Murray Bowen's family systems theory proposes that the family operates as an emotional unit — not a collection of independent individuals. Each member's behavior affects and is affected by every other member. Patterns established in the family of origin replay in adult relationships until consciously examined.

Key concepts: Differentiation of self — the ability to maintain your own identity, thoughts, and emotions while staying emotionally connected to the family. Low differentiation: you absorb the family's anxiety, can't disagree without feeling like a traitor, and lose yourself in relationships. High differentiation: you can be close without being enmeshed, disagree without disconnecting, and maintain your own positions under emotional pressure.

Triangulation: when two-person conflict recruits a third person. Instead of addressing the problem directly, one or both parties involve a third (child, sibling, therapist, friend) to stabilize the anxiety. Triangles are the family system's primary anxiety-management mechanism — and they prevent the original conflict from ever being resolved.

Emotional cutoff: physically or emotionally cutting off from family to manage anxiety. It feels like independence but is actually reactive — the cutoff person remains controlled by what they're avoiding. True differentiation means staying connected while maintaining boundaries — the hardest but healthiest option.

Intergenerational transmission: anxiety patterns, relationship templates, and unresolved conflicts pass from generation to generation. You didn't just inherit genes from your family — you inherited their emotional patterns, communication habits, and conflict styles.