WEBVTT 00:00:00.845 --> 00:00:02.035 Oh No! 00:00:02.035 --> 00:00:03.585 I have an exam coming up. 00:00:03.585 --> 00:00:06.585 What is trans generational systems theory? 00:00:09.585 --> 00:00:11.971 Woah there! 00:00:11.971 --> 00:00:14.521 You sound a little nervous. 00:00:14.521 --> 00:00:15.385 Don't worry, 00:00:15.385 --> 00:00:17.585 I am here to help. 00:00:17.585 --> 00:00:21.675 First! All trans generational theorist share the belief that 00:00:21.675 --> 00:00:26.069 present day problems are related to issues in a persons family of origin 00:00:26.069 --> 00:00:28.889 and all though their theories and practices may differ. 00:00:28.889 --> 00:00:31.450 They all agree that the way to problem resolution involves 00:00:31.450 --> 00:00:36.060 working with more than on generation in therapy. 00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:40.779 Trans generational approaches to family therapy grow out of the work of 00:00:40.779 --> 00:00:43.600 such pioneers as Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:45.280 James Framo, 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:46.239 Norman Paul, 00:00:46.239 --> 00:00:47.081 and Murray Bowen. 00:00:47.081 --> 00:00:49.460 Although their theories and practice my differ, 00:00:49.460 --> 00:00:53.359 all of them agree that the royal road to problem resolution 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:56.670 involves working with more than one generation in therapy. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:03.768 Specifically, it is the unresolved conflicts, beliefs and roles in a individual 00:01:03.768 --> 00:01:07.524 that are thought to be transmitted across generations. 00:01:07.524 --> 00:01:11.207 And I know you want to know about all the theories, 00:01:11.207 --> 00:01:15.271 but how about we just stick to one today. 00:01:15.271 --> 00:01:18.795 Today lets talk about Bowen's Model of family therapy. 00:01:19.355 --> 00:01:21.834 And to help me 00:01:21.834 --> 00:01:23.334 I brought along Murray Bowen. 00:01:23.971 --> 00:01:24.958 Hi class! 00:01:24.958 --> 00:01:26.498 I am Murray Bowen. 00:01:27.269 --> 00:01:31.320 Bowen conducted clinical studies at the National Institute of Mental Health 00:01:31.320 --> 00:01:35.649 in which entire families lived on a psychiatric ward with their family members. 00:01:35.649 --> 00:01:38.839 He noticed the patients and their parents 00:01:38.839 --> 00:01:41.969 acted in predictable inter-actional patterns. 00:01:41.969 --> 00:01:47.601 He found that anxiety was often transmitted from 00:01:47.601 --> 00:01:49.670 one family member to another 00:01:49.670 --> 00:01:52.959 and even to other staff members working on the unit. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:55.960 In fact, he found that a families anxiety often subsided 00:01:55.960 --> 00:01:58.730 as various members of the unit staff 00:01:58.730 --> 00:02:03.390 began to take on the anxiety for them. 00:02:03.390 --> 00:02:07.689 These observations lead Bowen to develop a system concept for 00:02:07.689 --> 00:02:13.270 Schizophrenia and other disorders. 00:02:13.270 --> 00:02:16.540 A core assumption of Bowen system theory 00:02:16.540 --> 00:02:19.010 is that families and other natural systems 00:02:19.010 --> 00:02:21.949 response in organized pattern behaviors. 00:02:21.949 --> 00:02:25.741 This instinctual organizing into repetitive patterns 00:02:25.741 --> 00:02:28.789 is called the emotional system. 00:02:29.789 --> 00:02:33.860 Although there is a lot of information in my theory 00:02:33.860 --> 00:02:36.227 I really want to talk about the six major concepts. 00:02:37.227 --> 00:02:40.603 Good idea, Murray! 00:02:40.603 --> 00:02:42.773 There are Differentiation of Self, 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:44.599 Triangles, 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:46.819 Nuclear Family Emotional Process, 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:48.331 Family Projection Process, 00:02:48.331 --> 00:02:52.368 and Multi Generational Transmission Process. 