Personal Family Interview

Conduct an interview with one or both of your parents about your family history. If family is not available to interview, please see your instructor for suggestions. If this is not possible, consider interviewing your spouse’s parents or another older family member such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc.

Note key family dynamics, relationship triangles, and relationship processes (instances of emotional fusion or reactive distancing, general level of differentiation in the family, etc.). Be sure to ask couples how they met and about their courtship.

Present your findings in an informal paper of 500-750 words.

Conclude by reflecting on your experience. Did the Bowen structure shed light on any family structures previously unknown?