VH here responding to Laurie Lassiter’s comments via email. Here is a round a bout reply re: who do I view as the reader? I began this project in 1992 after moving away from immersion in Bowen theory communities of thinkers and the science available at GT, the Smithsonian, and elsewhere, to Houston. It seemed like Siberia! This project was a life-saver. Curiosity displaced isolation and I came to be in contact with a number of scientists who were interested in my questions and directed me toward research. I began this project to learn for myself. Over time, I realized that I had developed views of I/T and emotional systems in nature that were different from other Bowen theory folks. The anxiety reactions and evolution article in Family Systems helped me come to an understanding of anxiety and evolution that is my own as well. As I present and teach on this material (even just this morning at BC Research Meeting), people who know Bowen theory tell me how it is useful to them. So I am writing this for readers who do know Bowen theory. That might be enough, but after reading current books on this subject by Joe LeDoux, Bill Bryson, and David Coles, there are likely people in science and in popular science will will be interested.
There is only 1 book in me on this subject. It may be a kinda big one, with illustrations.
My Goal (s): To learn, to describe what there is to learn from research on the human as part of a phylogenetic lineage going backward and forward in evolution, and discuss the value of this perspective.
Good to hear the interesting history of your project, Victoria. I’m curious what you see as differences in the way you see emotional systems in nature from others in Bowen theory. That sounds to me like a key to the heart of the book, what you especially want to say, and where you can most make a contribution.
Laurie
Victoria,
Having seen some of this work in your article in the climate issue of Family Systems, I was doubly interested in seeing how you are taking this project further. As you say in the last sentence of your comment, you have a two-pronged mission: to make an in-depth study of evolution and the science that has brought out increasing knowledge of it, and to tell the story of how an evolutionary perspective has been relevant to your own life and work with clients and others.
Regarding the first mission, I think you have gathered and organized the 4 billion year story and written about it in a way that makes it fascinating to a reader. Your chart on the phylogenetic timeline reminded me of Lynn Margulis and Dorion Sagan’s Microcosmos, a book I refer to every so often. I think that starting this part of the book with an introduction to Bowen theory with emphasis on his definition of emotion and the forces for individuality and togetherness works well to set the stage for the overview of evolution. You beautifully integrate these concepts into the overview.
Regarding the second mission, showing the relevance of an evolutionary perspective and its practical application, I like that you use the first person voice and give the reader enough personal information to make the case for how useful this way of thinking is in real life. I love your grandmother’s reaction to hearing that you were reading about chimpanzees. It reminds me of the story of how a bishop’s wife in the 19th century reacted to hearing about Darwin: “Descended from the apes! Oh my! Let us hope it is not true, and if it is, let us hope it does not become generally known.” I think that is still where many people are when the subject of evolution comes up. History shows that some human cultures have elevated ourselves above the rest of nature, and cut ourselves off, with the dangerous results that we now see. Your book can be an important guide to seeing ourselves as part of all life, as Dr. Bowen taught.