Making Sense of Human Life: Murray Bowen’s Determined Effort Toward Family Systems Theory

Description

Drawing from rich archival material, this book provides unprecedented access to the professional documents and historical context surrounding the life’s work of Dr. Murray Bowen (1913-1990), medical doctor, psychiatrist, and pioneering researcher of Family Systems Theory. To understand the origins and evolution of this theory, Catherine Rakow explores Bowen’s early years as a psychiatrist at the Menninger Foundation - at which time he became curious about the possibility of determining a factual basis for psychoanalytic theory - and explains how this research would foreground Bowen’s lifelong study of the family unit at the National Institute of Mental Health. From those seminal years of study and observation, Rakow explains how Bowen developed Family Systems Theory: A theory of human functioning that conceives of family as a naturally occurring, regenerating system. Rakow’s close engagement with Bowen’s practice and influences at this time allows for a fulsome account of the research process that Bowen undertook to develop this innovatory approach. In this book, Rakow demonstrates the value of Bowen’s work as a model and research methodology for those exploring the role of theory in improving family relationships, making it essential reading for marriage and family therapists, mental health professionals, students, those interested in the history of medicine, and curious individuals alike. Cover Endorsement Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Portrait of Murray Bowen, 1947 Introduction Organization of the Book The Focus On Ten Midlife Years, 1946–1955 Beyond this Book My Research Approach Note References 1 Bowen’s Childhood, Medical School, Internships A New Century: an Integrative Process Family, Medical School, Internships 1915–1940 An Internship in a Small City An Internship in the Country, Cumberland Homesteads An Example of a Family Perspective in Rural Medical Practice Experience in a Large City, Medicine and Surgery Grasslands Internship Life Interrupted References 2 The Years of Active Duty 1941–1945 Psychiatry, Registrar and Opportunity to Develop a Broad View Important Relationships in Increasing the Army’s Effectiveness in Psychiatry An Opportunity for Research Relationships and a Crucial Decision Planning for the Future Overseas War Time Duty Moving Forward Note References 3 Bowen’s Residency School of Psychiatry at Menninger Foundation, 1946–1947 Menninger Complex Life as a Resident Bowen’s Studies Data On Families Course Work, Questions and Contradictions Speaking About Families Questions About Families Clinical Experience, Doing the Impossible, Documenting the Odyssey References 4 The Last Year of the Residency: A Search for Answers C. 1947–1948 The Literature Review Library Committee Rudimentary New Ideas From the Readings Bowen’s Beliefs Beginning the Shift to a New Theory References 5 Modifying Accepted Psychiatric Theories and Practices 1948–1951 Learning About Families Increasing Resources for Families Bowen’s Personal Psychoanalysis Speaking to the Local Community Observations On the Ward Anaclitic Or Regression Therapy Overview Overview of Bowen’s Approaches to Using Regression Therapy An Important Modification The Influence of Observations Note References 6 Specific Case Discussions: In-Patient Studies, 1949–1951 Others Watched the Research A Young Man With Catatonic Symptoms of Schizophrenia Results of Using a Broader Lens Regression Treatment With Alcoholism Case With Alcoholism Similarities Between the Two Diagnostic Groups Differences in Results Foreshadowing Notes References 7 Symbiotic Relationships Regression, Symbiosis and In-Patient Observations Symptoms, an Alert for Adaptation Moving Beyond Maternal Deprivation Moving Further Toward Family Fieldwork for Concepts: Differentiation, Emotional System Pulling It All Together Notes References 8 A Shift Toward Family 1949–1953 Marriage Counseling Exploration With Out-Patients Shawnee Guidance Center, Non-Mothering Approach Moving Forward How Bowen Used His Personal Principles to Advance His Interests A Larger Context A Crossroads Moving Toward a More Scientific Theory Note References 9 Timing and Choices 1953 to July 1954 Intervening Occurrences in Bowen’s Life A Pause to Rethink Leaving A Brief Case Discussion Timely Opening of the NIMH Clinical Center Relationship Connections Prepared the Way Reflections On the Menninger Years Note References 10 Settling in at NIMH: July to October 1954 The Clinical Center at NIMH: A Very Different Research Environment The Significance of One Pre-Research Family, July 1954 to September 1955 Designing the Research Project August 1954 Fall 1954 Note References 11 The Backstory On the Research Project: November to December 1954 Life at the Clinical Center The Ward Environment at NIMH Bowen’s Initial Research Questions Project Staff for the Schizophrenia Project Robert Dysinger, M.D. Mrs. Thais Fisher, ACSW The Project’s Hypothesis The Criteria for Admitting Families to the Ward Implementing the Program Extending and Modifying the Non-Mothering Approach Milieu Treatment Plan Record Keeping and Other Administrative Considerations Note References 12 The First Families: November 1954 to February 1955 The First Three Families The Variable of Sibling Position Family A, November 1954 Relationships Beyond the Mother–daughter Pair Functioning Reciprocation Family B, November 1954 The Larger Hospital System Family A, December 1954 Family B, December 1954 Family A, January 1955 Family B, January 1955 Family C, January 1955 Theory Develops Family A, February 1955 Family B, February 1955 Family C, February 1955 Some Incidents Came to the Administration’s Attention Thinking Family Notes References 13 The Family as a Unit: March to July 1955 Preparing for a First Quarter Report The Family, as a Unit, Makes Its Debut Concurrent Observations of Others The Theory Takes On Substance The New Hypothesis Origin of the Family Unit Idea Other Possibilities in the Historical Record Finding a Treatment to Fit With the New Hypothesis Socializing the Ideas Adding Another Example of Family to the Ward The Ongoing Search for a Treatment Model July 1955 An Important Connection Ward Dynamics Another View Representing His Trajectory Communicating About Thinking Societal Trends A Pivotal Year Notes References 14 Toward the New Hypothesis and Treatment: August to December 1955 On the Ward in August Third Iteration of a Group Approach August Presentation at Chestnut Lodge Redesigning the Research September 1955 Changes in Ward Structure, Departures and Replacements Presentation in Kansas Family C Leaves, October An Intact Family Prepares to Join the Project Visitors and Other Patients Attend the Group Meeting An Open Research Ward Implementing the New Hypothesis A Year of Significant Change Stepping Into the Unknown References 15 An Important Non-Research Family The Genain Family A Research Committee Forms to Define a Path Forward With the Genains Extensive History On this Family Note References 16 Origin of Bowen’s Theory Fundamental Change Courage to Continue Into the Unknown Documenting the Roots of Family Systems Theory Bowen’s Fit Within NIMH Bowen’s Project in a Societal Context Termination of Bowen’s Project Acceptance of the Theory Bowen Theory Moves Into the Future Note References Index