SYSTEMS SYSTEMS THEORYTHEORYFOR WEEK 2-3FOR WEEK 2-3

Source : sizovai.ucoz.ru/ausland/social_theory/Systems.ppt

SYSTEMS THEORYSYSTEMS THEORY• What is Systems Theory? What is Systems Theory?

• Biological Models Biological Models

• A Case Study A Case Study

• The Pincus and Minahan modelThe Pincus and Minahan model

• Social Work and Ecology Social Work and Ecology

• Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths and Weaknesses

An Example An Example • Think of Lincoln’s transport system: if Think of Lincoln’s transport system: if

you improve car access, you potentially you improve car access, you potentially boost the economy, you satisfy boost the economy, you satisfy individual demand, but potentially individual demand, but potentially damage the environment and increase damage the environment and increase risks of accidents; if you switch to public risks of accidents; if you switch to public transport, you boost jobs through transport, you boost jobs through infrastructural spending, but you lose infrastructural spending, but you lose income from car parking, from passing income from car parking, from passing trade, potentially from tourism…….so trade, potentially from tourism…….so any action in one part has a any action in one part has a consequence on the whole systemconsequence on the whole system

SYSTEMS THEORY: A SYSTEMS THEORY: A Definition Definition

““A Social system is a system of A Social system is a system of processes of interaction between processes of interaction between actors……...it is the structure of the actors……...it is the structure of the relations relations between the actors as between the actors as involved in the interactive process involved in the interactive process which is essentially the structure of which is essentially the structure of the social system. The system is a the social system. The system is a network of such relationships” network of such relationships”

(Talcott Parsons: The Social System) (Talcott Parsons: The Social System)

SYSTEMS THEORY: SYSTEMS THEORY: RootsRoots

• ““Things do not have a meaning in themselves, Things do not have a meaning in themselves, but only in relation to other thingsbut only in relation to other things” (Saying ” (Saying from Eastern philosophy)from Eastern philosophy)

• Society is “Society is “an organism of functionally an organism of functionally interdependent parts evolving through interdependent parts evolving through structural differentiationstructural differentiation” (Herbert Spencer: ” (Herbert Spencer: The Study of Sociology)The Study of Sociology)

BIOLOGICAL MODELS BIOLOGICAL MODELS • The whole is equal to more than The whole is equal to more than the sum of its partsthe sum of its parts

• Systems are highly organisedSystems are highly organised• Boundaries are very important, as Boundaries are very important, as are patterned transactionsare patterned transactions

• The behaviour of the individual The behaviour of the individual cannot be understood without cannot be understood without reference to the system to which reference to the system to which s/he belongss/he belongs

BIOLOGICAL MODELS BIOLOGICAL MODELS (2) (2)

• Behaviour is best understood as Behaviour is best understood as a circular processa circular process

• Systems are naturally self - Systems are naturally self - preservationist and conservativepreservationist and conservative

• Systems need energy flow Systems need energy flow across boundaries to achieve across boundaries to achieve equilibriumequilibrium

• Systems are goal directedSystems are goal directed

Practice Example of Simple Use of Systems Practice Example of Simple Use of Systems Theory – as an Explanatory Framework – Theory – as an Explanatory Framework – School RefusalSchool Refusal

David refuses

to go to school

Mum worriesabout her

Health, butcannot discuss.Worries about

money problems

Parents pleasedby D’s help.David feels

safe at home

Dad guiltyMum unhappyMoney focusmakes himfeel useless

AnxietyAttacks – angina

gets worse

David picks up anxieties.

Wants tocomfort Mum &

cheer up Dad

Systems Theory Intervention in David’s Systems Theory Intervention in David’s CaseCase

• Enquire into the way the actions of each family member Enquire into the way the actions of each family member impact on the others – see diagram – previous slide impact on the others – see diagram – previous slide

• Encourage parents to go to school regularly to see Encourage parents to go to school regularly to see teachers about David’s progressteachers about David’s progress

• Enquire about possible bullying at school & the nature of Enquire about possible bullying at school & the nature of the ant-bullying policiesthe ant-bullying policies

• Make sure that the health care system is aware of the Make sure that the health care system is aware of the emotional aspects of D’s father’s health problemsemotional aspects of D’s father’s health problems

• Establish whether there were other forms of support Establish whether there were other forms of support available to D’s parentsavailable to D’s parents

• Ensure the parents were aware of all potential benefits Ensure the parents were aware of all potential benefits available to themavailable to them

In this sense then Systems Theory is making sure that In this sense then Systems Theory is making sure that the ‘problem’ is perceived in the round and in an inter-the ‘problem’ is perceived in the round and in an inter-connected manner……..simple good practice – you connected manner……..simple good practice – you might think!might think!