00:02:52.368 --> 00:02:54.549 I think that's it, right? 00:02:58.379 --> 00:03:00.079 You forgot Sibling Position. 00:03:00.079 --> 00:03:03.111 And then there is my other ideas: 00:03:03.111 --> 00:03:07.579 Genograms, Coaching, Eye Position, Person to Person Relationship, 00:03:07.579 --> 00:03:14.270 Process Questions, Emotional Reactivity, Emotional Cutoff, Projective Hypothesis. 00:03:14.270 --> 00:03:15.927 I could go on and on. 00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:23.049 Yes Murray! But we don't have time to talk about all of that. 00:03:23.049 --> 00:03:26.191 So how about we pick a few and talk about them individually. 00:03:26.191 --> 00:03:27.191 How's that? 00:03:28.570 --> 00:03:30.819 Yeah! Let's do it! 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:35.920 Bowen theorized that families are living organisms 00:03:35.920 --> 00:03:39.319 with identifiable patterns of behavior. 00:03:39.319 --> 00:03:42.999 In the family organism patterns of dysfunctional behavior 00:03:42.999 --> 00:03:46.620 tend to be repeated and become stabilized over time 00:03:46.620 --> 00:03:50.121 and can under mind family relationships. 00:03:54.181 --> 00:03:57.711 Individuals within the family system are pulled between 00:03:57.711 --> 00:04:00.870 belonging to the group and being separate. 00:04:00.870 --> 00:04:02.370 Ideally there should be balance. 00:04:03.370 --> 00:04:06.590 Can you talk more about that? 00:04:06.590 --> 00:04:09.038 Isn't it your idea of differentiation? 00:04:10.720 --> 00:04:13.489 Yes! My idea of Differentiation of Self 00:04:13.489 --> 00:04:17.900 explains the degree of closeness and distance individuals are in their family. 00:04:19.238 --> 00:04:23.630 Bowen coined the term differentiation to address the life long process individuals 00:04:23.630 --> 00:04:28.749 go through to define the self within the family emotional system. 00:04:28.749 --> 00:04:32.980 Differentiation of Self is demonstrated by the degree to which a person can 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:38.319 think, plan, and follow his or own values or convictions separate from 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:39.629 their families emotional system. 00:04:42.169 --> 00:04:46.150 Highly differentiated individuals are able to react to the world 00:04:46.150 --> 00:04:50.968 rationally and enter into relationships while balancing competing needs 00:04:50.968 --> 00:04:53.420 for belonging and being an individual. 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:59.300 Would you say differentiation is the corner stone of your model? 00:05:00.198 --> 00:05:04.399 Yes! And the goal of therapy is to help one or more family members to a 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:07.030 higher level of differentiation 00:05:07.030 --> 00:05:11.110 so that they can form open and honest relationships with others. 00:05:11.871 --> 00:05:14.639 Those persons with low levels of differentiation 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:22.548 cannot think clearly for themselves and tend to be emotionally reactive. 00:05:22.548 --> 00:05:26.591 Without their own identity these persons mimic views they have heard 00:05:26.591 --> 00:05:31.071 rather than developing ideas of their own. 00:05:31.071 --> 00:05:34.840 In order to classify all levels of human functioning, 00:05:34.840 --> 00:05:39.379 Bowen developed the differentiation of self scale. 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:44.291 The scale quantifies from zero to hundred the basic level of self in a person. 00:05:44.291 --> 00:05:48.229 People at the higher end of the scale or said to have a solid self. 00:05:48.229 --> 00:05:52.479 A person with a solid self is more differentiated and is able to function 00:05:52.479 --> 00:05:58.760 based upon a personal defined set of values, beliefs and life principles. 00:05:58.760 --> 00:06:02.420 Those at the lower end of the scale have a pseudo self 00:06:02.420 --> 00:06:04.139 that is negotiable in relationships 00:06:04.139 --> 00:06:08.000 and are easily influenced according to others emotions. