This book is based on a class paper and a series of conversations with Dr. Kim Sebaly and Dr. Mary Jackson, professors at Kent State University. The Human Animal by Steve Bell examines American family dynamics through Family Systems Theory and draws connections between American family life and greater societal structures. The book explores the intergenerational transmission of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors concerning family roles as influenced by political affiliations, namely the Republican and Democratic parties. Republicans are portrayed as traditional authority figures, while Democrats appear as compassionate advocates for the less privileged.
Bell continues his analysis of the socio-political expression of emotions within the American family system, discussing the fight-or-flight response in family interactions in relation to larger societal reactions. This focus on physiological and safety needs parallels the American family’s quest for stability. In this light, Bell sheds light on the socioemotional development of American society and argues that true societal change must come from emotional understanding. The Human Animal book ultimately portrays the American family system as a microcosm of the greater issues in American society.