sides in harmony, contributing
  to the development of clinical problems.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryTRIANGLES

• Reflection Think about the relationships you are
  involved in, identify the triangle. Which side
  of the triangle reflects the most strength? Which
  reflects the greatest weakness?

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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryTRIANGLES

• Group Discussion Evaluate three triangles
  representing three family members, one sibling
  has identified themselves as GLBT. Discuss the
  dynamics of such a relationship in context of
  their family interconnections.

Crosbie-Burnett, M., Tamar, L. F., Murray, C. L.
Bowen, G. L. (1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryTRIANGLES

• Group Discussion Think about balance, what would
  happen to the triangle dynamics, if one sibling
  or parent knows the family secret?

Crosbie-Burnett, M., Tamar, L. F., Murray, C. L.
Bowen, G. L. (1996)
16
Family Systems Theory Bowen's Interlocking
Concepts

• DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF

• Differentiation of self The variance in
  individuals in their susceptibility to depend on
  others for acceptance and approval.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryDIFFERENTIATION OF
SELF

• Reflection Think about the type of group think
  attitudes and expectations that exist in your
  family and school environment?

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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryDIFFERENTIATION OF
SELF

• Group Discussion Describe different levels of
  differentiation. How can a GLBT student or parent
  of a GLBT student differentiate skills for
  survival with in their environments?

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Family Systems Theory Bowen's Interlocking
Concepts

• NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Nuclear family emotional system The four
  relationship patterns that define where problems
  may develop in a family.
• Marital conflict
• Dysfunction in one spouse
• Impairment of one or more children 
• Emotional distance

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryNUCLEAR FAMILY
EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Marital conflict
• Family tension increases and the spouses get more
  anxious
• Each spouse externalizes his or her anxiety into
  the marital relationship.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryNUCLEAR FAMILY
EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Dysfunction in one spouse
• One spouse pressures the other to think and act
  in certain ways and the other yields to the
  pressure.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryNUCLEAR FAMILY
EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Impairment of one or more children
• Spouses focus their anxieties on one or more
  child.
• Worry excessively and usually have an idealized
  or negative view of the child.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryNUCLEAR FAMILY
EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Emotional distance
• People distance from each other to reduce the
  intensity of the relationship, but risk becoming
  too isolated.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryNUCLEAR FAMILY
EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Reflection
• Identify one example for each of the four problem
  areas.
• Marital conflict
• Dysfunction in one spouse
• Impairment of one or more children 
• Emotional distance

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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryNUCLEAR FAMILY
EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Group Discussion
• Consider the GLBT student and analyze the four
  problem areas. How are GLBT students impacted?
  Apply the problem areas to their environments?
  What is the influence on educational situations?

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Family Systems Theory Bowen's Interlocking
Concepts

• FAMILY PROJECTION PROCESS

• Family projection process The transmission of
  emotional problems from a parent to a child.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryFAMILY PROJECTION
PROCESS

• Projection process follows three steps
• the parent focuses on a child out of fear that
  something is wrong with the child
• the parent interprets the child's behavior as
  confirming the fear and
• the parent treats the child as if something is
  really wrong with the child.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryFAMILY PROJECTION
PROCESS

• Group Discussion Consider the GLBT student in
  the projection process, what could be the results
  of the parent focuses on a child out of fear that
  something is wrong with the child.

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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryFAMILY PROJECTION
PROCESS

• Group Discussion Consider the GLBT student in
  the projection process and the parent interprets
  the child's behavior as confirming their worst
  fears, what affect could transpire?

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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryFAMILY PROJECTION
PROCESS

• Group Discussion Consider the GLBT student in
  the projection process, where the parent treats
  the child as if something is really wrong with
  the child. Effects? Socialization? Etc.

31
Family Systems Theory Bowen's Interlocking
Concepts

• MULTIGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION PROCESS

• Multigenerational transmission process The
  transmission of small differences in the levels
  of differentiation between parents and their
  children. 

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryMULTIGENERATIONAL
TRANSMISSION PROCESS

• The combination of parents actively shaping the
  development of their offspring, offspring
  innately responding to their parents' moods,
  attitudes, and actions, and the long dependency
  period of human offspring results in people
  developing levels of differentiation of self
  similar to their parents' levels.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryMULTIGENERATIONAL
TRANSMISSION PROCESS

• However, the relationship patterns of nuclear
  family emotional systems often result in at least
  one member of a sibling group developing a little
  more "self" and another member developing a
  little less "self" than the parents.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryMULTIGENERATIONAL
TRANSMISSION PROCESS

• The next step in the multigenerational
  transmission process is people predictably
  selecting mates with levels of differentiation of
  self that match their own.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryMULTIGENERATIONAL
TRANSMISSION PROCESS

• Group Discussion Consider the relationship you
  know personally, have any of them reflected this
  type of development. Provide examples for your
  group.