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.798 The pseudo self is composed of beliefs and ideas 00:06:10.798 --> 00:06:13.205 that are essentialy borrowed. 00:06:13.205 --> 00:06:19.150 Those with a pseudo self live according to feelings not facts. 00:06:19.150 --> 00:06:23.440 Bowen developed this scale from zero or no self 00:06:23.440 --> 00:06:26.320 to one hundred, the highest level of differentiation 00:06:26.320 --> 00:06:30.040 as a way to evaluate the degree of emotional fusion one has 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:36.480 with others and their families of origin. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:41.009 Bowen believes that people chose mates with levels of differentiation 00:06:41.009 --> 00:06:42.840 similar to their own. 00:06:42.840 --> 00:06:44.959 His concept of Nuclear Family Emotional System 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:49.049 describes three possible patterns in a nuclear family 00:06:49.049 --> 00:06:52.430 when patterns are intensely fused. 00:06:52.430 --> 00:06:54.630 They are 00:06:54.630 --> 00:06:55.679 Martial Conflict, 00:06:55.679 --> 00:06:58.921 Impairment In One of More of the Children, 00:06:58.921 --> 00:07:01.029 and Dysfunction In The Spouse. 00:07:02.688 --> 00:07:05.510 Let's meet the Smith Family, who will show us examples. 00:07:06.709 --> 00:07:08.069 My mom's coming over for dinner. 00:07:08.069 --> 00:07:09.069 Can you get rid of that hat? 00:07:09.069 --> 00:07:11.349 You know how much she hates it. 00:07:12.590 --> 00:07:13.891 No way! 00:07:13.891 --> 00:07:15.311 I don't care what she thinks. 00:07:15.311 --> 00:07:15.811 I love this hat. 00:07:17.121 --> 00:07:18.760 You never do what I ask you to do. 00:07:18.760 --> 00:07:19.725 I ask you to mow the lawn, 00:07:19.725 --> 00:07:20.691 you don't mow the lawn. 00:07:20.691 --> 00:07:22.091 I ask you to clean the dishes, 00:07:22.091 --> 00:07:23.091 you don't clean the dishes. 00:07:23.091 --> 00:07:24.239 I ask you to take your hat off, 00:07:24.239 --> 00:07:25.239 you don't even take your hat off. 00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:31.210 Blah, blah, blah, that's all I ever hear is blah, blah, blah. 00:07:31.210 --> 00:07:31.945 You don't do this, 00:07:31.945 --> 00:07:32.681 you don't do that. 00:07:32.681 --> 00:07:34.610 I can't take it anymore. 00:07:36.389 --> 00:07:40.409 The Family Projection Process described the primary way 00:07:40.409 --> 00:07:44.228 parents transmit their emotional problems to a child. 00:07:44.228 --> 00:07:47.509 Children can inherit problems as well as strengths 00:07:47.509 --> 00:07:50.090 through the relationship with their parents. 00:07:50.090 --> 00:07:53.499 Undifferentiated parents can transmit their immaturity 00:07:53.499 --> 00:07:59.530 or lack of differentiation to their children through the Family Projection Process. 00:07:59.530 --> 00:08:03.730 Let's see how one child was affected. 00:08:05.041 --> 00:08:07.080 Mom can I please have candy? 00:08:07.080 --> 00:08:10.640 Please, please, please, please, so much please. 00:08:10.640 --> 00:08:12.711 I will give you a dollar. 00:08:12.711 --> 00:08:14.071 Please? 00:08:14.071 --> 00:08:14.571 Can I please have candy? 00:08:14.571 --> 00:08:16.190 Can I please have candy? 00:08:16.190 --> 00:08:19.110 Can I please, please, please have candy? 00:08:20.201 --> 00:08:23.460 According to Bowen, the position the child has within the family 00:08:23.460 --> 00:08:26.060 impacts their development and behavior. 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:29.880 This child is the youngest and has turned out to be quite demanding. 00:08:30.705 --> 00:08:33.111 Dad give me candy, but you don't. 00:08:33.111 --> 00:08:35.411 Please just give me some candy. 00:08:36.660 --> 00:08:39.031 Wow! This family could use some help. 00:08:39.031 --> 00:08:40.031 How bout Murray? 00:08:41.069 --> 00:08:45.432 But wait! Now is a good time to talk about triangles. 