Bowen Theory

SANDRA MALOUGH CYNTHIA LOPEZ
Murray Bowen
Oldest of 5 children
Medical doctor Hospitalized entire families with schizophrenic member 1975 founded the Georgetown Family Center
Family = an emotional unit (network of interlocking relationships)

Etiology of an individuals dysfunction Families are tied in thinking, feeling, and behavior
Trying to take the intuitiveness out of therapy by having an objective theory
Multigenerational trends 8 key concepts
Differentiation of self
Occurs when an individual is able to distinguish between intellectual processes and the feeling
process he or she is experiencing

Greater fusion between individuals, poorer functioning
Cant differentiate b/w thoughts and feelings Have trouble differentiating themselves from others
Undifferentiated family ego mass

a conglomerate emotional oneness
In other words, an emotionally stuck together family Can be so intense family members know each others feelings, thoughts, dreams, and fantasies.
Originally characterized in psychoanalytic terms

Later referred to as fusion-differentiation
Amount of fusion-differentiation changes
Fusion
Lowest levels Emotionally fused to the family Feelings dominate
Differentiation of self
Highest levels Separate thinking from feelings Over 60 is a small % of society
Triangles
Smallest stable relationship system
A major influence on the activity of a triangle is
anxiety
More anxiety = more distance, or closeness
Less anxiety = comfortable back and forth discussion

of feelings
Nuclear family emotional system Lack of differentiation > emotional cutoff > fusion in marriage Unstable fusion in marriage tends to produce
1. Dysfunction in a spouse 2. Marital conflict
3. Projection to one or more children
Family projection process

Parents transmit their lack of differentiation to their children Intensity of this process is related to:
1. Degree of immaturity/undifferentiation of parents 2. Level of stress/anxiety the family experiences
Multigenerational transmission process

Transmission of anxiety from generation to generation
Patterns, themes and roles are passed through generations Less anxiety focused on children = more likely theyll grow up w/ greater differentiation Child most involved in familys fusion has lower differentiation
Emotional cutoff
A way to manage intense fusion & anxiety Distance ourselves physically and emotionally Escape
Greater fusion = greater cutoff

The pattern remains unchanged
Sibling position
Provides info. about roles people take in relationships
People in same sibling positions tend to share characteristics Sibling roles are complementary
Reflected in later relationships

Influences triangulation with siblings & parents
Societal emotional process

How families deal with social expectations of things like gender, race, class, sexism, etc. Coping strategies are passed through generations
Those with higher differentiation deal better
Do not act as problem solver Coach clients to understand process & structure Encourage expanding familial ties Asks questions Neutral parts of triangles
Best if therapist observes from partially outside the family
Decrease anxiety, increase self-focus De-triangulation Balance fusion and differentiation Understanding, not action
Assessment
Genograms
Process questions Relationship experiments De-triangulation Coaching Taking I-positions Displacement stories
Nichols, N. P., & Schartz, R. C. (2008). Bowen family systems therapy. In Family therapy: Concepts and methods (8th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Bowenian family therapy. (2008) Based in part on Nichols, N. P., & Schartz, R. C. Family therapy: Concepts and methods. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Retrieved from www.psychpage.com/learning/library/counseling/bowen.html Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. (2009). Bowen family therapy. Retrieved from www.thebowencenter.org Brown, J. (1999). Bowen family systems theory and practice: Illustration and critique [Electronic version]. Journal of Family Therapy, 20, 94-103.4
Read each scenario and form an analysis using the 8 key concepts Taken from www.thebowencenter.org

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What is differentiation of self and how does it relate to family functioning?

What is differentiation of self and how does it relate to family functioning?

What is the undifferentiated family ego mass?

What is the undifferentiated family ego mass?

SANDRA MALOUGH CYNTHIA LOPEZ

Family = an emotional unit (network of interlocking relationships)

Trying to take the intuitiveness out of therapy by having an objective theory

Multigenerational trends 8 key concepts

process he or she is experiencing

Undifferentiated family ego mass

Originally characterized in psychoanalytic terms

Amount of fusion-differentiation changes

Lowest levels Emotionally fused to the family Feelings dominate

Less anxiety = comfortable back and forth discussion

3. Projection to one or more children

Family projection process

Multigenerational transmission process

Greater fusion = greater cutoff

Reflected in later relationships

Societal emotional process

Those with higher differentiation deal better

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