Regressive levels of anxiety hover over the global field; and whatever happens this year in the realm of nation-state politics, there's a basic yet often unconscious aspect of an existing large-scale, multi-lateral conflict that has its roots in family functioning and projection. That is, you can often find hints of a person's family functioning by way of the kind and quality of leadership one provides. Add to this, one premise of Family Systems posits that the level of maturity in leaders reflects the overall level of differentiation in society.
Most would agree that the US is entangled in a sever conflict of huge human groups having been drawn into uncooperative functioning,
while issues and competing interests have multiplied and unresolved. As current issues activate memories of old grievances, people
who have lived together as neighbors in a democracy may turn against one another. Just as in families,
“People do not have trouble getting along because of issues. These issues tend to bring out the emotional immaturity of people, and it is that immaturity, not the issues, that creates the conflict.” (M. E. Kerr, and M. Bowen. Family Evaluation. New York: W. W. Norton, 1988, 188)
Large-scale conflict is often multi generational. Children, now adults, have been born into
divided emotional fields and have been educated on a deep, visceral level to a way
of life that perpetuates these divisions. Societal regression grows in intensity as conflict escalates in intensity.
The process of emotion dominates thinking so that the intellectual system is more
geared to winning [fight] than to finding an accord with the opponent.
Polarization is intense and people find it hard to find a middle ground.
Middle way, alternative and third way values and resolutions almost always require emotional regulation of its leaders. If not, then there is a sense of stalemate and discouragement, as well as increasing
danger that the conflict will spread.
Hence, the level of maturity in leaders reflects the overall level of differentiation in society.
The move toward individuality [individual progression in emotional maturity and regulation] is initiated by a single strong leader with the courage of his conviction who can assemble a team, and who has clearly defined principles on which she can base her decisions when the emotional opposition becomes intense.” (M. Bowen, Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. New York: 279)
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Graham Franciose, 2020 Morning Coffee Paintings |
