Example of a strong Commentary J T UI427-01 Dr. Stokes February 1, 2005 Course Perspectives The five course perspectives for our class and all aspects of our lives are mutual interdependence, interconnectedness, interrelatedness, reciprocity, and transactions. All five of these perspectives are connected and very important to understanding life. Without each of these perspectives, volunteering and servant leadership would not mean very much. Mutual interdependence means that all people, animals, communities, and everything else in life rely on each other to survive. Each person or thing provides something that someone else can not. For example, everyone is interdependent on farmers to produce enough food so that we can eat whenever we want to. On the other hand, the farmer is interdependent on people in communities to go to the grocery store and buy the food that was produced. This cycle continues each and everyday of our lives. It does not just happen in the United States, it happens all over the world. There are some foods that are better grown in other regions of the world. In this case we are interdependent on those regions and those farmers to satisfy our needs of certain foods. As I was reading my management and organizational behavior text book, I came across the definition of globalization. The definition of globalization is the worldwide interdependence of resource flows, product markets, and business competition. We are globally interdependent upon each other. If something was missing we would not lead the same lives that we do today. I think the definition of globalization illustrates just how important the factory in the movie, Gung Ho was to the town. Without the factory, the people would not be able to make money which in turn would cause the people not to be able to eat. The factory was interdependent upon the town. Without the town there would be no place to set up a factory and have workers work in the factory. If either part had been missing, then the town people would have starved and there would have been no cars produced. Interconnectedness is a relationship between two or more things. We are all humans. When a tragedy occurs, we all feel the pain and suffering. An example of this would be the recent tsunami. We have been connected to these people that we do not even know through the news reports. As a culture, we have been compelled to raise money and collect supplies for these people. The interconnectedness between everyone involved in this tragedy is very powerful. Another example occurred in the movie Gung Ho. In the movie, there were goals set out by the town’s people and by the factory. The town’s people had a goal to make money. The factory had a goal to produce cars. By pairing the two up, there was a relationship in which both could be satisfied. The town’s people worked in the factory and made money and the factory was able to produce cars, because the town was able to provide people to work in the ...

1. Example of a strong Commentary
J T
UI427-01
Dr. Stokes
February 1, 2005
Course Perspectives
The five course perspectives for our class and all aspects of our
lives are mutual interdependence, interconnectedness,
interrelatedness, reciprocity, and transactions. All five of these
perspectives are connected and very important to understanding
life.
Without each of these perspectives, volunteering and servant
leadership would not mean very much.
Mutual interdependence means that all people, animals,
communities, and everything else in life rely on each other to
survive. Each person or thing provides something that someone
else can not. For example, everyone is interdependent on
farmers to produce enough food so that we can eat whenever we
want to. On the other hand, the farmer is interdependent on
people in communities to go to the grocery store and buy the
food that was produced. This cycle continues each and everyday
of our lives. It does not just happen in the United States, it
happens all over the world. There are some foods that are better
grown in other regions of the world. In this case we are
interdependent on those regions and those farmers to satisfy our

2. needs of certain foods. As I was reading my management and
organizational behavior text book, I came across the definition
of globalization. The definition of globalization is the
worldwide interdependence of resource flows, product markets,
and business competition. We are globally interdependent upon
each other. If something was missing we would not lead the
same lives that we do today. I think the definition of
globalization illustrates just how important the factory in the
movie, Gung Ho was to the town. Without the factory, the
people would not be able to make money which in turn would
cause the people not to be able to eat. The factory was
interdependent upon the town. Without the town there would be
no place to set up a factory and have workers work in the
factory. If either part had been missing, then the town people
would have starved and there would have been no cars
produced.
Interconnectedness is a relationship between two or more
things. We are all humans. When a tragedy occurs, we all feel
the pain and suffering. An example of this would be the recent
tsunami. We have been connected to these people that we do not
even know through the news reports. As a culture, we have been
compelled to raise money and collect supplies for these people.
The interconnectedness between everyone involved in this
tragedy is very powerful. Another example occurred in the
movie Gung Ho. In the movie, there were goals set out by the
town’s people and by the factory. The town’s people had a goal
to make money. The factory had a goal to produce cars. By
pairing the two up, there was a relationship in which both could
be satisfied. The town’s people worked in the factory and made
money and the factory was able to produce cars, because the
town was able to provide people to work in the factory. If we
use our interconnectedness towards each, we can satisfy the
needs of the overall goal that is trying to be achieved.

