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Family Evaluation
The concepts of Murray Bowen, one of the founders of family therapy and the originator of family systems theory, are brought together here in an integrative fashion. Michael Kerr (who worked with Bowen for many years) and Bowen propose that the enormously complex task of evaluating a clinical family can be orderly when it is grounded in family systems theory.
Using family diagrams and case studies, the book is devoted to an elegant explication of Bowen theory, which analyzes multigenerational family relationships and conceptualizes the family as an emotional unit or as a network of interlocking relationships, not only among the family members, but also among biological, psychological, and sociological processes. Bowen’s persistent inquiry and devotion to family observation, in spite of obstacles and frustrations, have resulted in a theory that has radically changed our ways of looking at all behavior.
Using family diagrams and case studies, the book is devoted to an elegant explication of Bowen theory, which analyzes multigenerational family relationships and conceptualizes the family as an emotional unit or as a network of interlocking relationships, not only among the family members, but also among biological, psychological, and sociological processes. Bowen’s persistent inquiry and devotion to family observation, in spite of obstacles and frustrations, have resulted in a theory that has radically changed our ways of looking at all behavior.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 9, 2007
Whew! I can't believe I finally finished this. I feel like I should make a siyum.
There was a lot of good information here; unfortunately, it wasn't easy to get through. I had to take copious notes while I was reading in order to make sure I was absorbing everything (I'm really looking forward to reading more psychology texts, now that I can do so away from the computer). Bowen's theory is very appealing, and offers a useful framework for conceptualizing a wide range of problems. Sometimes, however, it almost feels like the old adage, "to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail." I do like systems theory, but I think there are a lot of useful ideas from other schools of thought that may be ignored if one takes an exclusively systemic orientation. It seems best to me for therapists to use this book to inform their case conceptualization and aspects of treatment, but not to dictate it exclusively.
There was a lot of good information here; unfortunately, it wasn't easy to get through. I had to take copious notes while I was reading in order to make sure I was absorbing everything (I'm really looking forward to reading more psychology texts, now that I can do so away from the computer). Bowen's theory is very appealing, and offers a useful framework for conceptualizing a wide range of problems. Sometimes, however, it almost feels like the old adage, "to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail." I do like systems theory, but I think there are a lot of useful ideas from other schools of thought that may be ignored if one takes an exclusively systemic orientation. It seems best to me for therapists to use this book to inform their case conceptualization and aspects of treatment, but not to dictate it exclusively.
October 8, 2021
I read this on the recommendation of my Goodreads friend Marco. I found this book esoteric and opaque. I have some ideas about differentiation, triangles, and chronic anxiety, but I doubt I could articulate what Bowen Family Therapy is or how I would do it. I finished this feeling like I felt after reading about Gestalt Therapy. Sensing that there was something in the book that I was missing, and not comprehending what I had read. The final chapter comes closest to articulating what Bowen Family Therapy might be and comes closest to giving a map. If I were to read this again I would start with chapter ten, and then read the theory underpinning it in from chapters 1-9.
My takeaways was that it was not Aristotelian. It described a scale of differentiation from 0-100. I began reading it thinking I would find a Golden Mean at 50, but it appeared to me the higher one was on the differentiation scale the more healthy they were. According to Bowen the more differentiated one was the better they were. My instinct was that a perfectly differentiated person would be a psychopath and an undifferentiated person would be an ‘empath’. “it takes time to learn to act on the courage of one’s convictions rather than on the power of one’s feelings” (p 132). A psychopath always acts on the courage of there convictions and is the most rational person. An ‘empath’ takes on the feelings of others and cannot act in their own best interest. The perfect ‘empath’ would be a Jainist who refuses to wash because of concerns they could damage the bacteria on their bodies. I am sure Bowen did not mean it like this, but the Aristotelian golden mean strongly influences my thinking.
“These processes that occur without reflection are also responsible for what psychoanalytic theory refers to as ‘transference’ in psychotherapeutic relationships. A marriage could be thought of as a union of two transferences. The emotional ‘fit’ in a marriage results from each spouse’s having been groomed by his or her own growing up experience to act out the reciprocal side of his spouse’s transferences is not pathological. It seems inappropriate to regard a phenomenon as pathological when it is a universal feature of human relationships” (p 165). Two matching halves make a whole? I can kind of get this, but the longer I am married the less reasonable it seems to expect one person to scratch your every itch. We are complex. I like what is said here, but I think it is more nuanced and complex.
