A critical incidents study of differentiation

Eight couples participated in a workshop designed, to identify what events facilitate or hinder differentiation in everyday life. The couples met in three-hour weekly sessions over a period of eight weeks. The program incorporated psycho-educational and experiential components. The content was based on the key concepts of Bowen Family Systems Theory, communication skills, Transactional Analysis and Imago Therapy. During the program and from interviews, 508 incidents were collected. Flanagan's (1954) critical incident technique was used as an evaluation method. Subsequently, the total of 508 reported incidents was reduced to the six major categories. Each major category had its facilitating and hindering counterparts. Then, a definition was created for each category. The categories of "Openness & Intimacy" and "A Sense of Self" accounted for 51% of all facilitating as well as all hindering events. The results of the study were found to be both reliable and valid. The implications for the development of skill-training programs, counselling sessions and future research were outlined.Education, Faculty ofEducational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department ofGraduat