American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Practice Test

What role does anxiety play in Bowen's concept of marital conflict?

1. Anxiety rises due to external family pressures

2. Each partner's anxiety affects the other's behavior

3. Anxiety is irrelevant to marital issues

4. Anxiety decreases intimacy within the marriage

The correct answer is: Each partner's anxiety affects the other's behavior

In Bowen's family systems theory, anxiety is a crucial factor in understanding interpersonal relationships, particularly in the context of marital conflict. The idea is that the anxiety experienced by one partner can significantly influence the behavior and emotional state of the other partner. This interconnectedness suggests that when one partner feels anxious, it can lead to a heightened reaction in the other partner, often resulting in a cycle of escalating conflict or emotional disengagement. This mutual influence highlights the importance of recognizing how individual anxiety levels can impact the overall dynamics of the marriage, illuminating the way that partners can become emotionally reactive to one another. The other options do touch on aspects of anxiety but don't capture the fundamental role it plays in shaping interactions between partners in the context of marital conflict. For instance, while external pressures might contribute to anxiety, the key emphasis in Bowen's theory is on the relational aspect and how individual anxieties interrelate. Similarly, claiming that anxiety is irrelevant overlooks its critical role in emotional reactivity and conflict, while the notion that anxiety decreases intimacy does not consider the complexity of how anxiety manifests in relationships, often leading to avoidance rather than a straightforward reduction of intimacy.