Focus on Emotional Cutoff and Migration

For 30 years, the concept of emotional cutoff has challenged Ms. Rauseo to think about the impact of emigration, its connection to cutoff and the implications in the lifetime functioning for descendants.  In both her own family and in clinical families these concepts have stimulated a lifetime of study. Based on a broader understanding of natural systems, the concept of cutoff does not stand separate from the other concepts described by Bowen. That is part of the ongoing learning and complexity of study.

1994 - 1996

Ms. Rauseo moved to El Paso, Texas, which permitted her to be close to the US/Mexico border.  Here several opportunities presented themselves to study clinical families and women in a prenatal clinic where the women were all recent immigrants.  The impact of migration on families was measured by studying cutoff in terms of 1) the women’s knowledge of family history and 2) their contact with extended family. Those with less emotional cutoff were most obviously distressed by the migration with its difficulty in maintaining family contact.  Those with more emotional cutoff were not as emotionally affected by the lack of contact, but they were less realistic in their planning for relationships and for their offspring.  (A pilot study there could not be continued for lack of funding.)

1997 - 1999

El Paso and Cd. Juarez, MX - In-depth study of several clinical families led to the hypothesis that family process and some emotional cutoff is part of most emigration decisions. This appears to operate at an automatic emotional level that is seldom recognized except in retrospect and by gathering facts of family history.

2001- 2003

Continuing study of migration patterns in other animals led to further evidence that emotional process in the group plays some part in migration. Published chapter in Emotional Cutoff: Bowen Theory Perspectives ed. by Peter Titelman "Migration and Emotional Cutoff".

2003 - Present

Ongoing pilot studies. These include families at the US/Mexico border who are able to gather facts about the family functioning from branches that are cutoff from the family of origin and those who are in contact.  One large family was selected for extensive work in a pilot study.

This most detailed pilot study has been temporarily discontinued due to the violence in Cd. Juarez where the majority of the family members reside.  The planned contacts will have to be delayed until there is a safe way to gather family members for the interviews.  At this time many families are reluctant to leave home except for essential activities involving food, medical care, work, or possibly school. 

The migration study involves continuing contact with the broader studies in humans other mammals to identify the forces that are present at the time of increased migration. Funding these studies would allow collaboration with anthropologists and others interested in these findings.  Programs based on this thinking and the work of other scientists will continue to be part of this effort.