approaches and their implications for clinical practice, this paper will utilize the eight concepts of the Bowen family theory as an organizational framework. The description and analysis of each of the individual concepts will be accompanied by its application to the clinical context. Moreover, different versions of the multigenerational approaches such as contextual-based therapy and personal authority family systems (PAFS) will also be incorporated into the different sections.
Concepts of Multigenerational Approaches and
At the heart of the Bowen family theory is the concept of the differentiation of self that measures the level of an individual's investment of time and effort in relationships (Hall, n. d., "Eight Processes"). This concept is founded on the fundamental belief that every individual experiences the conflict between the desire to develop into an autonomous being (differentiation) and the instinctual drive to remain connected with the family (togetherness). The differentiation of the self from the family-of-origin is dependent on four factors: a) the level of anxiety that has been transferred from generation to generation; b) the effects of nodal events; c) the pressure from extraneous factors; and d) the quality of the relationships in the emotional system (Kerr & Bowen, 1988, p. 95; McKnight, 1998, p. 269).
According to Bowen's model, the level of differentiation in individuals is reflected by the degree of the presence of their hard-core self and pseudo-self. While the hard-core self consists of the individual's fundamental beliefs and ideas, the pseudo-self comprises the beliefs and opinions of others, which are accepted without genuine reflection and commitment. Through the process of differentiation, an individual who becomes differentiated will be influenced more by their hard-core self than by their pseudo-self. In contrast to undifferentiated individuals who are governed by their emotions an...