HUMANS AND HUMANS AND SYSTEMSSYSTEMS

• All people depend upon human systems:All people depend upon human systems:

• INFORMALINFORMAL: family; friends; : family; friends; neighbourhoodsneighbourhoods

• FORMALFORMAL: church; clubs; associations; : church; clubs; associations; trade unionstrade unions

• SOCIETAL:SOCIETAL: school; employer; school; employer; authorities; state structures authorities; state structures

(Pincus and Minahan, 1973) (Pincus and Minahan, 1973)

Pincus & Minahan’s 4 basic social work Pincus & Minahan’s 4 basic social work systemssystems

System Description Further

Information

Change Agent

System

Social workers & the organisations they work in Not just social workers!

Client

System People, groups, families, communities who seek help

& engage with change agents

Actual clients have agreed to receive help & have engaged themselves;

potential clients are those with whom the sws are

trying to engage

Target

System

People whom the change agent system is trying to

change to achieve its aims

Client and target systems may or may not be the

same

Action

System

People with whom the change agent system works

to achieve its aims

Client, target & action systems may or may not be

the same

Noel Timms’ three Noel Timms’ three levelslevels

• MICRO: reference to interaction and mutuality in MICRO: reference to interaction and mutuality in personal peer relationshipspersonal peer relationships

• MEZZO: access to resources, often facilitated by MEZZO: access to resources, often facilitated by central figures, informal leaderscentral figures, informal leaders

• MACRO: relationship between people and more MACRO: relationship between people and more formal community organisations formal community organisations

Can Systems Theory be Can Systems Theory be Critical? Critical?

• Systems theory does allow social Systems theory does allow social workers to be critical of – and target for workers to be critical of – and target for change - considerable ‘issues’ outside change - considerable ‘issues’ outside the immediate behaviour of the referral; the immediate behaviour of the referral; including:including:

• The referrer's immediate environment; The referrer's immediate environment; their own agency’s policies; other their own agency’s policies; other agencies; local & national government agencies; local & national government policies; social conventions generallypolicies; social conventions generally

Strengths & Weaknesses of Systems Approach Strengths & Weaknesses of Systems Approach as a Guide to Practiceas a Guide to Practice

StrengthsStrengths

• It offers a unitary approach by combining psychological, It offers a unitary approach by combining psychological, social and community approaches social and community approaches

• It is interactive – it facilitates being able to understand the It is interactive – it facilitates being able to understand the impact of people on each other, as well the impact of systems impact of people on each other, as well the impact of systems on people & other systemson people & other systems

• It offers more than one way to tackle an issue – eclectic – not It offers more than one way to tackle an issue – eclectic – not ‘stuck’ in one preferred approach‘stuck’ in one preferred approach

• It allows for the integration of approachesIt allows for the integration of approaches

• It avoids strict determinist accounts of behaviourIt avoids strict determinist accounts of behaviour

WeaknessesWeaknesses• It is not prescriptive – does not tell us what to do (some might say that’s a It is not prescriptive – does not tell us what to do (some might say that’s a

strength!) strength!)

• It is a generalised theory - hard to apply to specific situationsIt is a generalised theory - hard to apply to specific situations

• It points to many connections but does not provide anyIt points to many connections but does not provide any specific theory specific theory that might link them in an explanatory mannerthat might link them in an explanatory manner

• Maybe it includes too much – maybe we need theory that places some Maybe it includes too much – maybe we need theory that places some emphasis on what is most importantemphasis on what is most important

•

• In many guises it can be quite conservative – creating stable self reliant In many guises it can be quite conservative – creating stable self reliant systems systems

• Similarly it may overstate the importance of social cohesion and solidarity Similarly it may overstate the importance of social cohesion and solidarity

• It can have a complex and over technical language – like many other It can have a complex and over technical language – like many other theories! theories!