Bowenian Theory
CHAPTER
5
Bowenian Family Therapy
THINKING ABOUT THIS APPROACH
Murray Bowen’s approach can be thought of as a first-generation approach. At its core, it is a classical psychodynamic approach that has been updated and informed by systems theory. To develop the early theories of family therapy, theorists frequently simply modified older theories to fit their newly developed systems paradigm. These modifications changed their unit of analysis from the individual to the family. Kerr and Bowen (1988) summarize this by asserting,“Family systems theory radically departed from previous theories of human emotion functioning by virtue of its conceptualization of the family as an emotional unit” (p. viii). Bowen’s theory was a grand theory that sought to describe the interrelationship of biological, psychological, and sociological levels of understanding.
Bowen’s theory not only has been important to the development of the field, but it serves as a primary theoretical orientation for many therapists. It also has had significant influence on the theories of therapists who have developed an integrative approach (Miller,Anderson, &
Keala, 2004).
Bowen started his theoretical journey at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas, in
1946, but as his interest shifted from psychoanalysis to more systemic theoretical approaches, he left in 1954 to become a researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health.There Bowen’s ability to observe whole families on the research ward pushed his theoretical understanding of families past a Freudian perspective (Kerr & Bowen, 1988). In 1959, Bowen moved to
Georgetown University’s Department of Psychiatry, where he taught and further refined his theory until his death in 1990.
81
Bowen’s theoretical approach to family therapy is in the style of a grand theorist seeking to develop a theory that explains all social phenomena.As Friedman (1991) points out,“Bowen theory is really not about family per se, but about
5
Bowenian Family Therapy
THINKING ABOUT THIS APPROACH
Murray Bowen’s approach can be thought of as a first-generation approach. At its core, it is a classical psychodynamic approach that has been updated and informed by systems theory. To develop the early theories of family therapy, theorists frequently simply modified older theories to fit their newly developed systems paradigm. These modifications changed their unit of analysis from the individual to the family. Kerr and Bowen (1988) summarize this by asserting,“Family systems theory radically departed from previous theories of human emotion functioning by virtue of its conceptualization of the family as an emotional unit” (p. viii). Bowen’s theory was a grand theory that sought to describe the interrelationship of biological, psychological, and sociological levels of understanding.
Bowen’s theory not only has been important to the development of the field, but it serves as a primary theoretical orientation for many therapists. It also has had significant influence on the theories of therapists who have developed an integrative approach (Miller,Anderson, &
Keala, 2004).
Bowen started his theoretical journey at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas, in
1946, but as his interest shifted from psychoanalysis to more systemic theoretical approaches, he left in 1954 to become a researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health.There Bowen’s ability to observe whole families on the research ward pushed his theoretical understanding of families past a Freudian perspective (Kerr & Bowen, 1988). In 1959, Bowen moved to
Georgetown University’s Department of Psychiatry, where he taught and further refined his theory until his death in 1990.
81
Bowen’s theoretical approach to family therapy is in the style of a grand theorist seeking to develop a theory that explains all social phenomena.As Friedman (1991) points out,“Bowen theory is really not about family per se, but about