On “The Social Hierarchy: Biology, History, and Emotional Process” by Stephanie Ferrera
Posted by Laurie Lassiter
Stephanie, I was impressed with your comprehensive article in the recent Family Systems journal. If you would like, I think FEST could be a forum for responses to it.
There is much to learn and to ponder in your article, so I will only pick out some small points.
The way you describe the natural hierarchy that exists in social systems is comprehensive and a contribution to understanding the complexities and consequences of social class. I think you do a brilliant job of showing the historical development from tribal society to the inequality and emphasis on wealth that we deal with now.
One area of difference is the way we each consider evolution and the fact of hierarchy in all social systems. I find your analysis more accepting of the positive function of hierarchy and of the products of evolution generally. I tend to see our evolutionary heritage of hierarchy and family process as a burden and a problem.
Stephanie, thank you for this article. I appreciate the work and care that has gone into it. I also appreciate the great quotes from Bowen that you included. I look forward to more exchange with you in the future, and at the Spring meeting. I enjoy struggling with these challenging ideas of class and hierarchy, and how they relate to Bowen theory, and especially differentiation of self.
Laurie