Bowen Flashcards
What is different about Bowen’s theory frmo other theories we’ve talked about
Most intellectual of the theories we will talk about, he wanted to come up with a universal theory, he is technically psychodynamic but this is up for debate; he does fall into this category because he is talking about the effect of family of origin on the present
what is some background about this theory and some unique things about it
Bowen was the 1st to propose that while psychology and culture are important, they do not liberate humankind from natural forces.
-There are various forces that impact our lives and we might not even know they are there
-Ex. You broke up with someone when you were 16 and you saw them last week, Bowen would suggest there would be a physiological reaction that you cannot justify, you are not still in love with them but there is something from your past that affected who you are so it occurs
Bowen wanted a provable theory
He became disenchanted with family theory
-Felt other theories were too “out there” he wanted theories that were easier to understand and better
Bowen removed “why” from a discussion of problems. “Why” removes the relationship, it focuses on one person.
-Not interactional enough
explain individuality and togetherness to Bowen
The Emotional System involves the counterbalance of these two “life-forces.”
-This is the center force of family therapy / treatment
Why is self-observation difficult
Tunnel vision, explaining too much on the basis of too little
-We see something that could confirm something and we jump to conclusions and fail to see what other factors might impact what is going on
Cause cannot be ascribed when explaining a relationship, it does not come from one specific action
People tend to exaggerate details and give emotional responses
Emotions can take over so strongly that they wipe out their intellectual process
-Emotions need to be balanced by the intellectual side
We have to keep the focus on the relationship, we are not looking at the individual within that
explain the emotional system
Humans share with non-humans
ES is not the same as feelings
-The ES is a primal reaction, unexplained
One does not feel the emotional reactivity of cell divisions, but they do feel the ES working when losing a loved one.
Heightened anxiety increases emotional reaction and fuses emotion, feelings, and intelligence.
An Anxious person may want (intellectually) to stay calm, but will (emotionally) become flustered.
-Opposite of Whitaker who wants to up the anxiety, he believes we want to lower the anxiety so we can tease apart the factors of the emotional system
If intellect is separate from the ES people can be more aware of anxiety and their propensity to bind it.
Symptom development may result from and increase in emotional reactivity coupled with other variables. All clinical dysfunction is connected to ES and reflects an imbalance in the Emotional System.
central tenets of Bowen’s theory
-Differentiation
-Anxiety
-Triangles
-Nuclear Family Emotional Process
-Transmission of a Problem
explain differentiation of self (Bowen’s biggest concept)
The degree to which an individual manages across a life time to separate emotional and thinking systems and have choice between behavior governed by thinking or emotions. (the more differentiated we are, the better we are able to see what is emotionally affecting us vs. the intellectual way to respond to a situation)
-Objectivity involves the ability to see the self as a responding part of the larger whole.
explain a person’s level of differentiation of self (basic and functional level)
-One’s basic level is determined early and roughly matches that of one’s caregivers.
-Basic level can be expanded through disciplined effort. (usually psychotherapy)
-Functional level changes in response to relational variables. If group support is dropped, then person seems less at ease.
self differentiation in families (example)
Ex. Families where you know a sibling is less differentiated from the family than the other (less able to have their own perspective without parents caught in their family), Bowen states even within the family, the family will often find one person that is often turned into the scapegoat
-Differentiation is an emotional concept, not about physical distance
Bowen says you cannot differentiate if you live at home, this process starts when you move away from home; when you go back to visit them, you are pulled into some sort of family drama, the more differentiated you become you would leave the drama to the two people it is between, feel like you no longer have to throw yourself into the mix of it
-We can improve our differentiation with work, learning about boundaries
-However, when the anxiety clicks up because of an emotional impact, often you will end up back in the melodrama;
explain anxiety according to Bowen
Affects the balance of togetherness and individuation.
Differentiation of self is one of two principal variables to explain level of functioning, the second is chronic anxiety.
-Lower differentiation = less adaptive to stress
-Higher chronic anxiety = greater strain on adaptiveness.
