04_Family Therapy: Bowen Flashcards
Bowen’s Extended Family Systems Therapy:
Three Key Terms
Differentiation
Emotional triangle
Family projection process
“extend bow and arrow”
(Bowen, bow and)
Extended Family Systems Therapy (Bowen):
Differentiation (of Self)
Ability to separate one’s intellectual and emotional functioning
Low differentiation = more emotion mind = become fused with emotions that dominate the family
Extended Family Systems Therapy:
Undifferentiated Family Ego Mass
Low differentiation throughout family
Family members are highly emotionally fused
Extended Family Systems Therapy:
Emotional Triangle
When husband-wife or parent-child recruit third person to reduce tension / increase stability
Lower differentiation = higher likelihood of emotional triangle
Extended Family Systems Therapy:
Family Projection Process
Parental conflicts and emotional immaturity are transmitted to children
Results in child having lower level differentiation than parents
Extended Family Systems Therapy:
View of maladaptive behavior
- Multi-generational transmission process*
Progressively lower levels of differentiation are transmitted from one generation to the next
Extended Family Systems Therapy:
Therapy Goals
Primary goal is to increase differentiation of all family members
Extended Family Systems Therapy:
Therapy Techniques
Usually includes only spouses
Therapist becomes third member in therapeutic triangle
Therapist presence reduces fusion and helps them to achieve higher differentiation
Extended Family Systems Therapy:
Genogram Graphic Depictions
Relationships between family members
Dates of significant life events
Any other relevant/important info
Extended Family Systems Therapy:
Role of therapist
Active expert/coach who helps each partner achieve greater differentiation
Key technique is questioning
Bowen and mate selection
Bowen believed that people choose mates with similar differentiation levels
Extended Family Systems Therapy (Bowen):
Family Projection Process: Most affected child
Usually one of the following:
Oldest child
Child born during period of family stress
Child perceived to be “special”
Extended Family Systems Therapy (Bowen):
Rationale for only working with one family member
Work with family member with most differentiation
Goal is to reduce their influence on other members
Extended Family Systems Therapy (Bowen):
Therapeutic Communication
Partners are encouraged to:
Talk to the therapist rather than to each other
Speak in a calm, factual manner
