Bowen Family Systems Theory for Differentiated Evaluatoin

The goal of Bowen’ theory is to review developmental patterns within the familial system and the stress centered around the anxiety caused by closeness or the lack thereof (Penny, 1999). Bowen’s theory works to facilitate a decline in stress and anxiety by enabling the clients with education as to how the emotional system works and focusing on how to modify self perceptional behaviors instead of working to change others within the system (Penny, 1999).

Similar to Bowen theory is Minuchin’s Structural Family Therapy where family is viewed as being a part of a larger system bigger than its self and within the family system are smaller subsystems that constitute the family as a whole. According to Vetere, (2001) a goal “of this therapy is to alter the organisational patterns, particularly where the modes of communication are thought to be unhelpful and where behaviours are considered to be abusive and neglectful or to have the potential to be so” (p. 134). The above two theories mesh well with the relational beings that we are. “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18, New American Standard Bible) and from that utterance subsequently family was born.

Overall, Bowen focused on triadic relationships for therapeutic intervention, predominately the parental subgroup and a child. He looked at how low self-esteemed members of a family became vulnerable to triangulation. They then became enmeshed in their family and forwarded a legacy of chronic anxiety. Classic psychoanalysis agrees that issues

The role of intergenerational patterns is often used when referring to negative behaviors that are profoundly repeated throughout different generation (Birkenmaier, Berg-Weger & Dewees, 2014). Papero (2009) on the other hand, specifically linked the term intergenerational to relationship patterns that are being transmitted from one generation to another. To bring to light the immersion of intergenerational patterns, a brief understanding of Bowen’s Family Systems Theory is imperative. Bowen’s theory comprises of eight concepts and a major variable known as anxiety (Papero, 2014). All seven concepts address the family system while the eighth focus mainly on the social function of the society (Papero, 2014). In fact, one of the eighth concepts in Bowen theory is multigenerational transmission process playing an important role with intergenerational patterns. While conducting a systematic analysis of three generations within Lani family system, specific behaviors that were demonstrated were dysfunctional boundaries, marital outcomes, anxiety and transmission of parenting style.

The tension is diffused but the triangle also has the potential to make ‘an odd man out.’ Bowen states ‘emotional forces within the triangle are constantly in motion’ as the triangle moves back and forth between dyads with one person as the outsider.

In society, there are many nuclear families that have different ways of raising their children due to social classes that remain present. Nuclear families consist of a pair of adults and their children. Due to the different social classes parents take into account different childrearing methods, cultural logic, and religion affiliation. When raising their children families in a higher

Thanks Regina, you have given a great definition of the word triangulation. This video does provide a great understanding of a family that has problems, but include outside people as the problem causer as to overlook what is going in the family. this is what I found from Bitter (2014) Secondary triangles result when one or more positions in the triangle is occupied by someone outside of the primary triangle, such as a sibling, aunt/uncle/cousin, grandparent, teacher, or friend. Sometimes others get blamed when the family has a situation with a member and do not understand that individual has so much influence. Your post gave insight about the fact that the girl was trying to intimidate the mom by placing high influence on the reasons for liking

Family Structure and Boundaries The Structural Family Theory (Vetere, 2001), consists of structures, subsystems, and boundaries within the family unit. Family boundaries of a subsystem are the rules defining who participates and how, and must be defined well enough to allow subsystem members to carry out their functions without unnecessary interference. In addition, boundaries must allow contact between the members of subsystems, such as spouse subsystems, parental subsystems, and sibling subsystems. In the writer’s immediate family, parental subsystems are presented (mother- children relationship), and sibling subsystems.

Triangles are when a dyad involves another individual when anxiety is heightened. Shapiro, Kaslow, Maxfield (2007) state the third person brought into the conflict created the triangle in order to establish stability (Shapiro, Kaslow, Maxfield, 2007, p. 171). Typically, this individual is the least differentiated and if often the identified client (Goldenberg, Goldenberg, 2013, p. 213). These authors report families with a higher level of differentiation can enter in and out of flexible triangles, while those who do not have a well-established differentiation have rigid triangles (Shapiro, Kaslow, Maxfield, 2007, p. 171).

