Workshop: Polarisation in Society

Dr Dan Papero will be presenting this workshop on polarisation in society. 

Although the intensity of the global pandemic now seems like ancient history, major challenges continue to confront the global society. Many of these challenges stem from human processes and activities. Economic and social forces coalesce to threaten the survival of individuals and families. The human population of the planet continues to increase, the effects of climate change intensify, human migration continues to grow, and broad demographic change challenges economic and political stability. Governmental structures appear shaky and incompetent to address the compounding challenges faced.

Across the globe the general human emotional response to challenge leads to polarised processes that effectively block effort to address pressing problems. Increasing chaos and stasis result, and crises deepen. In the face of such widespread chaos, the individuals often feel helpless and withdraw from engagement. Bowen theory’s concepts of differentiation of self and of the triangle may provide some guidance to those seeking to maintain engagement with challenge. This talk will explore these concepts and the relevance of theory to guide functioning in a turbulent and polarised world.

About Dr Dan Papero

After graduate training in social work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Dr. Papero entered postgraduate training in family systems theory and psychotherapy at the Georgetown University Family Center. In 1982, Dr. Bowen invited him to join the faculty of the Family Center, now the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. Over the years he has served in many administrative and teaching roles at the Center. He currently organizes a research seminar and coordinates the Theory Meeting, a bi-weekly working group dedicated to the exploration and expansion of family systems theory.

He has written numerous articles and book chapters on various aspects of family systems theory and family psychotherapy. In 1990, he published a basic introduction to family systems, Bowen Family Systems Theory. He and Robert Noone, PhD, co-edited the volume The Family Emotional System: An Integrative Concept for Theory, Science and Practice in 2015. He has served on the editorial board of the journal Family Systems since its founding. He currently gives many invited presentations yearly to various professional groups across the country and around the world on topics related to family systems theory, family psychotherapy, and the functioning of corporations and organizations.

In recent years he has consulted increasingly with organizations in both the private and public sectors about the impact of relationships on functioning and the emotional process of organizations.