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Summary of Bowen's family systems theory
Structural family theory criticism or obstacles
Summary of Bowen's family systems theory
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Comparing Bowen & Minuchin: Looking at Family Systems and Structural Family Theories Murray Bowen developed family systems theory. This transgenerational model looks at how a family’s history informs their present functioning. Today it is a prominent model used by today’s family and marriage mental health professionals. Derived from psychoanalytic thinking and sometimes called natural systems theory, it posits that families are living and evolving systems shaped by chronic anxiety transmitted through its generations. Anxiety is aroused when individuals attempt to balance their individual identity with being a part of a family. This balancing act inevitably causes anxiety, triggering biological coping responses instead of healthy cognition and reasoning (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2012). Erford …show more content…
(1) Differentiation of self is when the individual can separate their identity from that of their family’s without completely cutting them off. Understanding the need for individualization is a cornerstone for comprehending the rest of Bowen’s processes. If one cannot differentiate them self from the family they are said to be fused. As a result they live with the family’s chronic anxiety. The less one is differentiated the more susceptible they are at being draw into family (2) triangles. These occur when two members draw in another member to stabilize their anxiety and to release emotional tension. Resolving family of origin anxiety happens through establishing differentiation. The less anxiety the less likely one will be caught in a maladaptive (3) nuclear family emotional system, which is the degree of differentiation one has with their parental subsystem. We also understand that individuals are likely to choose a spouse based on congruent levels of differentiation. Here we understand how chronic anxiety is passed through generations, labeled the (4) multigenerational transmission
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.
The therapist in The Legacy of Unresolved Loss used active interventions to help this family, and let them determine what their problems are instead of diagnosing the issue first off. The therapist first tried to place the issues in a broader context that include, extended family, community, gender, class and cultural background. (Mcgoldrick, The Legacy of Unresolved Loss) The therapist believes that “we are connected to all who came before and to all who will come after” (Mcgoldrick, The Legacy of Unresolved Loss). The therapist found out the majority of this information after she constructed a genogram during the first session of therapy. The genogram helped to support the individuals and their backgrounds, but it also was a useful tool
Family systems have been studied since psychologists began studying people and their behaviors. The family is a dynamic system—a self-organizing system that adapts itself to changes in its members and to changes in its environment (as cited in Sigelman & Rider, 2009). Allowing the focus of a family system to grow beyond the mother and child relationship did not happen overnight. For many years, there was no connection made between other members of the family and the developmental issues of the children involved.
Smith, S. R., & Hamon, R. R., (2012). Exploring family theories. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
According to the first stage in the model, Mary's early childhood experience is the primary contributor to her depression. Mary had experienced an instable childhood; her parents deemed unfit to care for her, leading to separation by Child Youth Services when she was two. This family dysfunction (by definition, disturbance or abnormality, not referring to abuse) provides the first risk factor of her depression. Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Studies have shown that destructive consequences on adult mental health are directly correlated by household dysfunction during childhood (Chapman et al., 2004). Freud's philosophy and the humanistic theory explains how this is a risk to Mary's depression, suggesting that humans possess an id that seeks gratification of unconditional acceptance (Reid & Sanders, 2010). It shows that Mary’s early family dysfunction forms the basis of her negative core belief that no one wants her, as this initial rejection of acceptance poses a question to her sense of belonging. Since Tracey is deficit of acceptance at a very young age, she learns to blame her circumstance on internal causes, increasing the risk factor for her depression in adulthood (Kosslyn, Rosenberg & Lambert, 2014).
The family structure is made up of individuals living together in intimate groups with the purpose of caring and supporting each other. Rules and boundaries, spoken and unspoken, are developed by the family members. Family rules and boundaries change and shift over time in order to evolve and grow as a family unit. Some changes are subtle, but some events force major change within the family system. This paper applies the concepts of systems theory to the family system in the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Reese Witherspoon (Melanie Smooter) and Josh Lucas (Jake Perry) star in this heart-warming film telling a story of a young woman who flees from Alabama to reinvent herself in New York City as a high fashion designer. She leaves behind her redneck husband and white-trash upbringing. Melanie finds herself engaged to the cities most eligible bachelor and has to return to Alabama to request a divorce from her first love and confront her past ("Alabama," 2002).