3. Interrelatedness is similar to interconnectedness.
Interrelatedness involves relationships in which each person or
thing is affected by others. We are all human beings and are
interrelated by our actions and the way that they affect others.
An example of this would be pollution problems that are created
during our lifetime. Pollution is a major problem. Although we
may not be able to say for sure what affects it will have on the
future, we know that it will not be good. Our actions today
affect the quality of life that will be experienced twenty, fifty,
or hundred years down the road. If our soil becomes
contaminated and polluted, how will we grow the food that each
of us needs to eat? This is just one example of how our
interrelatedness and pollution affect each other. The point that I
am trying to make is that each and everyday we take actions
that affect ourselves as well as others. Another example of this
would be the relationship between minimum wage and the price
of food. As Americans, we are the cheapest and best fed people
in the world. If the minimum wage was increased, then the
affect would be that the price of food would increase as well.
These two factors are interrelated upon each other and so are we
as humans in everything that we do.
Reciprocity is a relationship among people that involves an
exchange of goods, services, or some other thing. This is based
upon the exchange theory in that you do something for someone
so that they get what they want. In return, you receive
something that you want. I think that a great example of this
was in the story, “How Knowledge Was Earned” By Idries Shah.
In this story the man goes to the Sufi because he would like to
receive knowledge. The man goes on a great journey in order to
get what he wants. Along the way there are many exchanges that
take place between the man and everyone that he comes into
contact with on his great journey. When the man least expects
to receive knowledge, he discovers it. It was through his
exchanges with the people that he was able to get what he
wanted. Through our volunteer experiences, we do not expect

4. anything in return for what we do. However, an exchange takes
place that is far greater than money or any material good. I am
talking about personal growth and a sense that we do make a
difference in the world.
Transactions are the interactions that occur between two or
more people that have an affect on all of them. This is done
through direct and indirect exchanges that influence the people
and the communities that they live in. Transactions are the
nature by which we treat others. Many times there become
stereotypes between different cultures, regions of the country,
races, religions, and so on because people do not take the time
to get to know each other. An example of this would be
someone from a small town visiting a big city. This person from
the small town is lost when they get to the city and are unsure
of where they are going. A person from the city that is in a
hurry gets impatient and passes the small town person. As the
person from the city passes the small town person, they honk
their horn and give them the finger. Now the person from the
small town develops a stereotype that all city people are rude.
There are some people like this everywhere we go, but to make
an assumption because of one person’s actions is a bad thing to
do. Another example of this is to associate people from the
south as hillbillies and red necks. This is unjustified behavior.
The people from the south are no different than people from any
where else in the United States. They just have a different
background. We can learn a lot from each other about different
cultures and backgrounds. All that we have to do is understand
that the transactions between each other can be a learning
experience. We should all go into new experiences with open
minds and an acceptance of everyone.
As you can see, the five course perspectives are related to each
other. They are all in the ecological and social systems theories.
We can learn a lot from these theories about the course
perspectives. I believe that we must look at all of the

5. perspectives to fully gain the meaning of each. The whole is
greater than its parts. This is definitely true with the course
perspective. Our community service experiences will be greatly
enhanced through our knowledge of the course perspectives. If
we look at the perspectives when we volunteer, we can more
fully appreciate how we are helping people and communities. I
look forward to learning more about each of the perspectives,
because it will definitely take the rest of the semester and my
life to gain a fuller and deeper meaning of each.
Course Perspective
Course Perspective (always under construction)
This course is driven by the concept of service learning, that is,
classroom instruction and activities coupled with an experiential
or "hands on" educational component in the field. This course
is interdisciplinary and developed around knowledge and
concepts from Social Systems and Behavioral Systems.
Specifically, the course is designed to integrate the idea of
interrelated and interdependent relationships that exist between
individuals and their environments. The central focus is on the
ways in which community entities ( the variety of social
organizations such as families, agencies, churches, businesses,
etc.) interact through employment, membership, provision of
services, etc. One of the course purposes is to promote
increased understanding of the troubles individuals, families,
communities, and society experiences and to find ways that a
single individual can help remedy those troubles through
community service. To assist in developing that understanding
the course perspective focuses on the human experience and
how humans beings are interdependently interconnected to the
environment and to others who occupy the environmental space.
The nature of interconnected, interrelated, and interdependent

