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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
An 8 page research paper that analyzes The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. This novel creates a detailed study of a dysfunctional family and how this effects the lives of the three adult siblings. The problems of the this family, the Wingos, are presented in such detail that this novel provides illustrations that can aid in understanding the basic concepts of Bowen Family Systems Theory, which is a comprehensive method of psychoanalysis developed by Dr. Murray Bowen in regards to family therapy theory. The basic concepts of this system are applied to an analytical examination of the novel. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Page Count:
8 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khtides.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
adult siblings. The problems of the this family, the Wingos, are presented in such detail that this novel provides illustrations that can aid in understanding the basic concepts of
Bowen Family Systems Theory, which is a comprehensive method of psychoanalysis developed by Dr. Murray Bowen in regards to family therapy theory (Wylie, 1991). The following discussion offers a theoretical
analysis of Conroys novel from the perspective of this psychoanalytical model. Bowen Family Systems Theory perceives the family as an emotional system or an emotional unit (Kerr, 1988). In
other words, it examines the ways in which family members are emotionally interdependent and thereby are engaged in reciprocal relationships with one another (Kerr, 1988). As this suggests, Bowen proposed
that the functioning of one member of a family cannot be fully comprehended if it is taken out of context from the functioning of the family as a whole.
The Bowen Family Systems Theory consists of eight basic concepts. These are nuclear family emotional system; the differentiated self; triangles, the multigenerational transmission process, sibling position, emotional cutoff, societal emotional
process, and family projection process. Each of these elements will be examined in turn as they apply to this novel. The first concept of the Bowen system is referred
to as nuclear family emotional systems. According to this concept, the family acts as a "unitary whole," which is affected by two primary social forces, the interplay between individuality
and togetherness (Heras, 2002). When there is an overload of anxiety in this system, there is also increased reactivity and the pressure for "togetherness" increases. This pressured togetherness is referred
to as "fusion" (Heras, 2002). Rather than resulting in improving family relations, fusion can result in an impaired ability by members to be aware of or express feelings, as well
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