family systems thinking

Houston Graduate School of Theology

CS 654

FAMILY SYSTEMS THINKING

INTRODUCTION TO BOWEN THEORY AS A WAY TO THINK ABOUT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

INTRODUCTION TO BOWEN THEORY AS A WAY TO THINK ABOUT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

My story

INTRODUCTION TO BOWEN THEORY AS A WAY TO THINK ABOUT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

My story

Varieties of systems

INTRODUCTION TO BOWEN THEORY AS A WAY TO THINK ABOUT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

My story

Varieties of systems

In our culture, the focus has been solely on changing the

systems to the neglect of individual responsibility in

relation to the system.

INTRODUCTION TO BOWEN THEORY AS A WAY TO THINK ABOUT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

My story

Varieties of systems

In our culture, the focus has been solely on changing the

systems to the neglect of individual responsibility in

relation to the system.

Family systems thinking leads to the conclusion that the system will be

changed as the individuals within the

system focus on managing self in the

context of the nuclear family.

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Sibling Position

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Sibling Position

Societal Emotional Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Sibling Position

Societal Emotional Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Sibling Position

Societal Emotional Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Sibling Position

Societal Emotional Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Sibling Position

Societal Emotional Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Nuclear Family Emotional System

Differentiation of Self Scale

Triangles

Cutoff

Family Projection Process

Multigenerational Transmission Process

Sibling Position

Societal Emotional Process

NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

The nuclear family, rather

than the individual, is the emotional unit.

NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

The nuclear family, rather

than the individual, is the emotional unit.

Whatever affects one affects each one in the

system, i.e., anxiety moves easily from

person to person in the group.

NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

The nuclear family, rather

than the individual, is the emotional unit.

Whatever affects one affects each one in the

system, i.e., anxiety moves easily from

person to person in the group.

Acute Anxiety

NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

The nuclear family, rather

than the individual, is the emotional unit.

Whatever affects one affects each one in the

system, i.e., anxiety moves easily from

person to person in the group.

Acute Anxiety

Chronic Anxiety

NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Togetherness forces• Individuality forces

Family members trade “self” into the family

relationship (togetherness) in a

family “fusion” of selves.

NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

• Togetherness forces• Individuality forces

Family members trade “self” into the family

relationship (togetherness) in a

family “fusion” of selves.

• Triangling• Conflict• Distance• Overfunctioning /underfunctioning

Patterns or postures of anxiety within the

system

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF SCALE

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF SCALE

The scale of differentiation of self is the only of the eight concepts that considers, in depth, characteristics of the

individual.

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF SCALE

The scale of differentiation of self is the only of the eight concepts that considers, in depth, characteristics of the

individual.

This is the work of differentiating self from one’s

emotional systems.

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF SCALE

The scale of differentiation of self is the only of the eight concepts that considers, in depth, characteristics of the

individual.

This is the work of differentiating self from one’s

emotional systems.

But even this concept is derived from the basic idea of family as the emotional unit. The degree of individuality each has depends on how fused he or she was/is in

family relationships.

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF SCALE

Pseudo-self

Participant in the relationship exchange involved in fusions

Immature Automatic Reactive

Lets in the anxiety from the system, functions on borrowed self from another, or conversely, gives up self to another

in an instant.

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF SCALE

Basic-self

Guided by principles arrived at

through the best thinking, based on logic

and fact.

Higher on the scale,

boundaries between the

basic-self and pseudo-self are

less permeable.

The most effective place to

change relationship or

personality difficulties is in

the system where they first

developed.

Since anxiety figures so large in

relationship dilemmas, many people work on

regulating anxiety as part of their

work of differentiation.

TRIANGLES

TRIANGLES

A three-person emotional configuration—the basic building block of any emotional system.

TRIANGLES

A three-person emotional configuration—the basic building block of any emotional system.

The smallest stable relationship system.

TRIANGLES

A three-person emotional configuration—the basic building block of any emotional system.

The smallest stable relationship system.

When tension in the triangle is too great for the threesome, it involves others to become a series of interlocking triangles.

TRIANGLES

A three-person emotional configuration—the basic building block of any emotional system.

The smallest stable relationship system.

When tension in the triangle is too great for the threesome, it involves others to become a series of interlocking triangles.

A three-person system is one triangle, a four-person system is four primary triangles, a five-person system is nine.

TRIANGLES

Resist the urge to be in the middle of it, not feeling “left out” when outside the intensity (Gilbert, 51).

TRIANGLES

Resist the urge to be in the middle of it, not feeling “left out” when outside the intensity (Gilbert, 51).

Work to get to a calmer, more “outside” position.

TRIANGLES

Resist the urge to be in the middle of it, not feeling “left out” when outside the intensity (Gilbert, 51).

Work to get to a calmer, more “outside” position.

Become the calmer observer in order to think objectively.

TRIANGLES

Resist the urge to be in the middle of it, not feeling “left out” when outside the intensity (Gilbert, 51).

Work to get to a calmer, more “outside” position.

Become the calmer observer in order to think objectively.

Stay emotionally neutral in order to think.

CUTOFF

A process of separation, isolation, withdrawal, running away, or denying the importance of the parental family.

CUTOFF

A process of separation, isolation, withdrawal, running away, or denying the importance of the parental family.

An extreme form of distancing.

CUTOFF

A process of separation, isolation, withdrawal, running away, or denying the importance of the parental family.

An extreme form of distancing.

One of the ways people attempt to resolve the relationship tension that results from that unresolved attachment, fusion, or undifferentiation and the anxiety it engenders.

FAMILY PROJECTION PROCESS

An explanation of how differentiation levels are passed from parents to offspring as well as how that process can be different for each child in the family.

FAMILY PROJECTION PROCESS

An explanation of how differentiation levels are passed from parents to offspring as well as how that process can be different for each child in the family.

Levels of differentiation can be quite different among siblings.

FAMILY PROJECTION PROCESS

An explanation of how differentiation levels are passed from parents to offspring as well as how that process can be different for each child in the family.

Levels of differentiation can be quite different among siblings.

The worried “child-focus” or “projection” of anxiety gets off-loaded to offspring.

FAMILY PROJECTION PROCESS

An explanation of how differentiation levels are passed from parents to offspring as well as how that process can be different for each child in the family.

Levels of differentiation can be quite different among siblings.

The worried “child-focus” or “projection” of anxiety gets off-loaded to offspring.

It seems that the projection process is different for different children.