6. relationships between humans and their environments is
explored suggesting that a person's transactions with the various
community entities (other people, families, businesses, schools,
service and governmental agencies, etc.,) is part of the cause
and the solutions to personal issues that may become social
problems and vice versa and how these interactions shape
individuals, families, organizations, and ultimately, the
community.
The entities (persons, families, agencies, businesses, etc.)
within a community environment are an essential component in
the ecology of living systems that are constantly interacting.
Life in a community is carried out through both direct and
indirect exchanges that influence both the person and the
environment. These dynamic interactions, or transactions,
between people and their environments affect the development
of individuals, families and groups, affect citizen involvement,
impact communities, and relate to community social problems.
It is the nature and quality of these transactions that affect the
quality of life of people and, because of the interrelated nature
of entities, the quality of the community itself.
Reciprocity, Mutual Interdependence, (Inter)connectedness,
(Inter)relatedness, and Transactions are five concepts from
Systems and Ecological theories that help explain the reasons
for and the outcomes of the activities of living. All have at least
two dimensions: the individual to individual dimension and the
individual/community dimension.
For example, taking a larger view of Reciprocity, the provision
of community resources such as schools, recreation facilities,
medical facilities, employment, social opportunities, and
agencies for assistance and support etc., foster growth and well
being among individual citizens. In return for providing such
community resources citizens and families develop strength,
capability, and creativity as they are supported by these

7. resources and they strengthen communities through citizen
health, contributions of financial and human resources,
commitment, loyalty, involvement, and responsible citizenship.
The same thinking can apply to the individual to individual
dimension as persons reciprocally exchange with each other
meaningful "commodities of life and living" that enhance the
quality of life of each.
The concept of (Inter)relatedness suggests that the behavior of
the parts of any system (such as indivuduals in a family, for
example) have a direct effect upon all other parts (individuals,
etc.) of that system, as well as the system as a whole. So the
behavior of one person in a system can, and does, affect the
others in the system as well as the system itself. So, when one
part of a system is affected, the entire system is effected in a
variety of meaningful ways. Because community entities are so
Interrelated, what effects one part of the community affects all
the community in some way or another. Hence, individual
troubles become community troubles and vice versa.
The concept of (Inter)connectedness refers to the things that
exist in life that link people, cultures, groups, families, and
nations together in meaningful ways. First, we are all connected
because of the commonality of being human beings. We have
the same needs, wants, desires, goals, etc and those things are a
common link that bind us together although we may not be in
direct contact with one another. The same applies to individual
relationships with the larger community. It is the commonality
of events, issues, values, etc., that connect us. The same can be
applied to nations in our world.
It becomes clear that we are also Interconnected in a variety of
meaningful ways. The connections may be family connections,
connections based on giving support or professional service, it
may be connectivity in helping one another accomplish
individual as well as collective goals, it can be sharing religion

8. and spirituality, tradition, or a host of other connections that are
based on human need. The fact that we are all members of a
community is a connection of significance. In these ways,
human beings become part of something larger than themselves
which effects their sense of self and their personal and
collective well being.
The concept of Mutual Interdependence suggests that every
entity in a system is dependent upon other entities to survive
and successfully carry out the process of living. Independence
is best understood when we recognize the extent to which we
are all interdependent.
The existence of Mutual Interdependence is clearly evident as
we look at the various groups, institutions, and organizations
that exist in the community. The reason that these entities exist
is that they are needed in order for people to carry out the
business of daily living. Without the contributions of the variety
of entities we could not carry on life as effectively or
successfully--either individually or collectively. We truly need
one another's talents, creations, support, input etc., to make our
way effectively through life. Think for example about our food
supply: How and where is it grown? How is it delivered for
our consumption? Who or what becomes a central delivery
point? Who or what provides the necessary resources to cook
and prepare it? Who or what is involved in dealing with the
waste products of our food consumption so that we can live in a
community that is suitably clean and free from our own
contamination? What are some other examples of this
principle?
Finally, the idea of the manner in which exchanges
(transactions) occur between entities or elements (entities
sounds really impersonal and probably should be read as:
exchanges between individuals, families, groups, or other
community organizations) in the environment has a direct

