The Process of Interviewing a Woman Whose Differentiation of Self was Shaped by Changes in Her Mother-daughter Relationship

Abstract

　　Couples are influenced by their respective families of origin, and these influences can cause marital conflicts. Differentiation of self is the ability to acquire a sense of self as an individual while maintaining the connection with one’s family of origin. This study examined the case of a woman who felt like a victimizer because she unleashed “angry outbursts” on her husband from the perspective of self-differentiation. The woman acquired a self in relation to her family of origin and current family by sorting out her experiences and unresolved conflicts with her family of origin. With the acquisition of self and progress in self-differentiation, she was able to objectively perceive her relationships with others and her feelings. She also decreased her angry outbursts on her husband. These results underscore the importance of considering unresolved issues in one’s family of origin. Results also suggested that interaction between the interpersonal dimension and the mental dimension promotes differentiation of self. Thus, this study discussed the importance of a therapist attending to a client’s feelings of discomfort and protecting a stable relationship.