Murray Bowen, MD. The Father of Family Systems Theory Murray Bowen is considered to be the father of Family Systems theory. Bowen was studying to be a medical doctor when he discovered an alarming trend. Schizophrenic children and their mothers all seem to have a distorted and unbalanced relationship. This relationship had poor, emotional boundaries that made coexisting with each other more difficult. In some ways, the lack of boundaries and triangulation exasperated the psychological disorder.This observation opened up the door for Bowen to observe the dynamics of how the family could cause its own problems. Although your family may not have a schizophrenic person in your ranks, we can draw from some wisdom that Dr. Bowen was able to glean from the thousands of families he worked with over his lifetime. Families are like a mini-community. We may have even experienced a cycle or cause-and-effect episode while growing up in our family or in the family we now have. Sometimes it is helpful to reflect and explore if something as simple as birth order or weak boundaries can effect the happiness and health of the entire group. But how "Biblical" is Bowen? How are we to know if this is just another secular, humanist perspective that may affect our family's spiritual health? It is always wise to seek out wisdom. It is even more prudent to put up any philosophy or therapeutic method to see if it works within a Biblical framework. The following websites offer some unique insights on the subject of Murray Bowen and a Christian Worldview. The Families Systems Institute, by Jenny Brown offers an excellent insight to wresteliing with this very issue. She believes that Bowen's theory can be viewed as a scientific explanation of how families interact with one another. She writes: Bowen theory may be seen as part of this helpful knowledge base that is part of the generosity of God’s common grace to all humanity. At the same time the Christian stays mindful that any explanation of the human that comes from secular thought will not reveal our greatest problem…our separation from our creator God. There will always be limitations to human knowledge and any quest for knowledge to give meaning to life inevitably lowers our horizon to this short life and not to the world that Christians believe is to come. The challenge, on the other hand, is not to reactively dismiss information that does not come from Biblical thought but to use our God given thinking capacity to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5 It is possible to view Bowen's theory as a scientific explanation of how God's grace can be spent between each other. We always wrestle between the polarity of the stewardship of grace found in Romans 6:1 and generosity of grace found in Romans 12:10. Bowen has a human explanation of how we can live in peace with others and to honor one another too. Psychology, in my own view, is a human explanation of how human behavior exists and how it can be changed. Psychology is the science and study of human behavior. Specifically, Murray Bowen's Theory is unique in that he desires for every person to be an "expert in their own family." Rob Price's article, Proverbial Wisdom: why Christians can think with Murray Bowen, he believes that the approach can augment our human relationships. It simply wants to describe the world as it is, as we live in it — with all its beauty, foolishness, and enigma — and help us live in it “better,” more wisely, more in tune with how the whole thing rolls, more given to life and its flourishing. Murray Bowen can offer us a unique and specific explanation on why we may "fail" each other. BUT, the distinct advantage to his theory and approach is that it calls things as they are and gives us tools to work through it. Bowen basically is not interested in "Lording" over us with his intellect but to empower us to become aware of our family's tension and provide hope to make everyone in the family happier and healthier.
What aspects do you find helpful?
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Who was Virginia Satir?
The "mother" of Family Systems Theory Virginia Satir The "Nuts and Bolts" of her Approach They target emotional transactions. The approach helps us bring attention on how we are talking to one another. Is the sound of our voice matching the emotional appropriateness of our conversation. Warm, empathy, and the sense of self. Her belief is that it is important to learn the skills of nurturing the family bond through communication. This would include becoming more aware of how warm we are to one another. She believed that being empathetic to one another helps break down barriers. She believed we could understand one another and could foster mutual respect for the whole family. It is important that each member's speech and conversation reflect the warmth and understanding so that they can build a stronger self of self. Each person learns that they are an important member of the family. The family then learns how to better build each individual up, helping them become the best they can possibly be. What we can learn from her. So, how can I use this information in my own family? I will mention as a disclaimer that Virginia Satir is a Humanist and is not a Christian; however, her insights to fostering respect, understanding the Family as a system and communication techniques fall within the instructions Jesus Christ and Paul taught us. The concept of warmth is also found in scripture. Paul writes us in Romans 12:10: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" (KJV). Speaking to one another in an affectionate and warm way is a fundamental teaching of Christian relationship. It is even more necessary and special within the family unit. The importance of empathy is a frequent theme in scriptures. We do know that a ministry of the Holy Spirit is to know us, even if we do not know what to say. Also, many times, Jesus felt compassion (a form of empathy) before he reached out to heal people in his day. The most poignant teaching for empathy is found in Philippians 2:4: "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (KJV). Empathy is taking a "time-out" from your own feelings, asking questions and investing time/ energy in understanding the inner workings of another person. Empathy can build foundations and bridges for when the "tough" times come and during them. Strong Sense of self... is that the same as selfishness? Not quite. 1 Corinthians 12:27 tells us that : Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" (NIV). We are parts. The part must be its own part to be one. It is healthy and beneficial to have a sense of self. Having a strong sense of self can help you know and understanding your strengths, weaknesses and gifts. It also helps you to find how you can best help your family and which ways "helping" may actually be hurting them. As you can see, we have some things in common with Virginia Satir. I hope you are able to use these concepts for your families own benefit and happiness. |
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