9. bearing on the behavior and quality of life for those elements.
For example, the way we communicate and relate to one
another--wherever and whenever we meet affects the way
people perceive themselves and their value to others in the
community. For example: acceptance, kindness, respect,
dignity, etc., that we show one another illustrates this concept.
The way women, people of color, the aging, etc. are treated by
others has a direct bearing on their quality of life. Transactions
also refers to the ways in which problems are identified and
collectively addressed by members of a community. What is the
nature of the transactions (interaction, communication,
collective cooperation, response, etc.) that surround problem
solving among community elements, etc.
The Supporting Theories
Ecological Theory (brief summary excerpted in part from
Encyclopedia of Social Work)
Ecology is the biological science that studies organism-
environment relationships. It is focused on the interactions
between organisms and elements of their environment. In the
social sciences it is the focus on the person and the
environment. However, it is not limited to the idea that the
person is always the target of change or assistance. The
environment itself--any part of it--or any organism within the
environment can become the target of change or concern. It is
also helpful in considering the behavior or functioning of any
organism or entity in the environment.
Concepts from this theory help extend our understanding of the
interacting personal, environmental, and cultural factors
involved in complicated personal or social situations or
conditions. The practice principles derived from this theory and
used by change agents (social workers, human service workers,
etc.) are aimed at promoting individual and family health,

10. growth, satisfying social functioning, and a strong move toward
a better "fit" between environment and its residents. That is to
say that the goal is a mutual awareness, commitment, and
responsiveness between all elements of the environment or
between a specific entity and the environment at large. There is
a strong focus on the effects of the environment on the growth,
development, and behavior of people and institutions within the
environment. Transactions between entities are the primary
focus in improving the quality of life, social functioning, etc.,
for all who live with the ecological boundary.
This theory supports the view of people and their environment
operating as a unitary system within a particular cultural and
historical context. Both the person and the environment can be
understood only in terms of their relationship, in which each
continually influences the other--continually (a relationship of
reciprocal influence). An important aspect of the theory is
"ecological thinking" which is the terms that can be applied to
the commentary above. The value of
ecological/holistic/systems thinking is that it is a mode of
thought that offers a useful alternative to linear thinking.
Linear thinking can explain simple phenomena such as John
dropping a glass a cement floor. The glass breaks but John
remains, for the most part, unchanged. In a person to person
interaction, A causes an effect that changes B, however, A
remains unchanged. In reality, the human experience is more
complex and is not as understandable when using such limited
thinking. Ecological thinking, by comparison, is much more
useful in understanding and explaining human complexities by
examination of the exchanges between A and B that shape,
influence, or change both over time. Here is such a scenario: A
acts, which leads to a change in B, whereupon the change in B
elicits a change in A that in turn changes B, which then changes
or other wise influences A, and so on. The process is further
complicated by the fact that there are usually other variables
operating at the same time in the experience of both A and B.

