Bowen Theory the eight basic concepts

BOWEN THEORY THE EIGHT BASIC

CONCEPTSHouston Graduate School of Theology

Pl 800

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

My story


My story

Varieties of

systems


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.


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 Nuclear Family Emotional System

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY Nuclear Family Emotional SystemDifferentiation of Self Scale

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY Nuclear Family Emotional SystemDifferentiation of Self ScaleTriangles

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY Nuclear Family Emotional SystemDifferentiation of Self ScaleTrianglesCutoff

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY Nuclear Family Emotional SystemDifferentiation of Self ScaleTrianglesCutoffFamily Projection Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY Nuclear Family Emotional SystemDifferentiation of Self ScaleTrianglesCutoffFamily Projection ProcessMultigenerational Transmission Process

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY Nuclear Family Emotional SystemDifferentiation of Self ScaleTrianglesCutoffFamily Projection ProcessMultigenerational Transmission ProcessSibling Position

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY Nuclear Family Emotional SystemDifferentiation of Self ScaleTrianglesCutoffFamily Projection ProcessMultigenerational Transmission ProcessSibling PositionSocietal Emotional Process

NUCLEAR FAMILY EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

The nuclear family, rather

than the individual, is the emotional

unit.




unit.

Whatever affects one affects each

one in the system, i.e., anxiety moves easily from person

to person in the group.




unit.

Whatever affects one affects each

one in the system, i.e., anxiety moves easily from person

to person in the group.

Acute Anxiet

yChronic

Anxiety


Family members trade “self” into

the family relationship

(togetherness) in a family “fusion”

of selves.


• Togetherness forces




of selves.



• Individuality forces




of selves.







of selves.

Patterns or postures of

anxiety within the system







of selves.

• TrianglingPatterns or postures of








of selves.

• Triangling• ConflictPatterns or

postures of anxiety within the

system







of selves.

• Triangling• Conflict• Distance




• Togetherness forces• Individuality forces




of selves.

• Triangling• Conflict• Distance• Overfunctioning

/underfunctioning



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.





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.


Scale is an attempt to understand

differentiation.



differentiation.

Scale is not an attempt to “beat

out” others.



differentiation.


out” others.

Most of the population is

below 30 and 50 is unusual.

Bowen thought he would be about a 35.



differentiation.


out” others.

Most of the population is

below 30 and 50 is unusual.

Bowen thought he would be about a 35.

As people operate less out of emotional fusion, they have more choice over what and when they think, feel, and do.


Pseudo-self


Pseudo-self

Participant in the relationship exchange

involved in fusions


Pseudo-self


involved in fusions

Lets in the anxiety from the system, functions on

borrowed self from another, or conversely, gives up self to another in an instant.


Pseudo-self


involved in fusions

Immature




Pseudo-self


involved in fusions

Immature

Automatic




Pseudo-self


involved in fusions

Immature

Automatic Reactive




Basic-self


Basic-selfGuided

by principles arrived at through the best thinking, based on logic and

fact.


Basic-selfGuided


fact.

Higher on the scale, boundari

es between the basic-self and pseudo-self are

less permeabl

e.


Basic-selfGuided


fact.



less permeabl

e.

The most effective place to change

relationship or

personality difficulties is in the system

where they first

developed.


Basic-selfGuided


fact.



less permeabl

e.

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.

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

TRIANGLESA 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.


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.


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.

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

TRIANGLESResist 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.



Stay emotionally neutral in order to think.

Luke 12:13-21

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


An extreme form of distancing.


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 PROCESSAn 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.



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

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

FAMILY PROJECTION PROCESSIn any family, a given child can receive so much focus (anxiety) that other siblings are left a little freer of the family emotional process. They will receive less anxiety. Thus, they are less fused into the family self-amalgam.

FAMILY PROJECTION PROCESSIn any family, a given child can receive so much focus (anxiety) that other siblings are left a little freer of the family emotional process. They will receive less anxiety. Thus, they are less fused into the family self-amalgam. At the same time, they do not cut off from it. They are in communication with it. They recognize the problems, and they, too, carry some of the spillover anxiety, just not as much (Gilbert, 69).

FAMILY PROJECTION PROCESS

Observations of emotional processes are not for the purposes of condemnation.



Rather, these observations often make it possible for the present generation, when people can see how they play a part, however unintentional, to have more choices, and thus leave a different legacy for their offspring.



Rather, these observations often make it possible for the present generation, when people can see how they play a part, however unintentional, to have more choices, and thus leave a different legacy for their offspring.

Everyone has choices about what to do with anxiety—however it originates.

MULTIGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION PROCESS

The Family Projection Process written through the generations.


The Family Projection Process written through the generations.Observe the generations, connecting with the oldest members of the family.


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.

• Longevity


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.

• Longevity

• Health


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.

• Longevity

• Health• Locations


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.

• Longevity• Health• Locations• Incomes,

businesses, professions


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.



• Reproductive history


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.




• Marriages


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.




• Marriages• Dates of

births, deaths, marriages


Look for facts in

the family diagra

m.




• Marriages• Dates of

births, deaths, marriages

• Education

SIBLING POSITION

Many factors other than sibling position combine to influence personality so they may or may not be

dominant in a given individual. But in the aggregate, statistically, the factors showed

themselves to be important and

significant.

SIBLING POSITION

Many factors other than sibling position combine to influence personality so they may or may not be

dominant in a given individual. But in the aggregate, statistically, the factors showed

themselves to be important and

significant.

No sibling position is better than another.

SIBLING POSITIONThe “automatics” from original family fusions that are carried into adulthood will include those of sibling position.


More fused families will be more affected by sibling position characteristics. Less fused families, less so.


More fused families will be more affected by sibling position characteristics. Less fused families, less so.

No middle position is listed since middle children often adopt another position more than one position, depending upon several factors.

EMOTIONAL PROCESS IN SOCIETY

Originally called

“societal regression,” this concept states that society is

more or less anxious,

orderly, and organized at

different times in history.


Originally called





During times of societal regression, increased anxiety is evident in people in general,

firing chaos and

irresponsible behavior.


Originally called





During times of societal regression, increased anxiety is evident in people in general,

firing chaos and

irresponsible behavior.

The chaos and

irresponsibility create

more anxiety,

leading to more

problems in society in an escalating

cycle.

THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY

Learn to observe, not to diagnose but to understand


Learn to observe, not to diagnose but to understandWatch for reactivity in self and in system


Learn to observe, not to diagnose but to understandWatch for reactivity in self and in systemMove toward a calm place where thinking can happen


Learn to observe, not to diagnose but to understandWatch for reactivity in self and in systemMove toward a calm place where thinking can happenLearn the facts and how to “think systems”



Watch for reactivity in self and in system

Move toward a calm place where thinking can happen

Learn the facts and how to “think systems”

Get clear on guiding principles, then learn to take a stand for higher and better functioning for self.



Watch for reactivity in self and in system

Move toward a calm place where thinking can happen

Learn the facts and how to “think systems”

Get clear on guiding principles, then learn to take a stand for higher and better functioning for self.

Connect with the generations eradicating cutoff.

Bowen Theory the eight basic concepts

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personal transformation