Family Systems Theory Flashcards
Describe Family Systems Theory
Ernest Burgess 1926
Murray Bowen 60’s
intertwined, interactive system which is circular in nature
Assessment:
- acknowledgement of dysfunction in family system
- determine family hierarchy (power, responsibility, authority)
- evaluate boundaries
- how does the symptom function in the family
Tx Planning
-establish mutually satisfactory contract with family
What is the Bowenian Family Therapy goal?
differentiation of the individual from the strong influence of the family (where the focus is on making changes for the self rather than trying to change others)
reduce chronic anxiety by facilitating awareness of the emotional system functions (family is either too close or too distant)
he focused on what he saw as the common patterns of all human emotional systems
Describe Bowenian Family Systems Theory
views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions.
emotional system affects most human activity and is the principle driving force in the development of clinical problems
connectedness and reactivity make the functioning of family members interdependent
as anxiety goes up, the emotional connectedness of family members becomes more stressful than comforting
the family member who does the most accommodating literally absorbs system anxiety and is most vulnerable to problems
What are the Bowenian 8 Concepts?
triangles
differentiation of self
nuclear family emotional process
family projection process