11. Ecological thinking is less concerned with cause and more
concerned with the consequences of exchanges between A and B
and how to help modify maladaptive exchanges.
Person:environment fit is a useful concept as well and refers to
the actual fit between an individual's or a collective group's
needs, rights, capacities and the qualities and operations of their
physical and social environments. Consequently, for the person
and environment, the fit might be favorable, minimally
adequate, or unfavorable. When fit is favorable or even
minimally adequate, it represents a state of relative
"adaptedness," which promotes continued development and
satisfying social functioning and sustains or enhances the
environment. Adaptedness reflects generally positive
person:environment exchanges over time. Adaptedness is never
fixed but shifts in accord with shifts in reciprocal exchanges.
When exchanges over time are generally negative, development,
health, and social functioning might be impaired and the
environment could be damaged. When adaptedness is generally
positive the opposite of the above would be the general
expectation.
Social Systems Theory
Systems theory also provides a conceptual perspective that can
guide how we view the world. It is useful to use this view to
focus on the interactions that go on in any system as well as the
interaction between systems in the environment. Its primary
value is its focus on the process of organization within systems.
A system is a set of elements that are orderly and interrelated to
make a functional whole. For example, a person, a family, a
university, any business organization, the government, our
society, etc., is a system. Notably, humans create systems (also
called social or formal organizations) that range in complexity
from single systems to those that are comprised of several
systems, in a collective, that assume a single system identity.

12. There are terms (concepts) generally associated with systems
that describe a system's activities in its interaction with other
systems in the environment. Terms such as input, output,
conversion operations, homeostasis, boundaries, boundary
maintenance, etc., are used to describe the way systems behave
presumably, to accomplish their goals. What is most useful
about the idea of systems is what is noted above--the idea of
orderly, interrelated elements that work together to produce and
maintain a functional whole. We can see that the organization
of the system is designed to assure that goals are accomplished
by an orderly and systematic way of doing things. It is
important to note that systems develop a separate and distinct
identity, that is separate and apart from the individuals who
comprise it. This identity is tied to goals and objectives (the
reason the system existence), and the roles people play, the
rules, expectations, norms, desired outcomes of the system
itself.. Consequently, as individual members of the system are
required to adopt the system's broad norms and expectations.
These system elements impact the individuals within the system
in various ways and become part of the individual's personal
troubles or personal well being. In reciprocal fashion, the
members of the system impact the system as well by individual
personalities, changes they want in the system, and the way in
which they perform their roles.
Systems do not always operate effectively, efficiently, or in
accordance with stated goals. They often operate in varying
degrees of effectiveness or efficiency. Consequently, a system
designed to meet the needs of persons in the environment may,
for a variety of reasons, fall short of this goal leaving those
needs unmet and individuals wanting. As we view a system, we
can look at the way it is organized and the way the specific
roles interrelate and are carried out by system's members. We
can look at the nature of the relationships that exist within the
system and their effect on members as well. We also note how

13. members influence and change any system to which they
belong.. Consider a family system that is poorly organized.
Without sound organization, there is little chance that it will be
effective. It then becomes dysfunctional or fails to perform
what it was organized to do for its members and society.
However, the family system exists within an environment were
there are systems designed to assist ailing family systems.
Consequently, the effectiveness of the organization (programs,
eligibility requirements, etc) present in those helping systems
(agencies) that are created to meet family needs is important for
stabilizing and maintaining our community system. The extent
to which the larger system (community, state, nation) has
developed assisting agencies (systems) to respond to the needs
of the ailing family is a measure of the responsiveness of the
environment to its members and a concern of ecological theory.
Systems theory and Ecological theory share some of the same
basic ideas but focus on somewhat different aspects of the
human experience. As to similarities, both focus on the
dynamic interaction that occurs between systems (note examples
of systems above). Some of the terms and concepts are similar
and each provides a framework for viewing the world as well as
understanding and explaining the human experience. Both
theories view interactions in a larger, environmental context
rather than focusing on one single element--such as only the
individual and are more inclusive than a linear perspective.
These theories focus on environmental or systems activities,
responses, or conditions and their effect on the individual,
family, group, etc. It is from these theories that we are able to
better understand and describe the complex nature of the human
experience as a process of interaction with environments.
As to differences, there are basically two. First, the ecological
approach refers to living, dynamic interactions. The emphasis
is on active involvement of all people as living organisms living
in the same eco-system. People have dynamic

