LOOKING THROUGH A

NATURAL SYSTEMS LENS:

CULTURE, DIVERSITY, AND

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF OF THE

THERAPIST

Terri Neipert, M.Ed.

Jill Morris, Ph.D.

European Family Therapy Association

Istanbul, Turkey

October 26, 2013

World English Dictionary

culture (ˈkʌltʃə) — n1. the total of the inherited ideas, beliefs, values, and knowledge, which constitute the shared bases of

social action

2. the total range of activities and ideas of a group of people with shared traditions, which are

transmitted and reinforced by members of the group: the Mayan culture

3. a particular civilization at a particular period

4. the artistic and social pursuits, expression, and tastes valued by a society or class, as in the arts,

manners, dress, etc.

5. the enlightenment or refinement resulting from these pursuits

6. the attitudes, feelings, values, and behaviour that characterize and inform society as a whole or any

social group within it: youth culture

7. the cultivation of plants, esp. by scientific methods designed to improve stock or to produce new

ones

8. stockbreeding the rearing and breeding of animals, esp. with a view to improving the strain

9. the act or practice of tilling or cultivating the soil

10. Biology

a. See also culture medium the experimental growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi,

in a nutrient substance (culture medium), usually under controlled conditions

b. a group of microorganisms grown in this way

World English Dictionary

diversity [dih-vur-si-tee, dahy-]-n

1. the state or fact of being diverse; difference;

unlikeness: diversity of opinion.

2. variety; multiformity.

3. a point of difference.

MODELS OF THE WORLD

All human knowledge can be assumed to be a ―model‖ of

the world, a reductive abstraction of, but not the world

itself.

Human perception is contingent and context driven, and

therefore always only a ―partial‖ comprehension.

Our models help us to see certain things with greater

clarity, but in the process always help to obscure other

perspectives, understandings, and knowledges.

NATURAL SYSTEMS MODEL

Differentiation of Self

Inherent Conflict between

Individuality &Togetherness

Anxiety in the System

Systems exist in nature independently of man’s

creation of them (Bowen & Kerr, 1988).

Principles that govern a natural system are “written in nature”

and are not created by the human brain (Bowen & Kerr, 1988)

The existence of natural systems doesn’t depend on humans

being aware of them or explaining them—they are biologically

rooted.

How does culture exist

naturally or in nature?

CULTURE:

A NATURALLY OCCURRING PROCESS?

NATURAL SYSTEMS UNDERSTANDING OF

CULTURAL CHANGE

Tensions between ―our group‖ and ―others‖ is a fact of

Nature, and examples of it can be seen throughout human

history, regardless of culture and political epoch.

The Process of ―Change‖ in society moves no faster than do

other ―evolutionary‖ change processes. Often results are

not obvious for generations.

Change in one area is no guarantee of change throughout

an entire system. There are multiple variables involved in the

change process, and a natural tendency for systems to resist

change unless absolutely necessary.

A Natural Systems Model of the world assumes that behaviors at

both the group and individual levels can almost always be seen to

serve some kind of adaptive function associated with survival.

A Natural Systems perspective on culture views it as a natural

process. That is, it is assumed that all cultures have an adaptive

function, for both the group and the individuals within the group.

Observation tells us that in any culture, there is always a constant

and ongoing tension between the needs of the individual and the

needs of the group.

The concept of differentiation of self is employed in

order to describe the constancy of this tension in the

context of a family system.

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF

Differentiation is a natural process

Individuals vary in their ability to adapt—that is, to cope with the demands of life and to reach their goals (Gilbert, R. 1992)

Choosing between thinking and reacting emotionally-your gut reaction.

"Defining a self or becoming one's own person is a

task that one ultimately does alone. No one else

can or will do it for you, although others may try

and we may invite them to do so. In the end, I

define what I think, feel and believe. We do not

define what I think, feel and believe. Yet this lonely

and challenging task cannot be accomplished in

isolation. We can only accomplish it through our

connectedness with others and the new learning

about ourselves that our relationships provide."

(Lerner, 1995)

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF

Operational Definition: The ability to navigate the world while considering multiple points of view simultaneously.

Clinically, this often refers to the ability of the person to consider the emotional, social, psychological, and intellectual contexts and impacts of their own and others actions and activities.

WHOSE ANXIETY IS IT?

DIFFERENTIATION IN THE

CULTURAL CONTEXTThe ability to navigate the world while considering

multiple points of view simultaneously.

Differentiation is colored by culture The concept of differentiation is based on being aware of the

encompassing systems and the position one holds within the system so that one can make choices (Friedman, 1981).

We have a natural impulse to identify with groups where we feel safe

avoid groups that put us in real or perceived danger

―The human is a narcissistic creature who lives in the present and who is more interested in his own square inch of real estate, and more devoted to fighting for his rights than in the multigenerational meaning of life itself‖

(Bowen, 1988)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN

IN THE CONTEXT OF THERAPY?

Culture binds anxiety at the broad social level

People are constantly determining for themselves

how much is too much-individuality/togetherness.

Individuals create distinctions along the lines of

religion, nationality, race, skin color, socio economic

status, education level, and the list goes on and on

WESTERN VS. EASTERN CULTURE

Western

Freedom/Individuality

Example: Nova Southeastern

University marriage and

therapy program. Trial and

error. Go in the room with

a client and give it a try!

Eastern

Group/Togetherness

Example: Beijing Normal

University marriage and family

program. Spend an entire year in

therapy sessions with your

supervisor. Supervisor leads the

session. Student observes.

ROLE OF THE THERAPIST-

DIFFERENTIATION

How do you (the therapist) hold multiple

points of view simultaneously (your own and

that of your client’s)?

Same holds true for culture:

How do you hold multiple points of view simultaneously?

How broadly can you help clients see the process?

THE OTHER TOUR―Perhaps travel cannot prevent

bigotry, but by demonstrating that all

people cry, laugh, eat, worry, and

die, they can introduce the idea that if

we try and understand each other, we

may even become friends.‖

– Maya Angelou

―Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and

narrow-mindedness. ―

– Mark Twain

―We see the city from multiple

angles, not just conceptually, but visually.

― -Fethi Karatas

38 37 25

5767

FethiBulatMurat

40

Ahmed

Born in Georgia

Christian Family

converted to Islam

Born in Turkey

Muslim Family

Atheist?

Muslim Atheist AtheistAmerican

Personality Disorder?

Dementia (20 yrs)

―You are our responsibility from the

moment we meet up at 9am to the time

that you arrive back at your hotel or even

until you’re tucked safely away in your

bed, depending on your preferences‖ -Fethi

Atheist

121419

CASE EXAMPLE: Presenting problem – angry

response to relationship conflict

18

24 39

Greek Greek

Greek Columbian

Columbian

d. 2006

Male-Due Nov. 2013

l.t. 1 yr.

What did we learn about the therapist?

What cultural norms were being challenged?

In what ways were her struggles relevant to

differentiation of self?

What was the risk?

How was she able to adapt?

In what ways did culture and diversity play a role?

How did it influence the questions she asked? Or did

not ask?