“Skolnick et al. (1980), for example showed the premature separation of rat pups from their mothers significantly increased their susceptibility (even in adult life) to getting stomach ulcers when they were experimentally restrained. It is evident from such studies that a developing mammal requires a certain type of interaction in the relationship with his primary caretaker that permits and fosters normal development. A developing child, in other words, has reality needs” (p 194)”. I read this and thought Bowlby’s Attachment Theory and the effects of chronic high levels of cortisol.
Re-read this if you ever do therapy with a whole family. “During an evaluation a therapist addresses ten basic questions: (1) Who initiated the therapy? (2) What is the symptom and which family member or family relationship is symptomatic? (3) What is the immediate relationship system (this usually means the nuclear family) of the symptomatic person? (4) What are the patterns of emotional functioning in the family? (5) What is the intensity of the emotional process in the nuclear family? (6) What influences that intensity – an overload of stressful events and/or a low level of adaptiveness? (7) What is that nature of the extended family systems, particularly in terms of the stability and availability? (8) What is the degree of emotional cutoff from each extended family? (9) What is the prognosis? (10) What are important directions for therapy?” (p 270).
“Therapy begins with the perceptions of the family. These are what family members believe about the nature of the problem. Even people who claim to ‘have no idea’ what the problem is about usually have some ideas they are not expressing. People who insist the doctor or therapist is the expert and should be telling them what creates the problem must be addressed at the outset. If a therapist falls into the trap of being set up as an expert who can tell the family what its problem is and what is needed to fix it, he may never get out of that trap. He may be forever prescribing techniques for change. Family members always make some assumptions about the ‘cause’ of their problems. Successful therapy depends on getting these assumptions out in the open so they can be examined” (p 271). I work hard in my own practice to avoid being cast in the role of ‘expert’. I have been told ‘You are the one with the all those years at University, tell me what to do’. To which I respond ‘Because I have spent so long at University learning about this stuff, I know that I cannot tell you what to do. How you move forward must be your choice’. Good therapy relies on asking beautiful questions, not giving beautiful answers.
“The lower the functional level of a society, the greater the incidence of ‘social symptoms’ such as a high crime rate, a high divorce rate, an incessant clamour for ‘rights,’ and a notable neglect of responsibilities” (p 302). This reminded me of Jung’s concept of the Collective Unconscious. Sitting back and watching the world at the moment one suspect society is functioning at a ‘lower level’. All rights, not responsibilities. No wonder why Jordan Peterson who speaks to this so clearly is loved by some and loathed by others (I love him – ‘voluntarily take some responsibility man. Pick up your cross and carry it up hill’).
“The human species is unique in important ways. Human beings appear to have more capacity for emotional self control than any other species. This capacity seems to exist because of the evolutionary development of a massive cerebral cortex. The human capacities to think, to reason, to abstract, and to reflect are functions of the ‘new brain’” (p 303-04). Again, yes but no. We still have a limbic system as well, which seems to be deeper and stronger than our cerebral cortex. I do not think the cerebral cortex is in control and like Haidt’s conception of an Elephant and Rider. Our cerebral cortex can only hope to influence the Elephant beneath it. We are unique, but not in as much control as our cerebral cortex would like to admit. We have influence, but not control. We cannot decide to feel anything.
In the epilogue Kerr describes his difficulties with trying to have Bowen Family Therapy be performed true to Bowen’s intent. He said clinicians would leave their training and supervision and adopt the practises of where they went and practice a version of what they saw of the techniques that was not true to Bowen’s Therapy. I suspect this is due to the ideas not being clearly articulated of what it is and is not. Marco later described another book as “The Dummies Guide to Bowen Therapy”, maybe I should have started with that book and worked my way up. I can fully accept I might be a dummy. I like that this book made me think, reflect and was challenging in many ways. I thought the book could have had more examples to explain the underlying theory. It was technical and dense. I think it has something I am not seeing because it did not sing to me.
