The 46th Annual Symposium
on Family Theory and Family Psychotherapy
Schedule
November 6-7, 2009
FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 6, 2009
8:00 Registration
8:25 Welcome and Introduction
Michael E. Kerr, M.D.
THEORY
8:30 Attachment, Chronic Anxiety, and Family Emotional Process Robert J. Noone, PhD
The evolutionarily ancient “stress response” and “calm and connection” systems play important roles in nuclear family emotional process and the development of a self.
9:00 Toward an Objective View of Chronic Anxiety Christopher East, PsyD
Natural systems theory makes an objective study of anxiety possible by describing relationship patterns in families that are driven by chronic anxiety.
9:30 On the Separation of Emotion and Intellect Daniel V. Papero, PhD
Neuroscience has demonstrated that although cognitive and emotional circuitry are relatively separate, it is likely that emotion interacts with cognitive processes to some degree.
10:00 Panel Discussion
10:25
Intermission/Coffee
RESEARCH
11:00 Maternal Style: Consistent or Inconsistent with Differentiation of Self Kathleen B. Kerr, MSN
Bowen theory suggests that the intensity of the mother-offspring relationship better predicts the outcome of offspring than the typologies of maternal style.
11:30
Maternal Differentiation, Genetic Polymorphisms, and a Child's Self-Regulation
Elizabeth A. Skowron, PhD
Maternal differentiation, plus the genes in the mother and child that influence the stress response, govern the development of the emotional self-regulation in the child.
12:00 Panel Discussion
12:30
Lunch Break (Video-Showing)
DISTINGUISHED GUEST LECTURER
2:00 The Organization of the Plant Genome and the Extent of Genomic Variation within a Species Christopher A. Cullis, PhD
Genome size can vary across the plant kingdom by more than 1000-fold and by nearly two-fold within a species. Yet all plants carry out essentially the same basic functions such as developing roots, stems and flowers as well as making numerous secondary metabolic products. Why does this variation occur and what role can it play in adaptation?
3:15 Intermission
3:30
Environmentally Induced Heritable Changes in Flax: Where, When, and How these Occur
Christopher A. Cullis, PhD
Certain flax varieties respond to specific stress growth environments by modifying their genome. The variation occurs in a specific subset of the genome and can be transmitted stably to the progeny over many generations. The changes occur during the vegetative growth of the plants under stress environments and can be directly selected for, resulting in the environment being an inducer of genetic variation as well as the selective agent acting on the variation induced.
4:30 Panel Discussion
5:00 Adjournment
6:00 Dutch Treat Cocktails
7:00 Banquet and Banquet Program
SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 7, 2009
SOCIETAL PROCESS
8:30 Biological and Emotional Roots of Tribalism Stephanie J. Ferrera, MSW
Abundant examples exist of how the ancient legacy of tribalism is active in today's world. Abundant opportunities exist to apply the principle of differentiation of self to one's choices of response.
9:00 Differentiation and Ethics: The Social/Political Responsibility of Higher Education David S. Hargrove, PhD
The responsibilities of institutions of higher education reach beyond educating students. Colleges and universities must take positions to differentiate themselves within the social and political processes that give them life.
9:30 Emotional Process in Society: A Vital Concept C. Margaret Hall, PhD
Emotional process in society powerfully affects family interactions. We are who we are in large part because of how we deal with social influences as well as how we cope with family pressures.
10:00 Panel Discussion
10:30 Intermission/Coffee
CLINICAL
11:00 Family, Self, Society: Co-Conspirators in Terminal Illness Linda Piontek, DMA
The multigenerational family, immediate family of origin, and marital relationship can all contribute to emotional states that foster serious illness. Society also contributes to "doing in" one person to protect the group as a whole.
11:30 Suicide and Systems Anthony J. Wilgus, MSW
A detailed case study illustrates that suicide is an event transcending the biological and psychological processes of the individual. The lens of Bowen theory allows examination of the role of multiple relationships and generations in the phenomenon.
12:00 Panel Discussion
12:30 Lunch Break (Video-Showing)
2:00 Distinguishing Basic from Functional Change Michael E. Kerr, MD
Segments of videotaped interviews of one family over time illustrate the difficulty in distinguishing progress on basic level of differentiation from changes in functional level. The degree of emotional neutrality is the principle point of distinction.
3:15 Intermission
THE SELF
3:30 Family Emotional Process and Interfaith Marriage
Eileen Gottlieb, MEd
The presence of interfaith marriages across five generations in a family is used to study unresolved emotional attachment, the patterns of managing it across generations, and the family's capacity to adapt to relationship challenges.
4:00 The Use of Language in Bowen Theory Randall T. Frost, MDiv
Solid self includes clearly defined beliefs, opinions, convictions, and life principles that are anchored in reality. It also includes biological factors. The meaning of "self" informs and is informed by other terms in the theory.
4:30 Panel Discussion
5:00 Adjournment
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