Bowen's Family Systems Theory: Vietnamese-American Family

Bowen’s family systems theory is beneficial in recognizing the family as an emotional system in which the living members are powerfully attached by relationships between each other that support and strengthen their survival (Knauth, 2003, p. 333). Growing up as the first generation Vietnamese-American to be born in the United States, there are many issues pertaining to the differences of new and old culture and multi-generational differences. Some of these issues include triangles, the multi-generational transmission process, and emotional cut-offs. Triangles occur when a two-person dyad experiences anxiety and/or tension, which can be stabilized and relieved by a three-person relationship (Haefner, 2014, p. 836). When I was a teenage girl, my father and I would always get into verbal arguments. My mother described us as a cat-and-dog relationship (M. Nguyen, personal communication, October 5, 2015). We fought about nearly everything, from school grades (not getting enough 4’s on report cards) to social activities. My mother was the third person, attempting to relieve the tension between my father and I.

836). My mother became my father and I’s outlet for support and advice (H. Pham, personal communication, October 4, 2015). We would confide in her when we were frustrated with each other. Although she allowed us to release our anger and tension, it did not resolve the interpersonal problems that my father and I had together. The third person can actually distract the dyad from resolving their problems (Haefner, 2014, p.