-Symptom depends on stress levels and levels of differentiations
two kinds of anxiety according to Bowen
-Acute anxiety occurs in response to real threats and is time limited, people usually adapt to it well, fear of what is
-Chronic anxiety occurs to imagined threats and is not experienced as time limited, strains peoples abilities to react to it, fear of what might be
what is symptom exchange according to Bowen
-One person achieves comfort at the sense of another, one person goes to therapy and get better and then anxiety is passed on to someone else
-Thought group things were very difficult to manage, preferred to work in dyads
-If the child is the identified patient, eventually siblings can get rid of it (ex. Hey this is where I set boundaries and this is what I am doing) and pass it on to where it should be (the parents) or that the siblings can work together and differentiate
summary of the goal of anxiety in therapy according to Bowen
recognizing your role and finding a way to not need what you are getting from the emotional upset, even one person being able to lower their need for differentiation in the family could have an effect on lowering the overall anxiety
neutrality according to Bowen
Not fence-sitting or being wishy-washy
Ability to see (and understand) both sides
It is critical that we are neutral, but it is multi-directed partiality (you are literally partial to everyone, join with all sides)
-Ability to relate to a problem, but not become a part of it
-Reflected in the ability to remain calm about what occurs between others, be aware of the influence of subjectivity on what should be
More differentiated when you are capable of taking a neutral stance
explain triangles according to Bowen
When anxious, the couple will incorporate a third.
Ex. Couple with relationship trouble will have a baby
-Anyone who cannot stand the anxiety with another will find a third thing to redirect the anxiety
This will reduce anxiety
If a person can achieve emotional neutrality when in a triangle, the tension between both members in the triangle will be reduced
nuclear family emotional process according to Bowen
-When fusion occurs (joining of two selves to manage anxiety) the greater the chance that autonomy is lost.
-Greater fusion results in 4 mechanisms
four mechanisms of fusion
- Emotional distance – Pulling away, then this distance becomes accepted. Efforts to reduce it backfire. People will avoid their own discomfort.
- Emotional marital conflict – fueled by people’s reactions to differences. Conflict provides connection.
- Transmission of a problem to a child – children run a greater risk when a parent becomes anxious about the effects of marital interaction on the child.
- Dysfunction of a spouse – over-functioning of one leads to an unbalance especially in times of stress.
-Dominance – Submissiveness: One gives in to the other to avoid conflict. Over time it impairs the subordinate’s functioning.
explain the process of transmission of a problem to the child
-Anxiety – expressed – sensitivity if worrying or nagging ->
Caretaker has difficulty assessing child’s behavior and development ->
Caretaker focuses on real or supposed problem ->
Child beings to believe that they cannot function without close guidance
three primary assumptions of Bowen’s methodology
-Reduction of family anxiety automatically reduces symptoms.
-One family member’s raising his/her basic level of differentiation increases family adaptiveness.
-No matter what is presented, the fundamental problem is the functioning of the system.
how can basic levels of differentiation be raised
Increased emotional separateness in their most fused relationship
-The degree of unresolved attachment with family of origin matches the degree of fusion with spouse and children.
-Treatment works best if people are trying to raise their basic levels in many relationships.
Fundamental components in increasing basic level of differentiation in an adult
-Using intellectual system to become more factual about emotional system.
-Using factual knowledge as a basis for actions that increase one’s separateness from other.
You must have factual understanding of the emotional process to combat the reactivity that functions to sustain fusion.
what does one have to do to combat the reactivity that functions to sustain fusion
One should overcome the tendency to diagnose oneself and others, that is, to attribute unwelcome behaviors to a flawed character. Systems theory replaces “good”, “bad”, “cold”, “giving” with a view of how such characteristics reflect the functioning of a family relationship system. In other words, “good” or “bad” children are created and maintained by interlocking triangles more than inherent qualities.
what are some things that can impact the family according to Bowen
Bowen felt that making a triangulated relationship more flexible will have positive repercussions throughout the family.