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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryMULTIGENERATIONAL
TRANSMISSION PROCESS

• Group Discussion Consider the GLBT student, is
  there relevance in their relationships for the
  Multigenerational transmission process? How could
  this affect them?

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Family Systems Theory Bowen's Interlocking
Concepts

• EMOTIONAL CUTOFF

• Emotional cutoff The act of reducing or cutting
  off emotional contact with family as a way
  managing unresolved emotional issues.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
38
Bowen's Family Systems TheoryEMOTIONAL CUTOFF

• Emotional contact can be reduced by people moving
  away from their families and rarely going home,
  or it can be reduced by people staying in
  physical contact with their families but avoiding
  sensitive issues

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryEMOTIONAL CUTOFF

• Relationships may look "better" if people cutoff
  to manage them, but the problems are dormant and
  not resolved.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
40
Bowen's Family Systems TheoryEMOTIONAL CUTOFF

• Often GLBT students will not disclose their
  status, until they are out on their own, more
  common than not in GLBT relationships with their
  family.

Crosbie-Burnett, M., Tamar, L. F., Murray, C. L.
Bowen, G. L. (1996)
41
Family Systems Theory Bowen's Interlocking
Concepts

• SIBLING POSITION

• Sibling position The impact of sibling position
  on development and behavior.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheorySIBLING POSITION

• Bowen theory incorporates the research of
  psychologist Walter Toman as a foundation for its
  concept of sibling position.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheorySIBLING POSITION

• The basic idea is that people who grow up in the
  same sibling position predictably have important
  common characteristics. For example, oldest
  children tend to gravitate to leadership
  positions and youngest children often prefer to
  be followers.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
44
Bowen's Family Systems TheorySIBLING POSITION

• Group Discussion Consider your sibling order,
  how has Tomans research relate to your siblings.
  Think about the GLBT student, how could they be
  affected by sibling order?

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
45
Family Systems Theory Bowen's Interlocking
Concepts

• SOCIETAL EMOTIONAL PROCESS

• Societal emotional process The emotional system
  governs behavior on a societal level, promoting
  both progressive and regressive periods in a
  society.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheorySOCIETAL EMOTIONAL
PROCESS

• Societal emotional process social expectations
  about races, classes, ethnic groups, gender,
  sexual orientation... and their effect on the
  family.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheorySOCIETAL EMOTIONAL
PROCESS

• The concept of societal emotional process
  describes how the emotional system governs
  behavior on a societal level, promoting both
  progressive and regressive periods in a society.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheorySOCIETAL EMOTIONAL
PROCESS

• Cultural forces are important in how a society
  functions but are insufficient for explaining the
  ebb and flow in how well societies adapt to the
  challenges that face them.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheorySOCIETAL EMOTIONAL
PROCESS

• Human societies undergo periods of regression and
  progression in their history. The current
  regression seems related to factors such as the
  population explosion, a sense of diminishing
  frontiers, and the depletion of natural resources.

(Kerr, 2002 Sagar, 1996)
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Bowen's Family Systems TheoryNormal Family
Development

• To Bowen, all families lie on a continuum, and
  there are no different "types" of families.
• Optimal development occurs when members are
  differentiated, anxiety low, and parents are in
  good emotional contact with their families of
  origin.

Niolon, (1999)
51
Bowen's Family Systems Theory Fogartys Adjusted
Families

• Balanced and can adapt to change
• Emotional problems are in the system with
  components in individual members
• Connected across generations
• Minimum amount of fusion and distance
• Dyads that can deal with problems between them
• Tolerate differences

Nichols Schwartz, 2001 Niolon, 1999
52
Bowen's Family Systems Theory Fogartys Adjusted
Families

• Differentiated members
• Aware of what they get from outside and from
  within
• Allow each member to have their own emptiness
• Preserve a positive emotional climate
• Members who think its a pretty good family
• Members who use each other for feedback rather
  than emotional crutches

Nichols Schwartz, 2001 Niolon, 1999
53
Bowen's Family Systems TheoryBehavioral
Disorders

• Disorders are seen as resulting from emotional
  fusion, an increase in the level of emotion and
  anxiety in the family, or in an upset to a fused
  relationship that has formerly kept the triad
  stable.

Niolon, (1999)
54
Bowen's Family Systems TheoryBehavioral
Disorders

• The child with the symptoms is usually the least
  differentiated and most isolated member of the
  family. The adults who acts out is most likely in
  a dysfunctional relationship with a spouse.