My takeaways was that it was not Aristotelian. It described a scale of differentiation from 0-100. I began reading it thinking I would find a Golden Mean at 50, but it appeared to me the higher one was on the differentiation scale the more healthy they were. According to Bowen the more differentiated one was the better they were. My instinct was that a perfectly differentiated person would be a psychopath and an undifferentiated person would be an ‘empath’. “it takes time to learn to act on the courage of one’s convictions rather than on the power of one’s feelings” (p 132). A psychopath always acts on the courage of there convictions and is the most rational person. An ‘empath’ takes on the feelings of others and cannot act in their own best interest. The perfect ‘empath’ would be a Jainist who refuses to wash because of concerns they could damage the bacteria on their bodies. I am sure Bowen did not mean it like this, but the Aristotelian golden mean strongly influences my thinking.
“These processes that occur without reflection are also responsible for what psychoanalytic theory refers to as ‘transference’ in psychotherapeutic relationships. A marriage could be thought of as a union of two transferences. The emotional ‘fit’ in a marriage results from each spouse’s having been groomed by his or her own growing up experience to act out the reciprocal side of his spouse’s transferences is not pathological. It seems inappropriate to regard a phenomenon as pathological when it is a universal feature of human relationships” (p 165). Two matching halves make a whole? I can kind of get this, but the longer I am married the less reasonable it seems to expect one person to scratch your every itch. We are complex. I like what is said here, but I think it is more nuanced and complex.
“Skolnick et al. (1980), for example showed the premature separation of rat pups from their mothers significantly increased their susceptibility (even in adult life) to getting stomach ulcers when they were experimentally restrained. It is evident from such studies that a developing mammal requires a certain type of interaction in the relationship with his primary caretaker that permits and fosters normal development. A developing child, in other words, has reality needs” (p 194)”. I read this and thought Bowlby’s Attachment Theory and the effects of chronic high levels of cortisol.
Re-read this if you ever do therapy with a whole family. “During an evaluation a therapist addresses ten basic questions: (1) Who initiated the therapy? (2) What is the symptom and which family member or family relationship is symptomatic? (3) What is the immediate relationship system (this usually means the nuclear family) of the symptomatic person? (4) What are the patterns of emotional functioning in the family? (5) What is the intensity of the emotional process in the nuclear family? (6) What influences that intensity – an overload of stressful events and/or a low level of adaptiveness? (7) What is that nature of the extended family systems, particularly in terms of the stability and availability? (8) What is the degree of emotional cutoff from each extended family? (9) What is the prognosis? (10) What are important directions for therapy?” (p 270).
“Therapy begins with the perceptions of the family. These are what family members believe about the nature of the problem. Even people who claim to ‘have no idea’ what the problem is about usually have some ideas they are not expressing. People who insist the doctor or therapist is the expert and should be telling them what creates the problem must be addressed at the outset. If a therapist falls into the trap of being set up as an expert who can tell the family what its problem is and what is needed to fix it, he may never get out of that trap. He may be forever prescribing techniques for change. Family members always make some assumptions about the ‘cause’ of their problems. Successful therapy depends on getting these assumptions out in the open so they can be examined” (p 271). I work hard in my own practice to avoid being cast in the role of ‘expert’. I have been told ‘You are the one with the all those years at University, tell me what to do’. To which I respond ‘Because I have spent so long at University learning about this stuff, I know that I cannot tell you what to do. How you move forward must be your choice’. Good therapy relies on asking beautiful questions, not giving beautiful answers.
“The lower the functional level of a society, the greater the incidence of ‘social symptoms’ such as a high crime rate, a high divorce rate, an incessant clamour for ‘rights,’ and a notable neglect of responsibilities” (p 302). This reminded me of Jung’s concept of the Collective Unconscious. Sitting back and watching the world at the moment one suspect society is functioning at a ‘lower level’. All rights, not responsibilities. No wonder why Jordan Peterson who speaks to this so clearly is loved by some and loathed by others (I love him – ‘voluntarily take some responsibility man. Pick up your cross and carry it up hill’).
“The human species is unique in important ways. Human beings appear to have more capacity for emotional self control than any other species. This capacity seems to exist because of the evolutionary development of a massive cerebral cortex. The human capacities to think, to reason, to abstract, and to reflect are functions of the ‘new brain’” (p 303-04). Again, yes but no. We still have a limbic system as well, which seems to be deeper and stronger than our cerebral cortex. I do not think the cerebral cortex is in control and like Haidt’s conception of an Elephant and Rider. Our cerebral cortex can only hope to influence the Elephant beneath it. We are unique, but not in as much control as our cerebral cortex would like to admit. We have influence, but not control. We cannot decide to feel anything.