Past affects the present
“Undifferentiated family ego mass” (“fusion”), “emotional stuck-togetherness”
-No piece moves independently
-Differentiation is positive, but it is NOT emotional cut-off.
some basic ideas/concepts in Bowen’s therapy
Not symptom based.
Psychodynamic, in essence
-Theory “to act out, in words or actions, repressed material”.
-Goals “achieve individuated self”
-Techniques “exploring feelings – working through”
Client – the individual within the family
some methods in Bowen’s therapy
-Coaches member to return to family
-Become more accurate observer of self and family
-Person-person relationship with everyone in the family
-Control emotional reactivity in family
-Remaining neutral in emotional issues
what does the therapist need to do in Bowen’s therapy
One must be un-triangulated
Triangulated in, to begin with, because of needs of others
Identify patterns operating in the past that have engaged people
-Search out clues
-Meet with older generations
-Use a genogram
Differentiate self
Couples work
-Always channels communication through therapist
Make people aware of their own steps in family dance.
Reversals – remove predictability
what do followers of Bowenian therapy typically do
Bowenian therapy does not end after the problem stops. Most like psychodynamic helping adult become autonomous and mature.
Followers have become proficient with multigenerational therapy
-Block triangulation
-Cool off escalations – restate heated matters.
-Expose or nullify heated arguments.
explain the family projection process in Bowen’s therapy
-If adult anxiety “spills over” it involves a child.
-If parent is undifferentiated, the more difficult it is to see the child’s reality.
what is the recommended clinical stance about therapist being a part of the system
For Bowen (and Kerr) the family automatically attempts to incorporate you, the therapist, into the system.
This occurs automatically and usually without any family members being aware.
We are influenced by:
-Forcefulness
-Charm
-Neediness
-Theatrical presentation
how to tell if therapist has been inducted into the family’s emotional system
As one becomes a little annoyed, frustrated, combative with one member we have been inducted into their emotional system.
What does clinical experience offer?
-Experience assists one in recognizing that the induction is occurring, and thus, one become quick to get back “outside” the family’s emotional system.
how can a therapist get out of the emotional system
Listen to feelings and subjectivity
Understand in a systemic manner what is occurring
Direct questions to the less reactive aspects of the family
Doing this keeps a therapist
-“in the system” physically
-“out of the system” emotionally
what is the advantage to a family not being “won over”
-If the family member’s efforts at winning you over are not working, and your “vote” on an issue is not expected, the family becomes more “responsible for themselves.”
-The family’s resources reemerge.
explain the anxious family in Bowen therapy and goals for them
-Families which are anxious will be imbedded in an intense emotional process.
-The overall goal is to get one or more family members to think more objectively while still recognizing the intense emotional process.
why does being objective help in Bowen’s family
In Bowen’s perspective, the therapist objectivity (remaining outside the emotional process) and sticking to a systemic agenda (through questions), overcomes
-Denial
-Lack of Awareness
how to handle persistence of denial
Bowen acknowledges that denial may be impossible to shift. But, sometimes in a family, one person becomes more objective about the emotional process and this shift in a single person can result in general improved family functioning.
what happens if you hold a systemic position in an anxious family
you can remain “outside” emotionally. This position is the best stance to assist a family.
functions for the Bowenian Therapist
-Defining and clarifying the relationship between spouses.
-Keeping self de-triangulated from the family’s emotional system.
-Teaching the functioning of emotional systems.
-Demonstrating differentiation by taking “I positions” during therapy.
what are some advantages of being systemic
Families are, by and large, much less likely to get angry with you if you are really systemic. Systemic questions are interesting to everyone, and lean toward neutrality.
why is doing your own work important as a Bowenian therapist and what does your own work mean
-Engaging in personal therapy is a must. If you are still struggling with issues that connect to your family of origin (issues that still really push your buttons) then you still have a need to “do your own work.”
If you are still triggered by an issue occurring in the family you are treating, remaining “outside” is almost impossible.
Your own work means:
-Therapy
-Self Supervision
-Peer and Mentor Supervision
being old is not enough, even after years of practice we can be engulphed in the family’s subjectivity
