This presentation reviews the main ideas of Bowen theory about the emotional, feeling, and intellectual systems. Dr. Kerr looks at these systems through the lens of evolution. He explains each one and shows how the ideas are based in science and biology. The talk also compares these ideas with Lisa Feldman Barrett’s theory of constructed emotion. Her theory challenges the older view that emotions come from fixed brain circuits and show up as universal expressions. While both approaches borrow ideas from Darwin, Barrett argues that we evolved to “construct” our emotional experiences. As Dr. Kerr notes, her approach is based on an individual model.
Dr. Kerr uses Jonathan Haidt’s rider and elephant metaphor to explain how automatic processes guide the human mind, just as they have guided animal minds for 500 million years. He gives evolutionary examples, such as domesticated foxes and naked mole rats, to show the biological roots of the theory. The talk ends with a question-and-answer session with other experts in Bowen Theory. This presentation is useful for anyone who wants a better understanding of these key ideas in Bowen Theory.