In the epilogue Kerr describes his difficulties with trying to have Bowen Family Therapy be performed true to Bowen’s intent. He said clinicians would leave their training and supervision and adopt the practises of where they went and practice a version of what they saw of the techniques that was not true to Bowen’s Therapy. I suspect this is due to the ideas not being clearly articulated of what it is and is not. Marco later described another book as “The Dummies Guide to Bowen Therapy”, maybe I should have started with that book and worked my way up. I can fully accept I might be a dummy. I like that this book made me think, reflect and was challenging in many ways. I thought the book could have had more examples to explain the underlying theory. It was technical and dense. I think it has something I am not seeing because it did not sing to me.
January 12, 2021
Very interesting, enlightening and helpful theory for understanding family processes and how they can lead or contribute to a range of psychopathologies often manifesting themselves in a single member of a family when it is the family unit itself as a whole that is pathological and hence it is the whole family that requires therapy.
February 17, 2025
3.5 stars. Deductions for archaic mother-blaming, generally patriarchal attitudes, archaic concepts of sexuality, and assuming the gender of the therapist to be a default male. Also use of the term hysterical. 🫤
October 30, 2013
THE complete explication of Bowen Systems Theory. It is relatively inacessible to the average reader; Kerr (who wrote most of the book) was writing for a high level audience of clinicians. I have 16 pages of notes on this book. There are some very good and insightful parts, and some that are risible in the extreme. Kerr makes a lot of bald assertions with little or no objective backup or cited research, and I find that extremely troubling, especially when the assertions are flatly contrary to most people's lived experiences (including my own.)
Kerr is a fervent disciple, setting forth his indulgent understanding of the thinking of his guru. I am impressed with Bowen Theory; I think it contributes immensely to understanding how people get stuck in relationships. I don't believe it has much validated explanatory power for physical disease. Bowen was at great pains to try to situate his theory in a bio-medical millieu. Kerr (and he) went too far beyond what is substantiable. Time and again I found myself searching for the citations that would back up Kerr's assertions. Too often I was disappointed.
That said, the book is still a valuable read.
Kerr is a fervent disciple, setting forth his indulgent understanding of the thinking of his guru. I am impressed with Bowen Theory; I think it contributes immensely to understanding how people get stuck in relationships. I don't believe it has much validated explanatory power for physical disease. Bowen was at great pains to try to situate his theory in a bio-medical millieu. Kerr (and he) went too far beyond what is substantiable. Time and again I found myself searching for the citations that would back up Kerr's assertions. Too often I was disappointed.
That said, the book is still a valuable read.
March 24, 2021
The go-to book for Family Systems Theory. The beginning is a little slow, but I'm very glad I kept going. After the more biological and evolutionary talk, Michael Kerr goes straight for the kill. Tons of vignettes and practical application of systemic thinking.
Strongly recommend if you're a therapist or just interested in knowing how your nuclear and extended family can be seeing as one organism where parts are constantly mutually influencing on another.
I'm already excited to check out Bowen Theory's Secrets: Revealing the Hidden Life of Families but judging from its index it's very similar to this one, so maybe I'll save it for later so as to remind myself of what I learned in this one.
Strongly recommend if you're a therapist or just interested in knowing how your nuclear and extended family can be seeing as one organism where parts are constantly mutually influencing on another.
I'm already excited to check out Bowen Theory's Secrets: Revealing the Hidden Life of Families but judging from its index it's very similar to this one, so maybe I'll save it for later so as to remind myself of what I learned in this one.
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February 13, 2025There are countless theories for how people interact in a family. Family Evaluation: An Approach Based on Bowen Theory focuses on eight components of Bowen’s family systems theory, which he renamed to simply Bowen’s theory. Bowen’s work sits underneath much of family counseling today, though few people have heard Bowen’s name. We speak of drama triangles without realizing that Bowen was one of the first to speak of how relationships naturally move towards triangulation.
