Family Systems Issue 7.1
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Table of Contents: 7.1
FROM THE EDITOR
Michael E. Kerr, MD
ARTICLES: Journal articles reflect natural systems thinking or are relevant to it. These may include concept papers as well as research studies.
THE NEW LEADERS: LEADERSHIP TRANSITION IN FAMILY BUSINESS
Kathleen Riordan, MSW
This is an anecdotal report of a two-year study of eight second generation business leaders in family owned businesses. The eight leaders were interviewed over a two-year period. These second generation leaders were heading up small to medium sized copier dealerships in various parts of the United States. The businesses were all privately held and were either by or purchased by a family member of the previous generation.
FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPY IN OFFICE PRACTICE
Murray Bowen, MD
Introduction: Ruth Riley Sagar, MA and Catherine Murphy Rakow, MSW
Dr. Bowen’s “in-residence” family research project at NIMH (1954-1959) provided the laboratory for the observation that the family is an emotional unit. This idea guided the research and the method of therapy that developed from it. Eleven families lived in the hospital for extended periods of up to three years, and eight families were seen on an outpatient basis. Once it was possible to see the patterns of emotional interdependence in the research families, it was possible to extend these observations to all families. Dr. Bowen's presentation of his work with families from his clinical practice was made in 1961, almost two years after the NIMH project had ended. In this presentation he describes how difficult it is for a family member to change and the influence on the system when even a small change occurs. He also describes the thinking behind the method of having the spouses work on problems between them without involving the child.
HEROIN ADDICTS, FAMILY, AND RECOVERY: A PILOT STUDY
Joan Jurkowski, MS
Using Bowen family systems theory as a guide, the researcher examined whether or not frequent family contacts correlated with successful recovery from heroin addiction. In addition to family relationships, other demographic and treatment factors were compared. Bowen theory was used as a model for a theory of addiction. This theory views symptoms as influenced by a multitude of factors including anxiety, family relationship patterns, and position in the family. Emotional cutoff, one of the theory's concepts, was addressed in the study.
FACULTY CASE CONFERENCE: Presentation of a faculty clinical case, followed by a discussion with faculty members of the Bowen Center.
A METHODOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT WITH A QUASI MOTHER CHILD RELATIONSHIP
Presenter: Kathleen B. Kerr, MSN, MA
This case represents a methodological experiment. The two people seen together are first cousins once removed. The older female is the younger male’s guardian and emotional mother. Theoretically based methodology does not suggest seeing a financially dependent young person with his mother. All too often in such an arrangement the mother comes to help the therapist fix the young person and is unwilling to look at herself. For a number of reasons the therapist didn’t think it would be efficacious to see these two separately. Yet while seeing them together, could the therapist address the emotional mother’s part in their reciprocal relationship equally to the symptomatic young person’s behavior? It seems it has been possible to do so.
BOOK REVIEWS: Reviews on books relevant to Bowen theory and its many applications.
THE BLANK SLATE: THE MODERN DENIAL OF HUMAN NATURE
Steven Pinker, PhD
Reviewed by Carolyn Jacobs, Psy
LOVE AT GOON PARK: HARRY HARLOW AND THE SCIENCE OF AFFECTION
Deborah Blum
Reviewed by Ann D. Bunting, PhD