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Dynamics of Family Systems
- 1. THE FAMILY SYSTEM: DYNAMICS OF RETURNING HOME AND RELATIONAL GROWTH Dustin Risser, M.A.
- 2. THE FAMILY SYSTEM • An organism of it’s own (Bowen, 1993) • The role of homeostasis. • Norms and expectations • Optimal a balance between autonomy and dependence in close relationships
- 3. ANXIETY IN THE FAMILY • External, internal triggers of anxiety • Stabilization and Patterns of Interaction (Minuchin, 1974) • Emotional reactivity .vs. emotional distancing
- 4. DIFFERENTIATION: GROWING INTO WHO YOU ARE IN RELATIONSHIP
- 5. FEATURES OF DIFFERENTIATION • Capacity to be in relationship and a “self” • Ability to maintain intimacy and tolerate being alone • Balance in flexible but intentional emotional boundaries • Self-awareness • Ability communicate non- reactively
- 6. COMMUNICA TION & BOUNDARIES • Diffuse Boundaries .vs. Rigid Boundaries • Family history and cultural context • Openness, honesty, and a posture of non-reactivity
- 7. EMOTIONAL PATTERNS • Bowen’s (1993) 5 patterns of Emotional Reactivity • Interpersonal Conflict • Distance • Cutoff • Overfunctioning/Underfunctioning Roles • Triangling
- 8. TRIANGLING • Bringing in a third person • Attempt to diffuse anxiety • Role of identified patient in larger system
- 10. CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS • European/ Western Bias in Family Systems Theories • Limitations • Enmeshment • Community • Intergenerational Values • Example : Zulu culture (Nel, 2011).
- 11. REFERENCES Bowen, M. (1993). Family therapy in clinical practice. Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson, Inc. Gilbert, R.M. (1992). Extraordinary relationships: A new way of think about human interactions. New York, NY: Wiley. Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Nel, M.J. (2011). Bowen theory and Zulu understanding of family. In O.C. Breghman & C.M. White (Eds.), Bringing Systems Thinking to Life: Expanding the Horizons of Bowen Family Systems Theory. New York, NY: Routledge. Pp. 335-345.
Editor's Notes
- Bowen worked in the psychiatry field in the 1950’s, and came to an understanding that was different than his day. The basic premise is that the core of emotional functioning and learning was not the individual – but in the family as a whole – hence the family system. Families often also function by norms and expectations to maintain balance (What are some of your families? Which ones feel helpful, which feel confining?) The system is an organism of it’s own which functions to maintain some type of stability ot “homeostasis” (even if the stable pattern is harmful to individuals, often it feels “safer” or normal. The family organism faces stressors or threats (anxiety, financial, generational, psychogical, societal, spiritual) it often reacts by “doubling down” into familiar patterns. Basically – threats cause emotional intensity, which creates a ripple effect of reactivity. Family therapist Salvador Minuchin also saw that this family organism had structural patterns when threatened, which often complicates boundaries between family members (i.e, enmeshment, disengagement) Optimal family system is able to navigate the particularity of each individual while maintaining connection and closeness
- Different things can set off family anxiety (fear, preservation, emotional reactivity) - some are internal – conflicts, medical issues, boundaries, power/ hierarchy, personality – some, are external – job loss, social norms - etc. The system reacts “automatically” as a whole often to try to create a sense of stabilization. Family therapist Salvador Minuchin also saw that this family organism had structural patterns when threatened, which often complicates boundaries between family members (i.e, enmenshment, disengagement