In this academic essay I will be focusing and explaining my understanding of the Family Social System, how it interacts with other systems, how it works on the internally, but also on Murray Bowen’s family system theory, concepts and tools he has provided for future therapists in the pursuit to help family systems in crisis, how some of his views are very simular to Erik Erikson’s developmental theory stage effects and can actually mesh quite easily to assist in understanding the human psyche in individuals for both theory’s, finally I will explain briefly on genograms and how this tool can help assist in deciphering repetitive detrimental crisis and anxieties in the family system. A Family system is a social system that consists of one or …show more content…
Whatever the situation or structure of a family system, one thing is for certain, every member of the system affects one another negatively and/or positively, when one loses his or her job, all members are affected as the strain of finances builds or one falls ill, all the members are affected as they will need to help more in the home and with each other. If a member doesn’t support or mesh with their own family system and deviates from the beliefs and boundaries of the system, the system begins to falter and dysfunction creeps in causing breakdowns, breakups, abuse, neglect, emotional or physical cut-offs which in turn can put pressure on outside systems such as police/judicial, lawyers, counsellors/psychologists/psychiatrists, government institutions, healthcare, welfare. (Germov, J., & Poole, M. …show more content…
Erikson’s psychosocial stages (McLeod, S. 2008). 1. Trust verses Mistrust (hope) 2. Autonomy verses shame (will) 3. Initiative verses guilt (purpose) 4. Industry verses inferiority (competency) 5. Ego identity versus role confusion (fidelity) 6. Intimacy versus isolation (love) 7. Generativity versus stagnation (care) 8. Ego integrity versus despair (wisdom) O'Hara, D., & Meteyard, J. (2011), points out Bowen’s theory also had 8 concepts to assist in understanding where an individual is emotionally in the family
Handel, G. Introduction to the first edition, 1967. In The Psychosocial Interior of the Family. Ed. G. Handel and G.G. Whitchurch. New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1994. xxiii-xxx.
Because of the large amount of overlap in assessing the given family from a structural and strategic point of view, only the differences and additional requirements will be described in the following section. The main areas of differences relate to the overall therapeutic focus and the discussion of power. From a strategic point of view, problems serve as a function therefore the differences in assessment will not focus on shifts in power or hierarchy but will assess what purpose each issue serves. Additionally, viewing the family from a strategic point of view, each problem mustn’t be addressed as its own entity but all issues/concerns can be traced back to the presenting problem. The assessment, therefore, becomes part of the therapeutic
Family therapy differs from other kinds of therapy in the most basic premise that the unity of the problem is not one person but two or more. This is not a patient whose evil is stimulated by others but a symptomatic behavior product of a relationship between two or more people (Danny Wedding, Raymond J. Corsini ( 2013). Find the problem that the family wants to correct and identify in a clear manner. Initially, as a therapist trying to change the low expectations of the family to one where change within the family and theorize on what can happen. Using a genogram will be useful to analyze the addresses and relationships of each person in the
Murray Bowen, a pioneer of psychiatry in the 1950s proposed a family system theory where each family member’s behaviour is explained by eight interlocking concepts. The first concept is triangle. It is a three person relationship system and is considered as the basic building block of larger emotional unit. A triangle can contain more tension than a dyad (two person system) due to the shifting of tension among the three person involved. The next one is differentiation of self. It is stated that families affects strongly how a person thinks. Depends on how a family functions, the children will either have a well-defined or a poorly-defined “self” depending on their emotional dependence on other people. There is also the nuclear family emotional system. The concept describes 4 basic relationships that govern where problems develop in a family; marital conflict, dysfunction in one spouse, impairment of one or more children and emotional distance. The fourth concept is family projection process which describes the way parents transmit their emotional problem to their child. The primary c...
According to Murray Bowen’s family systems theory, the family subsists in an arrangement, whereas the individuals are inseparable from their network of relationships, but continue to strive to be individualized. Consequently, various forms of these networks are grounded in the domestic structure and the “normal” or “ideal” family and its development is derived from the interaction of the family members as they remain differentiated, anxiety is minimal, and partners have beneficial emotional communication with their family members (Nichols, 2014). Subsequently, the idea of achieving individuality while remaining in a cohesive family unit may cause stress. Concepts such as differentiation of self, triangulation, emotional cutoff, and anxious attachment may aid in the elucidation of the family system. This theoretical concept along with these coinciding terms will be explored through one episode of the television series The Goldbergs called Rush.
