SYSTEMS THEORY

incorporating Unitary Approaches, Family Systems, Institutional

Systems, Ecological Models and Networking

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

Another Example

• Excluding your family and blood relatives, how many friends and acquaintances do you have?

• Write down the number that best approximates to your social system

Further Examples Examples of simple systems are babysitting

circles, allotment societies, “share – the care” schemes

Examples of complex systems are neighbourhoods, families, kinship networks, church / faith groups, peer groups, social communities

SYSTEMS THEORY: A Definition

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

(Talcott Parsons: The Social System)

SYSTEMS THEORY: Roots

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

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

BIOLOGICAL MODELS BIOLOGICAL MODELS

The whole is equal to more than the The whole is equal to more than the sum of its partssum 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 (2)

Behaviour is best understood as a circular process

Systems are naturally self - preservationist and conservative

Systems need energy flow across boundaries to achieve equilibrium

Systems are goal directed

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

Reminder – how would other theories intervene in this case?

1. Psychodynamic – would try to engage with David’s inner world of feelings

2. Behavioural – identify and try to isolate those factors positively reinforcing David’s school refusal

3. Cognitive – what do you think?

4. Systems – as implied earlier – may use any one of above………BUT would also:

Systems Theory Intervention in David’s Case

Enquire into the way the actions of each family member impact on the others – see diagram – slide 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

HUMANS AND SYSTEMS

All people depend upon human systems: INFORMAL: family; friends; neighbourhoods FORMAL: church; clubs; associations; trade

unions SOCIETAL: school; employer; authorities;

state structures

(Pincus and Minahan, 1973)

Pincus & Minahan’s 4 basic social work systems

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 levels

MICRO: reference to interaction and mutuality in personal peer relationships

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

MACRO: relationship between people and more formal community organisations

Linking Systems and Linking Systems and Structural TheoryStructural Theory

““Community social work demands a Community social work demands a systems orientation and a change systems orientation and a change of attitude from social work about of attitude from social work about roles and tasks” (Coulshed, 1988) roles and tasks” (Coulshed, 1988)

Working with communities, Working with communities, neighbourhoods and networks: a neighbourhoods and networks: a systems approach to service systems approach to service delivery delivery

Can Systems Theory be Critical? Systems theory does allow social workers

to be critical of – and target for change - considerable ‘issues’ outside the immediate behaviour of the referral; including:

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

Linking Systems theory to Networking

a systems approach may be applied to the analysis of “the complexity of biological, psychological, social and cultural forces at work in the relations between formal social work and informal social support networks” (Garbarino, 1986: 24)

the aim is “to create artificial systems that will go on to function as natural systems” (Collins and Pancoast, 1976: 65)

Coates J (2003) Ecology & Social WorkCoates J (2003) Ecology & Social Work

Starts from the notion that SW Starts from the notion that SW mustmust support sustainable support sustainable development, through:development, through:

Developing caring communitiesDeveloping caring communities Identifying & developing activities that benefit ‘the Identifying & developing activities that benefit ‘the

common good’common good’ Promoting active partnershipsPromoting active partnerships Building capacities in individuals & communitiesBuilding capacities in individuals & communities Promoting Promoting decentralised & localiseddecentralised & localised decision decision

making - & making it work!making - & making it work! Promoting community health & social resiliencePromoting community health & social resilience Promoting environmental and social justicePromoting environmental and social justice Reducing human & ecological stress – with much use Reducing human & ecological stress – with much use

of grief workof grief work Focus on natural methods of healing & spiritualityFocus on natural methods of healing & spirituality So, it is logical that a radical and critical systems theory So, it is logical that a radical and critical systems theory

would question all the conventional systems within would question all the conventional systems within which SW is practiced - and promote alternativeswhich SW is practiced - and promote alternatives

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

StrengthsStrengths

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

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

It offers more than one way to tackle an issue – It offers more than one way to tackle an issue – eclectic – not ‘stuck’ in one preferred approacheclectic – not ‘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 It is not prescriptive – does not tell us what to do

(some might say that’s a strength!) (some might say that’s a strength!) It is a generalised theory - hard to apply to It is a generalised theory - hard to apply to

specific situationsspecific situations It points to many connections but does not It points to many connections but does not

provide anyprovide any specific theory specific theory that might link them that might link them in an explanatory mannerin an explanatory manner

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

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

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

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