Journal 2.2 Relationships as Primary Regulators of Physiology - Rauseo

Relationships as Primary Regulators of Physiology

Individual physiology is regulated by factors in the relation­ship system. While most studies address relationship fac­tors in concepts such as "social support" or "stress," knowledge of the relationship system is central to under­standing changes in the physiology of an individual. This paper proposes that, under certain conditions, all aspects of human physiology can be sensitive to and regulated in the relationship system.

A selected review of human and mammal literature illus­trates ways in which physiology varies with factors in the social unit or family group. The physiological mechanisms underpinning this process are described. Bowen family systems theory is proposed as a framework broad enough for conceptualizing the various findings by defining the condi­tions under which physiology is regulated more by relation­ships than by autonomous factors.