Lecture Notes: Bowen's Family Systems Model

Introduction

• Presenter: Stephanie Yates, licensed associate marriage and family therapist.
• Topic: Review of Bowen's Family Systems Model.
• Purpose: To help those considering or in the process of becoming therapists understand Bowen's model.

About Bowen's Model

• Names: Known as extended family systems, intergenerational family therapy, family systems therapy.
• Founder: Murray Bowen, one of the leaders in marriage and family therapy.
• Development: Originated in the 1950s.
• Focus: Examines family dynamics across generations, especially in the context of mental disorders like schizophrenia.

Core Concepts of Bowen's Model

1. Differentiation

   • Definition: Ability to separate one's identity and emotions from the family.
   • Types:
     • Interpersonal Differentiation: Separating self from family.
     • Intra-psychic Differentiation: Separating emotions from rationality.
   • Signs of Low Differentiation: Undifferentiated family ego mass, high emotional involvement, frequent conflicts.

2. Nuclear Family Emotional System

   • Theory: Partners with similar levels of differentiation tend to choose each other.
   • Issues: Can lead to unstable families with high emotions and dysfunction.

3. Emotional Triangles

   • Concept: Involves a third party to balance instability between two individuals.
   • Examples: A child as a third party, or focusing on work/hobbies.

4. Family Projection Process

   • Idea: Parents project their own undifferentiation onto their child, making the child less differentiated.

5. Sibling Position

   • Impact: Birth order affects responsibility and differentiation, e.g., older children often take on more responsibility.

6. Emotional Cutoff

   • Definition: Running away from family conflicts without true separation from family ideologies.

7. Multi-generational Transmission Process

   • Description: Patterns of differentiation and undifferentiation transmitted through generations.

8. Societal Regression

   • Link: Differentiation connected to societal influences like trauma, wars, and disasters.
   • Signs: Increased violence, drug abuse, crime, and less principled decision-making.

Goals and Techniques of Bowen's Model

• Goal: Decrease anxiety and increase differentiation levels within family members.
• Techniques:
  1. Genogram: Diagrams family tree and relationships.
  2. Therapist Triangulation: Therapist becomes a neutral third party in therapy.
  3. Focus on Differentiated Family Members: Work with the most differentiated individual.
  4. Process Questions: Encourage logical assessment of emotions.
  5. Use of Stories: Share stories to illustrate points and reduce feelings of isolation.
  6. "I" Position: Promotes taking responsibility for one's feelings.
  7. Home Visits: Encourage reconnecting with family of origin to assess real progress.

Critiques and Considerations

• Theoretical Model: Lacks extensive empirical support and practical techniques.
• Post-modern Critique: Questions neutrality and objectivity of therapists.

Conclusion

• Resources: AATBS materials recommended for further understanding.
• Invitation: Encourages questions and additional insights from viewers.

Stephanie Yates closes the session by thanking viewers and inviting further discussion on Bowen's Family Systems Model.