00:08:46.331 --> 00:08:49.214 I know what a triangle is. 00:08:49.214 --> 00:08:51.274 It's? 00:08:51.274 --> 00:08:58.539 It has one face and three corners. 00:08:58.539 --> 00:09:00.920 CORNERS!! 00:09:02.049 --> 00:09:06.069 Yes! In my model a triangle is the smallest unit in a family system. 00:09:06.069 --> 00:09:08.599 When anxiety forms between two people 00:09:08.599 --> 00:09:11.740 drawing in a third person helps stabilize the system. 00:09:12.351 --> 00:09:15.920 And let's bring in the mother in law to show us an example. 00:09:18.739 --> 00:09:19.860 Hey honey! 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:23.590 I bought you some groceries seeing we all know your wife hates to cook 00:09:23.590 --> 00:09:25.068 and doesn't know how to food shop. 00:09:27.859 --> 00:09:29.468 Thanks mom! 00:09:29.468 --> 00:09:30.468 You're the best. 00:09:31.880 --> 00:09:35.540 Triangles are the basic build blocks of an emotional system 00:09:35.540 --> 00:09:38.460 and serves to connect individuals to each other 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:41.560 as anxiety builds between two members of a family. 00:09:41.560 --> 00:09:45.349 A third individuals involved to stabilize the relationship 00:09:45.349 --> 00:09:47.600 or bind the anxiety. 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:51.035 Bye guys. 00:09:51.035 --> 00:09:51.645 Love you. 00:09:51.645 --> 00:09:54.055 Glad I could help. 00:09:55.188 --> 00:10:00.540 According to Bowen; roles, patterns, emotional reactivity and family structure 00:10:00.540 --> 00:10:06.070 is passed from one generation to another. 00:10:06.070 --> 00:10:10.278 In each generation, the child that is most fused with the family 00:10:10.278 --> 00:10:13.487 is the less differentiated. 00:10:13.487 --> 00:10:16.360 Conversely, the one that is less anxiously involved 00:10:16.710 --> 00:10:19.241 becomes the most differentiated. 00:10:22.291 --> 00:10:24.028 Mr. Murray are you almost done? 00:10:24.028 --> 00:10:26.760 I really want to talk about treatment. 00:10:27.648 --> 00:10:32.129 Yes! But first let me tell the class a little about some of my treatment ideas. 00:10:32.129 --> 00:10:36.448 First, my model doesn't required all members of the family to be present. 00:10:36.448 --> 00:10:40.891 But it does require an understanding of how they family system operates 00:10:40.891 --> 00:10:44.089 across multiple generations. 00:10:44.089 --> 00:10:48.419 Second, I will do a family Gemogram and collect important information including 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:53.809 ages, marriages, divorces, births, deaths and the quality of relationships. 00:10:53.809 --> 00:10:57.989 It will indicate any loyalties, conflicts and cutoffs. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:01.569 In Bowen's model, the therapists role 00:11:01.569 --> 00:11:04.318 is one of helping the client start a life long process 00:11:04.318 --> 00:11:07.259 of self discovery and differentiation. 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:10.450 The therapists encourages family members to take 00:11:10.450 --> 00:11:14.528 increasing responsibility for their roles in creating and maintaining problems 00:11:14.528 --> 00:11:18.679 by coaching them to make statements to reflect their own thoughts and feelings 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:20.859 instead of blaming others. 00:11:20.859 --> 00:11:25.519 And of course without getting triangulated into the system themselves. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.019 Simply put, 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:31.189 the therapist teaches them how emotional systems operate. 00:11:31.189 --> 00:11:39.690 and initiate the work of differentiation from the respective families of origin. 00:11:39.690 --> 00:11:41.810 Well! I've got to get back to class. 00:11:41.810 --> 00:11:43.577 But thanks for your help Murray. 00:11:43.577 --> 00:11:45.967 And to everyone else good luck on your exam. 00:11:49.897 --> 00:11:52.760 Now we can relax. 00:11:52.760 --> 00:12:15.989 [upbeat music]