Patterns such as multigenerational patterns, triangle patterns, and emotional cutoff patterns all help one break down the family system and understand why the family interacts the way they do. With Bowen, family interaction is broken down and studied to understand family functions. After the family function is understood, Bowen then moves on to treating the family for best optimal functionality. Bowen’s Theory allows therapist to best understand how families function, by watching their behaviors, intergenerational patterns, and differentiation levels to allow him to best treat the family and get them back to a optimal functionality system.
Bowen theory is one of human behavior. The theory views family as an emotional unit, and uses systems theory to describe interactions within the family. Bowen believed that humans are dependent and reactive to others. Family members may feel distant or disconnected from each other; this is not a fact, but merely a feeling. Family members profoundly affect each other’s feelings, actions, and thoughts, no matter how distant they may be feeling ("Bowen Center," n.d.). Bowen describes the family as a multigenerational network of relationships ("Bowen Center," n.d.). The multigenerational process describes how differences in levels of differentiation between parents and their children lead to marked differences in differentiation in a multigenerational family ("Bowen Center," n.d.).
Becvar, D. S., & Becvar, R. J. (1999). Systems theory and family systems (2 ed.). Lanham, NY: University Press of America.
According to Richard Charles (2001) “the effectiveness of family systems theory rests not much on empirical research but on clinical reports of positive treatment outcomes, the personal benefits experienced by the families that underwent this kind of treatment, and the elegance of Bowen’s theory” (p. 279). Bowen’s family systems theory views the family as an emotional unit and is a theory of human behavior. Systems thinking is used to describe the complex interactions in the unit. However, the client’s ability to differentiate himself/herself from the family of origin is the basis for Bowen’s family systems theory. In addition, the primary focus for growth within the emotional system is differentiation of self.
Erik Erikson’s theory is based on eight psychological stages of development. For the purpose of Keith’s assessment, only six stages of development are appropriate for Keith and his family at this time. Trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. identity confusion and intimacy vs. isolation will be addressed in this paper.
Bowen believed the family was an emotional unit. He hypothesized that all emotional problems occur within a single continuum of functioning. The family best develops when anxiety is low and parents have a good origin of emotional contact with family. The systems theory explains wholeness, self-organization, relationships, and interactions between parts. Pattern recognition in one part of the family system will cause changes throughout the family system is regulated by both positive and negative feedback to maintain and equilibrium in the family. Bowen believed that everyone is grounded in the natural systems theory that draws from biological and natural sciences based on principle of self-organization, repetition, and formation of patterns
Moreover, the foundational approach to structural family therapy are that families’ are views as psychosocial systems, attached within social systems, which operate in a transactional patters. The transaction patterns are how, when and whom to relate, and reinforce systems. As a result each family duty are carried ou...
He developed his theory with the idea that it would be beneficial for people in therapy who have a difficult time dealing with behaviors and maintaining relationships within their family unit (admin, 2016). The main focus of many therapists is to help individuals to cope within their family and give them better strategical ways of ensuring that the family stays together. Unlike other systems theory, Family Systems Theory seems to be the head start for other systems theory. In addition, ealing with the family as a unit helps to figure out the underlying issues for the presenting problems (admin, 2016). Bowen introduced the eight interlocking concepts of Family Systems Theory and how they work together in order to be successful. The different concepts include differentiation of self, emotional triangle, the family projection process, the multigenerational transmission process, emotional cutoff, systems cutoff, social emotional process, and nuclear family emotional
A theory is defined as a system of general propositions which are used to establish a relationship between two or more variables (Abend, 2008). Social workers utilize theories in practice to develop an understanding of clients and the obstacles they face in social environments. This research will explore social learning theory, family systems theory and the key concepts derived under each. Additionally, social learning theory and family systems theory will be utilized to discuss the impacts of incarceration on African American men and their families.
Banner, J. (1986). Virginia Satir's family therapy model. Individual Psychology: Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, 42(4), 480-494.