CHAPTER SIXFAMILIES AS SYSTEMS

The Practice of Generalist Social Work (2nd ed.)

Key Ideas

Systems theory helps social workers to conceptualize families as highly organized systems, whose parts are dependent on one another.

These components can be used in interventions to help improve family functioning.

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Key Systems Theory Dimensions

Component Changes

Also known as homeostasis, systems theory posits that a change in one part of the system affects other parts of the system.

All systems strive to maintain homeostasis, regardless of whether that homeostasis results in positive or negative functioning for the system.

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Key Systems Theory Dimensions

Subsystems

Smaller systems within a larger system that organize relationships within the system as a whole

Social workers assess and intervene with subsystems to help improve functioning of the larger family system

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Key Systems Theory Dimensions

Boundaries

Help define the types and qualities of relationships between subsystems Permeable boundaries Diffuse boundaries Rigid boundaries

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Key Systems Theory Dimensions

Family Norms

Rules of conduct that help define subsystems and boundaries in family systems

Can be implicit or explicit

Can be negotiable or non-negotiable

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Key Systems Theory Dimensions

Family Roles

Socially or culturally sanctioned patterns of behaviors expected of individuals within a system

Examples of roles Hero Clown Lost child Scapegoat

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Key Systems Theory Dimensions

Differentiation A system’s movement from a simple existence

toward a more complex form of functioning Entropy

A system’s movement toward disorganization and death. Negative entropy is a system’s movement toward growth and development

Feedback Positive or negative information about a

system’s performance

© 2011 Taylor & Francis