Natural Systems Thinking and the Human Family
Broadly speaking, natural systems thinking is defined as a way of thinking that endeavors to conceptualize the functioning of living organisms as dependent on predictable forces at work within and around them. Systems concepts help to bring the function of those variables and life forces into better...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2018-06-01
|
| Series: | Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/6/2/19 |
| _version_ | 1798005598669766656 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel Papero Randall Frost Laura Havstad Robert Noone |
| author_facet | Daniel Papero Randall Frost Laura Havstad Robert Noone |
| author_sort | Daniel Papero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Broadly speaking, natural systems thinking is defined as a way of thinking that endeavors to conceptualize the functioning of living organisms as dependent on predictable forces at work within and around them. Systems concepts help to bring the function of those variables and life forces into better view. Psychiatrist Murray Bowen over the course of several years and a major research project at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) developed a theory of the family as a system. He considered his theory a natural systems theory, “... designed to fit precisely with the principles of evolution and the human as an evolutionary being” The human family system, a network of relationships, linking each family member to every other, responds dynamically to its environment and the conditions to which all members must adapt. Each family member’s behavior influences that of every other to some degree. Although ideas of a general system theory and cybernetics were developing at the same time, Bowen reported that he knew nothing about those ideas at the time he developed his thinking. He believed that his systems orientation derived from his study of systems in nature and not from the “systems thinking” of the period. An emerging systems paradigm in biology and evolutionary thinking focuses on collective behavior and appears consistent in principle with Bowen’s thinking about the family. The collective behavior of the family unit cannot be understood by looking at the characteristics of the individuals who comprise it. The human family presents a highly integrated, interactive system of adaptation. Its roots extend along the path of hominid evolution and share common elements with other evolved collectivities. The complex development of the human brain appears to have co-evolved with the interactional processes of the family. The Bowen theory provides the potential for an integrative theory of human behavior reaching beyond the focus on the physiology and psychology of the individual to the operation and influence of the family system. Such an integrative theory can offer broader explanatory and investigative pathways for understanding physical, emotional, and social problems as they emerge in human activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:41:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-37f1048c945e497f8f53871ebc603539 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-8954 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:41:46Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-37f1048c945e497f8f53871ebc6035392022-12-22T04:23:28ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542018-06-01621910.3390/systems6020019systems6020019Natural Systems Thinking and the Human FamilyDaniel Papero0Randall Frost1Laura Havstad2Robert Noone3The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, Washington, DC 20007, USALiving Systems, 209-1500 Marine Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 1T7, CanadaPrograms in Bowen Theory, 120 Pleasant Hill Ave N., Sebastopol, CA 95472, USACenter for Family Consultation, 820 Davis Street, Suite 504, Evanston, IL 60201, USABroadly speaking, natural systems thinking is defined as a way of thinking that endeavors to conceptualize the functioning of living organisms as dependent on predictable forces at work within and around them. Systems concepts help to bring the function of those variables and life forces into better view. Psychiatrist Murray Bowen over the course of several years and a major research project at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) developed a theory of the family as a system. He considered his theory a natural systems theory, “... designed to fit precisely with the principles of evolution and the human as an evolutionary being” The human family system, a network of relationships, linking each family member to every other, responds dynamically to its environment and the conditions to which all members must adapt. Each family member’s behavior influences that of every other to some degree. Although ideas of a general system theory and cybernetics were developing at the same time, Bowen reported that he knew nothing about those ideas at the time he developed his thinking. He believed that his systems orientation derived from his study of systems in nature and not from the “systems thinking” of the period. An emerging systems paradigm in biology and evolutionary thinking focuses on collective behavior and appears consistent in principle with Bowen’s thinking about the family. The collective behavior of the family unit cannot be understood by looking at the characteristics of the individuals who comprise it. The human family presents a highly integrated, interactive system of adaptation. Its roots extend along the path of hominid evolution and share common elements with other evolved collectivities. The complex development of the human brain appears to have co-evolved with the interactional processes of the family. The Bowen theory provides the potential for an integrative theory of human behavior reaching beyond the focus on the physiology and psychology of the individual to the operation and influence of the family system. Such an integrative theory can offer broader explanatory and investigative pathways for understanding physical, emotional, and social problems as they emerge in human activity.http://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/6/2/19familyfamily systemnatural systems thinkingMurray Bowenintegrative theory |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Papero Randall Frost Laura Havstad Robert Noone Natural Systems Thinking and the Human Family Systems family family system natural systems thinking Murray Bowen integrative theory |
| title | Natural Systems Thinking and the Human Family |
| title_full | Natural Systems Thinking and the Human Family |
| title_fullStr | Natural Systems Thinking and the Human Family |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural Systems Thinking and the Human Family |
| title_short | Natural Systems Thinking and the Human Family |
| title_sort | natural systems thinking and the human family |
| topic | family family system natural systems thinking Murray Bowen integrative theory |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/6/2/19 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielpapero naturalsystemsthinkingandthehumanfamily AT randallfrost naturalsystemsthinkingandthehumanfamily AT laurahavstad naturalsystemsthinkingandthehumanfamily AT robertnoone naturalsystemsthinkingandthehumanfamily |