What are the three reasons why generational processes influence individuals and families to such a great extent?

There can be negative and positive emotional patterns within a family structure and process. My father’s family demonstrates an open relationship system which family members have genuine, but not emotional confining attachments. My father and aunt were children of divorce as a children of divorce they can demonstrate a continual pattern of divorce in their adult life. My grandfather’s parenting style reflected his inability to emotional connect with his children. My grandfather’s emotional dysfunction is tied to my aunt’s inability to maintain marital emotional attachments. Therefore, my aunt’s emotional detachments are tied to my cousin’s misbehavior in school and dealing with drugs. My grandparents display undifferentiation that they react emotionally to situations. My father exhibits personality disorder and struggles with inconsistent functionality. When inconsistency in events or situations is overloading my father’s emotions he handles the

One may say I come from a nuclear family, which is defined by Bélanger & Ward (2015) as “a family consisting of a husband, a wife, and their children.”(p.6) This basic definition not only disregards the vast majority of families but, also fails to describes the intricate relationships within each family. The different personalities in a family, their history, and the challenges they face together often morph and evolve the family’s identity. In the following paragraphs I will attempt to explore my family’s narrative as well as extrapolate what that means too me and my future self.

The connection of various individual by marriage, blood, etc are considered as family relationships. Moreover, these connections are considered to be the most important building block for the comprehensive development of individuals in our society. Family relationships, whether they may be harmonious or disruptive, serves as an important driving force for all individuals interactions in the outside world. While, these relationships may either be destructive or harmonious, they promote the transmission of good behaviours, cultural influences and other specific ways of life from the older to the younger members of the family unit. Harmonious relationships are more pleasing and consistently allows members of the family to feel more comfortable. Also, a strong bond is formed among the family members. On the other hand, destructive family relationships builds and maintain tension between the individuals, which ultimately prevents the proper transfer of good values and attitudes to the members. This type of relationship can be directly attributed to the future problems faced by individuals nurtured by the a disruptive family. In “Two Kind” by Amy Tan and “Story of the Hour” by Kate Chopin, family relationships plays an important role in the outcome of an individual in both positive and negative manner.

values. A complete family makes the individual self reliant, honest, caring and happy. Good parent’s rare good human personage e. Abusive parents often produce human personalities who feel that they are worthless, unlovable and inadequate. Similarly parents who invest a lot of emotional and mental resources often produce stable, responsible personage. Parents are the main influence on a human’s personality development. Human being’s want only the love of their parents and it gives satisfaction at every stage. But when individual don’t get love from any of the parent, it adversely affects on individual’s personality and always lives in a distressful condition. The intense meaning of family relations for almost everyone has been observed throughout history.

Intergenerational relationships describe the characteristics of a society, which represent the social and family connections between different generations by responsibility, respect, reciprocity, and resilience. Scholars who are in the field of aging have crucial responsibility in researching about the intergenerational relations between the members of a family. This generally refers to family members with common lineage, such as parents and their children or grandparents and their grandchildren. Family intergenerational relationships differ from relations between cohorts in society. Social interaction, affection, shared values, exchanges of help and support, and conflict are all an extremely vital part of both types of relations. These ties also bring together generations in a family, and society as a whole. As the population of the world ages, people now are consumed most in intergenerational relationships compared to any times in the past. Although studies of intergenerational family bonds from around the world show that parents and child generations carry the strongest bond of affection, nonetheless, a small amount of families face separation resulting from hostility leading to cut-offs within families and generations being drifted apart. Generation gaps also cause much of brutal sufferings within families, as younger generations are distinctively eager to make their own identities and legacies, while older generations maintain greater stake due to their extreme