Bowen theory provides a way of understanding acts of violence from a family system perspective. These acts reflect something beyond what can be explained by a mental illness or a genetic propensity. Ted Kaczynski, who was called the “Unabomber” and a domestic terrorist, was identified in 1997 by his brother, after he a published “Manifesto” which focused on the ills of technology.
Michael Kerr uses the “Unabomber” as a case study in a 2017 webcast sponsored by Bowen Theory Academy. This video by Michael Kerr describes Bowen theory concepts as applied to the “Unabomber’s” family system. His presentation is based on interviews with family members and public knowledge. He suggests that extreme violent behavior can appear in a family that overall seems to be functioning normally. He uses the case of the Unabomber to describe how Bowen theory concepts apply to a family emotional system.
Ted Kaczynski, who went to Harvard when he was sixteen, lived alone in a cabin in Montana as an adult. Between 1978-1995 he made and detonated sixteen bombs, which killed three people and injured twenty-three others before being caught in 1996. He was referred to as the “Unabomber” by the FBI before he was identified.
Michael Kerr’s premise is that Ted Kaczynski had a low level of differentiation of self and was “programmed for attention”. His mother believed he was traumatized by a hospitalization that occurred when he was nine months old. She focused on him to make up for the perceived trauma in connection to his poorly developed social skills. Ted’s intense attachment to his family, prevented him developing much of a self. Although extremely bright, Ted had extreme sensitivity to others and difficulty developing his own relationships apart from his family of origin. As an adult he was not able to establish a relationship with a woman, or to maintain stable employment. He depended on his parents for money and emotional support, which the family gave him. He was angry if he perceived they were not supportive. His feelings of anger, rejection, and blame of others, as well as his concerns about the ills of technology, resulted in dysfunctional coping behaviors such as living in isolation and committing acts of terrorism.
This is a view toward understanding how an individual, who is vulnerable to expressing violent and aggressive behavior, may be part of a seemingly normal family. Michael Kerr says this is a “complex situation” and although Ted was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, the concepts in Bowen family systems theory better help understand and explain the facts. Kerr describes the challenge of this individual as more to do with fusion and lack of differentiation of self-versus trauma.
A case study of a family is an excellent way to think about how Bowen theory and the concept of differentiation of self applies to what seems like unpredictable behavior. The video highlights and uses a case example of the “Unabomber” and Bowen theory to describe concepts in Bowen family systems theory that influence individual development and reflect a lack of self. Michael Kerr says what is most significant is “the capacity of the theory to show the facts.”
