The Family Emotional System: An Integrative Concept for Theory, Science, and Practice

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The Family Emotional System: An Integrative Concept for Theory, Science, and Practice presents an ongoing dialogue among scientists, family investigators, and clinicians related to a natural systems view of the family and human behavior that has been occurring over several decades. The concept of the family as an emotional system, as defined in Bowen theory, is presented as the principal integrative concept underlying this dialogue and an effort to move toward a science of human behavior. As a natural system, the family forms the immediate and most important context for individual development, and may be the most central and important environment shaping brain development across the lifetime of the individual. This book explains how the family system can serve as an integrative framework within which specific factual discoveries and hypotheses from many areas of science can be brought together and understood as various manifestations of a coherent whole. The Family Emotional System provides understanding of what is entailed in conceptualizing the family as an emotional system, a sense of the breadth and depth of knowledge the sciences are contributing to this effort, and examples of how this theoretical framework contributes to family research and practice. The richness and excitement occurring in the ongoing dialogue between scientists and Bowen family systems practitioners and researchers is captured along with the promise it holds for the study of human behavior.

Reviews

This collection of fine papers is an impressive collaboration of Bowen theory scholars and eminent scientistssuch a credible and exciting contribution! A must read for any who seek to better understand human functioning, the family system and its connection to the natural and biological sciences. -- Jenny Brown, Family Systems Institute & Practice and author of Growing Yourself Up
Murray Bowen developed a new theory of human behavior. It uses natural systems thinking to combine knowledge of man as a product of evolution with facts about human behavior derived from many disciplines. The books focus on the family emotional system as an integrative concept is precisely the right approach. Vigorous exchange between top-notch scientists and seasoned Bowen theorists/therapists has been happening for forty-odd years. Thank goodness this exchange has finally been reflected in a book. Each chapter by the scientists and Bowen theorists can stand alone, but the combination of authors from diverse fields makes for a very good read that generates a unique comprehension of the depth and breadth of Bowen family systems theory. -- Michael E. Kerr, Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, author of Family Evaluation

Author Bio

Robert J. Noone is co-founder of and faculty at the Center for Family Consultation in Evanston, Illinois where he also maintains a psychotherapy practice. Daniel V. Papero is senior faculty member at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, DC.