Volume 16.1: Murray Bowen's Contribution to the Study of Complex Human Systems (Papero) - PDF

MURRAY BOWEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF COMPLEX HUMAN SYSTEMS (PDF)
Daniel V. Papero, PhD, MSSW
Knowledge of the family system permitted Murray Bowen to extend theoretical formulations to larger complex human systems like organizations and communities. He observed that many of the same processes evident in family system behavior exist in other human systems as well. These include, among others, the role of fearful emotional arousal (anxiety and stress) in energizing behavior, the emergent markers of the effects of that anxiety on individuals and relationships within the system, the emotional flow and counterflow among members and segments of the system that form a discernible and predictable pattern of behavior, and the ability of one individual to influence the functioning of the system with his or her own behavior.