Family Therapy - Systemic Family Therapy

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the notes on Systemic Family Therapy (Bowenian approach).

Triangles

Three-person relationship system; the smallest stable unit; dyads are unstable.

Dyads

Two-person relationships; inherently unstable, with oscillation between closeness and distance.

Innocent Triangles

Triangles formed without malicious intent; can stabilize or complicate conflict.

Problematic Triangles

Triangles that perpetuate dysfunction within the family system.

Triangulation

Involving a third person in a dyadic conflict; can reduce tension but may freeze conflict.

Maladaptive Triangles

A triangle where a member feels forced, pressured, blamed, or manipulated; ongoing pattern.

Not Maladaptive Triangles

Triangles where input from the triangulated member is sought and openly discussed.

Differentiation of Self

Capacity to think and reflect, balancing thinking and feeling under emotional pressure.

Balanced Thinking

Clear, objective thinking in emotional situations.

Balanced Feeling

Regulated emotions; not overwhelmed by affect.

Flexibility

Ability to adapt roles and patterns within the family system.

Autonomy

Independent functioning while remaining emotionally connected.

Resisting Reactivity

Pausing automatic emotional responses to think before acting.

Family Projection Process

Parents' anxiety projected onto children through scanning, diagnosing, and treating.

Scanning

Parental monitoring of a child for signs of trouble out of fear.

Diagnosing

Interpreting a child’s behavior as confirmation of parental fear.

Treatment (in projection process)

Treating the child as if something is really wrong, reinforcing anxiety.

Transmission of Anxiety

Anxiety is transmitted from parents to children across generations.

Heightened Need for Attention

Children develop increased sensitivity to parental approval and attention.

Impulsivity to Relieve Anxiety

Child behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety rather than addressing root causes.

Emotional Cut Off

Distancing emotionally or physically to manage anxiety and protect oneself.

Fusion

Excessive emotional closeness and enmeshment within the family system.

Undifferentiated Family Ego Mass

Collective family reactivity and fusion that undermines individual boundaries.

Differences in Levels of Differentiation

Variation across generations in how differentiated family members are.

Lower Differentiation

Limited ability to separate thinking from feeling; more reactivity.

Higher Differentiation

Greater ability to balance thinking and feeling; more autonomy.

Projection onto Children

Parents project their own fears or needs onto their children.

Emotional Distance

Reduced emotional closeness resulting from projection or fusion.

Physical Dysfunction

Observable dysfunctions in family life caused by stress.

Emotional Dysfunction

Problems in emotional functioning within the family.

Overt Conflict

Visible, explicit conflicts in family interactions.

Nuclear Family Emotional Process

How stress and emotions manifest within the core family unit.

Marital Conflict

Conflict between spouses within the family system.

Spouse Dysfunction

Dysfunction in one spouse as part of family patterns.

Child Dysfunction

Dysfunction in one or more children due to family dynamics.

Emotional Boundaries

Maintaining individual boundaries while staying connected.

Sibling Position

Birth order influences personality traits and roles in the family.

Oldest Siblings

Tend to assume leadership roles.

Middle Children

Often mediators; flexible and adaptable.

Younger Siblings

Often followers; place emphasis on relationships with siblings.

Assessment

Process of evaluating the family’s history, context, and dynamics.

Exact Date

Precise dating of events to build an accurate timeline.

Extended Family Events

Significant events in the extended family affecting dynamics.

Major Life Transitions

Events like moves, job losses, illnesses that shift family dynamics.

History of Presenting Problem

Timeline and development of the problem within the family.

Function of a Symptom

Whether a symptom stabilizes the system or signals underlying issues.

Family Belief System

Shared beliefs about causes of issues and family patterns.

Courtship

How the couple met and formed emotional connections during courtship.

Marriage

How the couple married and initial adjustments to the relationship.

Childrearing

Parenting styles and beliefs about raising children.

Birth Conditions

Birth-related circumstances and stressors affecting family.

Gender Roles

Societal expectations about male and female roles in the family.

Emotional Expression

How emotions are expressed or suppressed in the family.

Cultural and Societal Beliefs

Broader cultural beliefs influencing family dynamics.

Location and Moves

Geographic changes impacting family relationships.

Core Family Unit

The Nuclear Family as the central unit of analysis.

Formulation

Breaking down the problem to understand origins in the system.

Hypothesis

Initial explanation of the problem; may be revised with new information.

Collaborative Engagement

Therapist works with the family as a partner, not as the sole expert.

Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM)

People in conversation co-create and are shaped by their communications.

GRACES Model

Gender, Race, Age, Class, Ethnicity, Education, Employment, Spirituality, Sexual orientation used to formulate hypotheses.

Genogram

Three-generation map of family relationships and key data.

Three-Generational Genogram

Genogram spanning three generations for broader patterns.

Triangles in Genogram

Three-person interaction patterns and conflicts depicted in the genogram.

Abortions & Miscarriages

Pregnancy loss events recorded in the genogram.

Serious Problems

Severe issues such as physical/sexual abuse, substance use, or suicide.

Mental Illness

Presence of a mental illness within family members.

Displacement Stories

Use of stories from media/books to create distance from problem.

I-Position

Taking a personal stance using I-statements to express feelings.

De-Triangulation

Reducing triangulation by focusing on the main triangle (usually the couple) and lowering anxiety.

Relationship Experiments

Activities designed to elicit new, less reactive interactions between partners.

Pursuers

Partners who seek closeness and emotional responsiveness.

Distancers

Partners who withdraw to reduce emotional pressure.

Therapeutic Goals (Bowen)

Decrease anxiety and increase differentiation from the family of origin; improve communication.

Murray Bowen

Key figure who developed family systems therapy; neutral guide, teacher, and catalyst for change.