6..1 The Differentiated Self By Murray Bowen Flashcards

1
Q
  • American Psychiatrist and professor in psychiatry at Georgetown University.
  • Pioneered work on family therapy and was a noted founder of systematic therapy.
A

Murray Bowen

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2
Q

Developed family systems theory and the concept of the “differentiation of self” based on a systems understanding maturity (denotes a person’s ability to think as an individual while staying meaningfully connected to others.)

A

Murray Bowen

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3
Q

Refers to the degree to which one can balance:
1) emotional and intellectual functioning and;
2) Intimacy and autonomy in relationship (or the need to be attached with the need to separate self)

A

“Differentiation of Self”

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4
Q

The two levels of the “differentiated self”

A

Intrapsychic Level and Interpersonal Level

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5
Q

refers to the ability to distinguish thoughts from feelings and to choose between being guided by one’s intellect or one’s emotions.

A

Intrapsychic Level of differentiation

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6
Q

_______ Level: __________ allows one to experience strong affect or shift to calm, logical reasoning when circumstances dictate.

A

Intrapsychic; Greater differentiation

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7
Q

______ Level: _________ persons tend to be more emotionally reactive, finding it difficult to remain calm in response to the emotionality of others. With intellect and emotions fused, they tend to make decisions on the basis of what “feels right”; in short, they are trapped in an emotional world.

A

Intrapsychic Level; Poorly differentiated

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8
Q

_______ Level: _________ refers to the ability to experience intimacy with and independence from others

A

Interpersonal; differentiations

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9
Q

More differentiated persons are capable of taking an “_________” in relationships

A

I Position

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10
Q

maintaining a clearly defined sense of self and thoughtfully adhering to personal convictions when pressured by others to do otherwise.

A

I Position

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11
Q

Interpersonal Level: Differentiations allows for flexible boundaries that permits _________ and ______________ with another without a fear of merger.

A

emotional intimacy and physical union

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12
Q

Interpersonal Level: When overwhelmed by emotionality in their family relationships, poorly differentiated individuals tend to engage in _______ or __________.

A

infusion, emotional cutoff

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13
Q

If HIGHLY FUSED; what does this refer to?

A

Undifferentiated People

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14
Q

IF ________: the individual functions automatically and respond emotionally to life situations.

A

HIGHLY FUSED

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15
Q

IF _________: let the emotional system take control of all their actions.

A

HIGHLY FUSED

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16
Q

IF HIGHLY FUSED: When you have a PSEUDO SELF you:

A
  • React to those around you;
  • In an unhealthy relationship, two pseudo selves come together and fuse into each other,
  • one person losing and the other person gaining self;
  • Operates by rules, customs, and expectations and does not know what it truly believes;
  • Product of emotional pressure and every group in society exerts pressure on its members to conform; and
  • May belong to groups with conflicting ideas but does not know why it feels uneasy, unaware of its own beliefs.
17
Q

IF ____________: the individual has an autonomous intellectual system that can control his/her emotional system.

A

HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED

18
Q

IF __________: Respond better to life’ stresses

A

HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED

19
Q

IF __________: Adequate thinking control over emotionality but still allows human emotions.

A

HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED

20
Q

IF __________: They allow both the intellectual and emotional systems to function appropriately

A

HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED

21
Q

IF HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED: Self is called ______.

A

solid self

22
Q

Highly fused individuals may have the following characteristics according to Bowen’s theory (Skowron and Friedlander, 1998):

A

They are either dogmatic or compliant.
2. They have a few firmly held convictions and beliefs.
3. They seek acceptance and approval above all other goals.
4. They remain emotionally “stuck” in the position they occupied in their families of origin.

• Fused person experience separation as devastating.

23
Q

Individuals showing emotional cutoff
usually displays the following
characteristics, according to Skowron
and Friedlander (1998):

A
  1. reactive emotional distance;
  2. appear aloof and isolated from
    others;
  3. tend to deny the importance of
    family;
  4. often boast their freedom from
    parents; and
  5. display an exaggerated facade of
    Independence

• Emotionally cut off and finds intimacy deeply threatening.

24
Q

Both highly fused individuals and individuals showing emotional cutoff are _______ DIFFERENTIATED since they base their self-esteem on others’ approval and usually conform to those around them.

A

POORLY

25
Q

What level and type of differentiation:

• Shift to calm, logical reasoning
• Flexible
• Adaptable
• Cope with stress better

A

Highly differentiated, intrapsychic level

26
Q

What level and type of differentiation:

• Emotionally reactive
• Difficult to remain calm
• Makes decisions on the basis of “what feels right”

A

Poorly differentiated, intrapsychic level

27
Q

What level and type of differentiation:

• Engage in fusion
• Emotional cut-off
• Experience greater chronic anxiety
• Become more dysfunctional easily when under stress
• Suffer more physical and psychological symptoms.

A

Poorly differentiated, interpersonal level

28
Q

What level and type of differentiation:

• Capable of taking “I Position” in relationships
• Maintain a clearly defined sense of self
• Adheres to their personal convictions
• Allows flexible boundaries
• Permits emotional maturity and physical union without the fear of being merged
• Demonstrate better psychological adjustment
• Establish more satisfying marriages
• Effective problem solvers.

A

Highly differentiated, interpersonal level

29
Q

____________ individuals are thought to establish better psychological adjustment.

A

Highly differentiated

30
Q

They are also expected to remain in satisfying contact with their families of origin, establish more satisfying marriages, and become effective problem solvers.

A

Highly differentiated individuals

31
Q

______________ individuals experience greater chronic anxiety and become more dysfunctional more easily when under stress.

A

Less differentiated

32
Q

They suffer more physical and psychological symptoms

A

Less differentiated individuals

33
Q

“An entire family can be changed through the effort of one person” quote by who

A

Murray Bowen