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.
According to Nichols (2013) and Papero (1990), Bowen’s theory highlights that family emotional processes operate from one generation to the next. Usually there is one sibling that is overly-involved with the marital dyad, producing triangulation. The invested child is believed to be slightly less differentiated from the parents than the other siblings. This theory also suggests that people marry partners with similar levels of differentiation and operate with the same or greater levels of emotional intensity than their parents; therefore these emotional processes
The concept of homeostasis means that the family system seeks to maintain its customary organization and functioning over time. It tends to resist change. The family therapist can us...
The genogram provided me an opportunity review my relationships with my immediate and extended families. The theory I would use with my family would be Reality Therapy because of the cognitive distortion we possessed going up in the household. Despite the negative cultural influences my parents were exposed to growing up. Corey (2015) discussed how individuals are not the cause for a particular family dysfunction. The cumulative effect of parents cultural experiences prohibited them from trusting Caucasians. My father was born in lady Island South Carolina and my mother was from Haskell Oklahoma a raised on a Native American reservation. Both were abandoned by their maternal parents. Both of their mothers died at a very young age. However, their father’s relationships were sporadic. I never met my dad’s father (Joe) and I visited my mother’s father (Calvin) a few times before his death.
Emotional and psychological difficulties within the maternal line included insufficient interaction, depression, and family conflict. For example, (1) Gwen abandoned her parental rights and the grandparents assumed parenting roles. (2) Gwen’s siblings showed disengagement from the family, as another child entered the household. (3) Betty and Bill manifested severe depression and stress adjusting to the role as primary caregivers.
The first domain, “perceiving little room for own experiences” can be broken down into 4 categories: “(a) not in touch with own feelings, (b) reluctance toward talking in the family, (c) feeling responsibility for the family well-being, (d) finding no response outside the family” (527). The second domain, “towards a reflective stance” is broken down into three categories, “(a) growing awareness of parental depression and own emotions, (b) relating parental depression to own identity, and (c) finding supportive connections” (529). The third domain, “Ongoing Processes of Repositioning in the Family” is broken down into two categories: (a) taking more distance from the family of origin and (b) expressing oneself more openly toward the parents”
John was chosen for individual therapy due to his motivation for change seemingly to be the highest amongst all family members. As such, a deeper relationship is to be developed between he and I in the hopes of promoting and fostering a greater differentiation of self. Furthermore, it is my intention to assist John with de-triangling to avoid further negative producing emotional fusions. Psychoeducation will be provided for healthy family triangles, differentiation of self, and how viewing family from a multigenerational context can help ward off maladaptive behavioral patterns from repeating. We will explore all aspects of both his immediate and extended family searching for key features that have promulgated across generations.
...s have leaned toward this theory shaping our life before we even pop out of the womb, they cannot pin every family down to the statistics. The fact is families are too complex, too messy, and too full of emotions, moods, and competitiveness. These dense, tangled vines of family dynamics are better understood by the people in the think of them than by observers through the laboratory window.
...unable to adapt to different stages when they move on. Some theories teach us the reasons something happened and how to deal with the problem in family such as the structural family therapy model and communication theory model. I believe different socio cultural factors between two families can create problem. Sometimes humans feel deficit when their economic status is unequal to others. Also, sometimes when they are from a different race and culture. Every family has strengths to make their life successful and deal with problems. Without strength families cannot achieve their task or deal with transitions in the family life cycle. Transition in a family life cycle and can be positive or negative. The difficult thing is when the transition makes life worse and the family cannot solve the problem. I believe people need skills to solve problems with life transitions.