14. interactions/transactions with each other and with other
elements/entities in their environments (as illustrated in the
section on ecological theory and the interaction example of A
and B). Systems theory, on the other hand, focuses on the
perspective of organization and the role of each systems
component in the effective operation of the system. It is
derived from a scientific base (actually the science of thermal
dynamics), and as such can be used to refer to inanimate,
mechanical operations from the assembly line in an automobile
plant to the functioning of the human family. It is a theory that
emphasizes the nature of how systems are organized and their
effectiveness in producing a desired outcome. The terms and
concepts associated with systems describes how and why it is
created in the first place and what outcome goals are part of its
reason for existence.
For example, an auto factory has outcome goals of producing
cars while a family may have outcome goals of producing
productive citizens. Both are viable goals and are clearly
defined based on the system's mission or purpose for existing.
From a systems theory perspective modification of the way
something is created, organized, and put together is the focus,
while in ecological theory the nature and quality of the
transactions between elements is the primary focus. For
example, in family system experiencing difficulties (whatever
they might be) systems theory would suggest a focus on the
organizational structure and the assignment and fulfillment of
roles as a focal point. Ecological theory would suggest a focus
on the nature of the way people interact/transact with one
another such as how and what they communicate. Both theories
offer useful ways to view a family holistically--or as a system
of interacting parts.. There is not a single area of concern but a
dynamic interaction of problems, behaviors, and responses
within the family that must be addressed--a much broader,
useful, and inclusive approach.

15. A second difference is the emphasis on different terms. The
ecological approach focuses on transactions between individuals
and the environment at the interface or point at which the
individual and other elements of the environment meet. such
terms as transactions, goodness of fit, etc., describe this
theory's view. Systems theory, on the other hand focuses on the
functioning of the elements within the system and the
maintenance of steady state or balance within the system itself.
The Concepts:
Definitions:
Interrelatedness:
Have or bring into a relationship:
To have a relationship in which each person or thing depends on
or is affected by the others...
Relatedness refers to attachments, friendships, positive kin
relationships, and a sense of belonging to a supportive social
network. The concept of relatedness is based in part on
Bowlby's (1973) attachment theory, which states that
attachment is an innate capacity of human beings. Relatedness
is also based on ideas about emotional and social loneliness and
isolation (Weiss, 1973, 1982), social network theory (for
example, Gottleib, 1986), mutual aid groups (Gitterman &
Schulman, 1993), and ideas about relatedness to the natural
world (for example, Searles, 1960), including responsible
stewardship and the use of pets, gardening, camping, and
wilderness experiences (for example, Germain, 1993).
(Encyclopedia of Social Work)

16. Interconnected:
join onto one another:
to be joined to something else or to a number of joined things,
or to make something part of such a network (often passive) the
rooms are interconnected to form a suite
•relate things:
to show a relationship between two or more things, or to be
related
Interdependent:
depending on each other:
unable to exist or survive without each other interdependent
organisms
•with mutually dependent elements:
relying on mutual assistance, support, cooperation, or
interaction among constituent elements or members
Interdependence is the mutual reliance of each person on
each other person. Individuals are interdependent as they rely
on other individuals and groups of individuals in the social
environment. People cannot exist without each other. The
business executive needs the farmer to produce food and
customers to purchase goods. Likewise, the farmer must sell
food products to the executive in order to get money to buy
seed, tools, etc. People--especially in a highly industrialized
society--are interdependent and need each other in order to
survive.
Reciprocity

17. •reciprocal relationship or act:
something done mutually or in return
•relationship involving mutual exchange:
a relationship between people involving the exchange of goods,
services, favors, or obligations, especially a mutual exchange of
privileges between trading nations or recognition of licenses
between states the long-standing tariff reciprocity between our
two countries
Transaction:
•interaction:
a communication or activity between two or more people that
influences and affects all of them
In Ecological Theory, it is the nature, or the way, in which
transactions occur that has significant meaning. It is the nature
of the interactions between and among people that is the focus
of attention. The ways we communicate, behave, and interact
with one another affects the quality of life of the persons
involved and spills over into the community in which they
reside. Being treated with disrespect, distain, discrimination,
etc., affects individuals' concept of themselves, their feeling of
belonging, and their identification with the social group. It
weakens the bonds between individuals and groups and,
consequently, the bonds within a community.