Niolon, (1999)
55
Bowen's Family Systems TheoryBehavioral
Disorders

• Problems occur when "vertical" problems passed on
  from parent to child interact with "horizontal"
  problems caused by environmental stressors or
  transition points in the family development. Most
  people choose a spouse with an equal level of
  differentiation.

Niolon, (1999)
56
Bowen's Family Systems TheoryGoals of Therapy

• Placing the presenting problem in a
  multigenerational frame
• Lowering anxiety
• Increasing differentiation especially of the
  marital couples by the therapist triangulating
  with them but staying neutral
• Forming relationships with the dysfunctional
  member
• Opening closed ties and detriangulation of
  members
• Symptoms focus is avoided
• Evaluating progress
• Feminists add addressing the power differential
  in the couple
• Do this by attending to patterns of emotional
  relations and interlocking triangles, but not to
  details.

Niolon, (1999)
57
Bowen's Family Systems TheoryConditions for
Behavioral Change

• 1. Anxiety (which breeds emotional fusion) must
  be low, and understanding high as understanding
  (not behavior) is the critical factor in change
• 2. The therapist must remain neutral and
  detriangulated
• 3. Differentiation of single members is often
  enough to spur differentiation of other family
  members. Often motivated members are better able
  to change than families

Niolon, (1999)
58
Bowen's Family Systems Theory Conditions for
Behavioral Change

• 4. If not the presence, then at least the
  awareness of the entire family
• 5. Development of a personal relationships with
  each of the extended family
• 6. Return to the family as an adult is often
  helpful
• 7. Overlapping triangles occur when dyads pull
  each available person into the dyad. When all
  available people are exhausted, the therapist
  will be used.

Niolon, (1999)
59
Bowen's Family Systems Theory Techniques

• Questioning is the closest thing to a magic
  bullet in Bowen Family Theory. Bowen didn't like
  focus on technique.

Niolon, (1999)
60
Bowen's Family Systems Theory Techniques for
Family Therapy

• 1. Keep the emotional tone under control -lively
  but not too anxiety provoking, otherwise they may
  feel you are taking sides no matter what
• 2. Stay detriangulated! it will be hard when
  couples get emotionally stirred up, since they
  will work harder to triangulate
• 3. Do not allow open conflict
• 4. Teach talking and listening
• 5. Guerin uses displacement stories or films to
  provide some other medium to project difficulties
  onto and deal with decreasing anxiety

Niolon, (1999)
61
Bowen's Family Systems Theory Techniques for
Family Therapy

• 6. Address feminist concerns about power
  deferential
• 7. Descriptive labels like "pursuer-distancer"
  are often helpful to understand relationships.
  Don't follow a distancer, work with the pursuer
  and his/her emptiness. The distancer will feel
  safe enough to enter back in.
• 8. Coach or consult them, interrupt arguments,
  model skills...
• 9. Use "I-positions" to teach them to do so, to
  teach them to state their needs and thoughts
  without over-reacting. Saying what you feel is
  better than commenting all the time on what
  others are doing.
• 10. Teach about emotional systems and slowly
  incorporate family of origin work into the
  relationship issues

Niolon, (1999)
62
Bowen's Family Systems Theory Family Therapy
with One Person

• Should focus on differentiation seeing other
  family members as people, not images observing
  triangles and detriangulating realizing one's
  own involvement is problems.

Niolon, (1999)
63
Bowen's Family Systems Theory Family Therapy
with One Person

• Watch for emotional cutoff in denied emotional
  dependence on the family and exaggerated
  independence. Prerequisites are a knowledge of
  family systems and strong motivation.

Niolon, (1999)
64
Family Systems TheorySummary

• Group discussion Reflect on some of the concepts
  presented in Family Systems Theory. Which
  concept is most relevant to you? How can
  knowledge of these concepts change how we work
  with GLBT students? Where can we go from here?
  What have you learned? Present your groups
  consensus to another group.

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Family Systems Theory References

• Kerr, M. E. (2002). One familys story A primer
  on Bowen theory. Washington, D.C. George Town
  Family Publishing
• Sagar, R. R. (1996). Bowen theory and practice
  (Back in print!). Feature articles from the
  Family Center Report 1979-1996 . Washington,
  D.C. George Town Family Publishing
• Nichols, M. P. Schwarts, R. C. (2001). Bowen
  family systems therapy. Family therapy Concepts
  and methods (5th ed.). 137-171. Boston Allyn and
  Bacon.
• Niolon, R. (1999, December). Bowenian Family
  Therapy Based in part on Nichols and Schwartz
  book on Family Therapy. Resources for students
  and professionals. Retrieved from
  http//www.psychpage.com/learning/library/counseli
  ng/bowen.html