Transgenerational (Bowenian Theory) Flashcards
How is Bowen’s Family Systems Theory defined?
Pathology is defined as low differentiation manifested by fusion, cut-off or triangulation.
According to Bowen, human relationships are driven by two counterbalancing life forces, what are they?
a. genograms & togetherness
b. anxiety and stress
c. Individuality & togetherness
d. Sibling position & regression
According to Bowen, human relationships we are driven by two counterbalancing life forces, what are they?
b. Individuality and togetherness.
Who is the main developer of Family Systems Theory?
Murry Bowen
Bowen’s work with schizophrenic patients and their mother shifted in his thinking, from what to what?
a. interpersonal to intrapersonal
b. intrapersonal individual treatment to interpersonal and systemic
c. psychodynamic to psychoanalytic
Bowen’s work with schizophrenic patients and their mother shifted in his thinking, from what to what?
b. From an intrapersonal, individual treatment perspective to an interpersonal and sytemic.
Bowen posits that emotional disturbed individuals arise from what?
Relational binds with others.
What are Bowen’s 8 interlocking concepts?
Differentiation, Emotional cut- off, Nuclear family emotional process, Triangulation, Family projection process, Multigenerational transmission process, Sibling position, and Societal emotional regression
What term describes the capacity to think and reflect, to not respond automatically to emotional pressures, internal and external - the ability to be flexible and act wisely, even in the face of anxiety.
a. differentiation of self
b. Societal regression
c. Boundary making
Differentiation of self
Describe a person with a “solid self”
The person operates on the basis of clearly defined beliefs, convictions, opinions, and core values.
Describe a person with a pseudo-self.
This person is emotionally fused with the family emotional system.
What are the characteristics of an undifferentiated person?
They are stuck together with others in the family emotional system and unresolved emotional attachments effect (a) their lives and (b) their relationships.
What is the upsides of a triangle?
- They help maintain an optimum level of closeness and distance between members while permitting the greatest freedom from anxiety. It is the smallest stable relationship system and more stable and flexible than a twosome.
What is the downside of a triangle?
They don’t always help a threesome reach such favorable conclusions and may further increase tension and create more complexity/triangles.
Define fusion.
Fusion is an excess of emotional reactivity in families. Created by too much togetherness.
Describe the Bowenian concepts:
solid self v. pseudo-self
Solid self:
more differentiated and functions based on a personally defined set of values, beliefs, and convictions,
Pseudo self-
- not differentiated and may be fused with someone else
- borrows values from someone else
- makes emotionally reactive choices
All of the following are TRUE about Bowen”s approach to family therapy EXCEPT:
a. The therapeutic focus is on the transmission of emotional patterns of relating from one generation to the next.
b. All members of the family are seen in the therapeutic session
c. It holds that relationship patterns in one”s family of origin are predictive of relationship patterns in one”s family of formation
d. Differentiation is a key concept in this model
All of the following are TRUE about Bowen”s approach to family therapy EXCEPT:
b. All members of the family are seen in the therapeutic session.
In family therapy, the therapist must attend to all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Each member of the family as an isolated individual
b. Each member of the family in interaction with each other family member
c. Subgroups within the family in interaction with each other
d. The family as a whole
In family therapy, the therapist must attend to all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Each member of the family as an isolated individual.
A closed system includes all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Impermeable boundaries
b. Negative entropy
c. No exchange of energy/feedback
d. A structure devoid of subsystems
A closed system includes all of the following EXCEPT:
d. A structure devoid of subsystems.
Which of the following terms is used to identify the system which is the target of attention?
a. The focal system
b. The supra system
c. The subsystem
d. The individual system
Which of the following terms is used to identify the system which is the target of attention?
a. The focal system.
All of the following are therapeutic techniques in Bowen”s approach to family therapy EXCEPT:
a. Drawing a genogram
b. Coaching
c. Boundary adjustment
d. Use of directives
All of the following are therapeutic techniques in Bowen”s approach to family therapy EXCEPT:
d. Use of directives.
A genogram may be utilized as an (a):
A. assessment instrument
b. an intervention
c. both
A genogram may be utilized as an (a):
c. both
What’s the stance of an Intergenerational/Bowenian therapist?
a. differentiated, neutral & objective
b. involved & directive
c. emotionally reactive & differentiated
What’s the stance of Intergenerational/Bowenian therapist?
a. differentiated, neutral & objective
What are some of the Intergenerational/Bowen- Methods/Techniques?
a. Focus on process not content
b. genogram, extensive history taking
c. “I” position
d. Detriangulate
e. Therapy is often long-term
f. only a & d
a. Focus on process not content
b. genogram, extensive history taking
c. “I” position
d. Detriangulate
e. Therapy is often long-term
f. only a & d
Explain the Family Projection Process
In Bowenian family therapy, the lack of differentiation in parents often results in one of the parents becoming dysfunctional, immature and fused with one of the children.
