When it comes to the human response to stress, we have all heard of the phrase 'fight or flight.' But did you know that this may only refer to the male stress response? 

The family systems theory was created by Dr. Murray Bowen, a psychiatrist and Professor in Psychiatry at Georgetown University. The theory views families as whole systems, rather than just collections of individuals. According to the theory, individuals must be seen as parts of a system and cannot be analysed in isolation from one another. Bowen argues that the family is a network of dynamics and if one member leaves, then another member will fill their place in the system. This means that family dynamics are interdependent and the circumstances of one family member are inextricably linked to the others.