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March 10, 2024hi.
yeah, i didn't expect myself to be here, either. i should note that i didn't read this for pleasure, but rather my final project where i'm discussing wes anderson's darjeeling limited and david foster wallace's infinite jest through the framework of bowen's family theory. so, i had to read this.
ngl, kind of a snooze, but i should hopefully have all my quotes for that section of the outline (fingers crossed), so i shouldn't have to return to this book in depth. here's hoping i read something for fun soon
yeah, i didn't expect myself to be here, either. i should note that i didn't read this for pleasure, but rather my final project where i'm discussing wes anderson's darjeeling limited and david foster wallace's infinite jest through the framework of bowen's family theory. so, i had to read this.
ngl, kind of a snooze, but i should hopefully have all my quotes for that section of the outline (fingers crossed), so i shouldn't have to return to this book in depth. here's hoping i read something for fun soon
October 28, 2021
I was pleasantly surprised with the wisdom, clarity, and thoughtfulness in this book. There is the realization and assertion that one will always live in relationships, and especially how these function (shape and form us) in the familial unit. The implications pastorally are a potentially increased aptitude to hear and understand familial dynamics, and how these affect personality, anxiety, and overall health.
December 14, 2022
I love this book because not only does it explain systems thinking extremely well, but it also gives great examples and demonstrations for the ideas. I use this book with clients and many can understand the concepts, the language and can resonate with the examples and information given. This is my third time reading this book and I always learn something new or have a different thought than when I read it before. Brilliant.
November 4, 2019
VERY dense. Some ideas that I don't agree with, but a good reference for systems theory including some good questions to ask in therapy. Not one I would ever read for fun, so that's my warning for you all, ahahha
March 18, 2021
Great read
Wonderful explanation of Bowen’s family systems theory, and the background to how this theory developed. I would strongly recommend to anyone wanting to begin the journey of differentiation.
Wonderful explanation of Bowen’s family systems theory, and the background to how this theory developed. I would strongly recommend to anyone wanting to begin the journey of differentiation.
March 25, 2023
This is a really good book that perfectly outlines Bowen Theory and it’s concepts.
Though the structure of some parts was a bit off and some ideas were dated (such as some comments on homosexuality), this book deepens one’s understanding of family systems theory.
Though the structure of some parts was a bit off and some ideas were dated (such as some comments on homosexuality), this book deepens one’s understanding of family systems theory.
October 20, 2021
This is a book obsessed with theory. Although I could have done with less of the constant attempt to join family systems theory to a theoretical "natural biological systems" framework (easily over 100 pages of the book), I did appreciate the theoretical depth the book was aspiring to, especially after reading Bowen's epilogue about his own "odyssey" of discovery and development, and how his theories and ideas were constantly adapted and used by others in therapy practice with varying levels of difference in the decades leading up to the publication of this book.
Kerr does a good job outlining the main concepts of family systems theory, building them up systematically after a lengthy theoretical introduction: the basic concept and forces of "togetherness" and "individuality," the idea of a differentiation of self, triangulation, the nuclear family emotional system, the multigenerational emotional process, etc. I found it to be a really helpful and illuminating introduction to a very important theoretical system in modern psychological practice with implications for a wide array of situations. Overall, a great (if dense, and sometimes dated) read.
Kerr does a good job outlining the main concepts of family systems theory, building them up systematically after a lengthy theoretical introduction: the basic concept and forces of "togetherness" and "individuality," the idea of a differentiation of self, triangulation, the nuclear family emotional system, the multigenerational emotional process, etc. I found it to be a really helpful and illuminating introduction to a very important theoretical system in modern psychological practice with implications for a wide array of situations. Overall, a great (if dense, and sometimes dated) read.
January 28, 2016
I don't exactly believe in everything that Bowen and his theory says, but there were many times I found myself understanding how this system of thinking could help certain families. I learned a lot about Bowen's 8 concepts, and the ones that I found most interesting was the Multi Generational, and the nuclear family. There is a great amount of information in this book. I definitely took something out of reading it. I found myself arguing with Bowen quite often. However, he helped expand my thinking when it came to the family unit.
November 12, 2010
I was reminded from reading this book that there had been a family emotional process going on long before I arrived on the scene and would continue on long after I depart the stage. An excellent read for family members everywhere. Highly recommended.
June 22, 2011
I love family systems theory. Read in context of the time it was written and who wrote it (two white man) then this is an excellent way to conceptualize family functioning and the intergenerational transmission of behavior. I think it's a must read for any clinician who works with families.
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