As some of you know, one of my pet areas of study the last couple of years on my own time has been family systems theory and its application on groups, teams, and organizations. I just finished Roberta Gilbert’s The Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory and wanted to pass along a brief summary of the book and some thoughts of what kind of value I found in it for life, leadership, and ministry.
First, the book, as the title suggests, outlines a summary of the 8 concepts that make up Bowen family systems theory. Murray Bowen was the pioneer of this theory. Others such as Edwin Friedman, Peter Steinke, and others have built upon that theory and moved it’s application into other areas besides just the family. Gilbert is a direct “disciple” of Bowen and is affiliated with the Bowen graduate school that I think is connected to Georgetown.Here are the 8 concepts of Bowen system theory:
- The Nuclear Family is the Key and Foundational Emotional System
- The significance of the differentiation of self scale
- Emotional “Triangles” and their impact on the system
- The prevalence of power of relational cutoff upon development and systems
- Family projection process
- Multi-generational Transmission Process
- Sibling Positions and their impact on transmission and development
- Emotional process in society
This is a good introduction into systems. It’s a little over 100 pages and it’s an easy read. This book is more wired towards family systems than organizations, but Gilbert includes a brief section at the end of each chapter for both leaders, parents, and coaches. This format brings a really practical element to the book that can help you make connections between the theory and your life and leadership in whatever context you may be in.
This book isn’t humanistic, but it is research based and does not include much integration with faith or theology. I find it interesting that she shares some thoughts at the end about systems’ theory impact in religious spheres. She documents how Bowen was close to making “the supernatural” the 9th concept in the theory because of its importance for spiritual communities and its overall spiritual relevance. The discussions on differentiation, the nuclear family, and triangles were similar to some other books I’ve read, but she dives a bit more into the dynamics that can occur within the nuclear family. Overall, it’s a great overview of a lot of really interesting concepts that all work together within the theory. This is an easy overview of the theory and really can start getting you thinking “systems” both as you reflect on your past and as you assess your present systems in which you may be a leader or participant.
