According to Bowen's theory of systemic family therapy, the extent of spousal differentiation could determine the couples' quality of marital relationships. In the study reported here, it was hypothesized that the extent of self-differentiation is related to the severity of marital conflict. Furthermore, based on Bowen's similarity principle, the similarity of spousal self-differentiation was also tested in relationship to the severity of the spousal conflict. To test these hypotheses, 17 couples were randomly selected from among residents of a university dormitory for married couples. Two questionnaires were utilized to collect the data: the Differentiation of Self Index (DSI) and Barati and Sanai's Marital Conflict Questionnaires (MCQ).The results show that there is a relation between couples' extent of self-differentiation and the severity of their marital conflict. Among differentiation subscales, emotional reactivity showed a stronger relationship with marital conflict and supported the similarity principle. The findings are discussed further and suggestions given.

The present research aims to study the effect of psychodrama on the rise of self-differentiation from family of origin among high school females students. Subject was 20 first grade female students who were selected (using cluster sampling) from first grade classes in the 5th educational district in Tehran. Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI) was administered in the selected classes. In each class, ten students with lowest scores in D SI were selected. They were assigned to experimental (n = 10) and control (n= 10) groups. The experimental group participated in 12 sessions psychodrama groups (each session for 2 hour). Descriptive statistic and independent t-test were used to analyze the data. Results indicate that all of the hypotheses of the research were confirmed; meaning that psychodrama groups increased self-differentiation of high school female student.

The present research is aimed to study the relation between differention of self and emotional intelligence, and is conducted among individuals reffering to judical conters and those who tend to continue their marital life. The sample of the following research consists of 61 individuals referring to judical conters and 61 individuals who tend to continue their marriage. Both groups completed differentiation of self Inventory and Emotional intelligence scale. The results indicate significant differences between experimental and control groups in emotional intelligence and differentiation (p</001).Emotional Intelligence and differentiation scores were significantly higher in control group. According to the results of regression analysis, differentiation of self, I position, and Emotional cutoff could be considered as predictive variables for emotional intelligence.

The present research was conducted to study the relation of mental happiness and level of self-differentiation components with marital satisfaction of the married couples in Kerman. The target population of the study consisted of 300 married people whom were chosen by stratified random sampling. The instruments used in this study were: (I) Oxford Happiness Inventory, (2) Level of Self Differentiation Inventory, and (3) Marital Satisfaction Inventory (Enrich). The results showed: (1) Mental happiness components and level of self-differentiation components (except in fusion component) had significant positive correlation (p<0.001) with marital satisfaction. (2), the satisfaction component of mental happiness with marital satisfaction was correlated, and (3) Emotion cutoff, and ego position of level of self-differentiation had significant multiple correlation with marital satisfaction.

Background & Aims: Psychodrama is a form of human development which explores, through dramatic action, the problems, issues, concerns, dreams and highest aspirations of people, groups, systems and organizations. It is mostly used as a group work method. This research was to study the effectiveness of psychodrama group therapy on increasing the individual self-differentiation from the family of origin on female nursing students.Materials & Methods: The samples consisted of twenty female university students being divided into an experimental and a control group through cluster sampling. The experimental group was treated with twelve psychodrama group sessions (1.5 hour per session) the control group received no treatment. Related data were gathered using a questioner and then were analyzed by descriptive statistics and T-test. Results: Psychodrama group therapy increased students’ overall scale and four subscales of the questionnaire. It enhanced participants' emotional responsiveness and helped to discover the true self avoiding emotional triggering.Conclusion: Psychodrama group therapy was effective on increasing self-differentiation of nursing students.

This study examined the relationship between Bownen's concept of self-differentiation and identity styles suggested by Berzonskey. 89 university students (including 45 male and 44 female) completed two questionnaires including Identity Styles Inventory (Berzonsky, 1989) and Differentiation of Self Inventory (skowron and Friedlander, 1998). Results demonstrated that all dimensions of differentiation of self (emotional reactivity, I position, fusion with others, emotional cut off) were positively correlated with informative style and negatively correlated with diffuse-avoidant style.There were positive correlations between two dimensions (I position and fusion with others) and normative style, and no significant relationship between two dimensions of self-differentiation (emotional reactivity and emotional cut off) and normative style.Finally, the implications for counseling and psychotherapy practices are suggested.