The document discusses systems theory, emphasizing its application in social work by integrating various approaches such as family systems, ecological models, and networking systems. It highlights the interconnectedness of individual behaviors within social systems and provides examples of both simple and complex systems, as well as case studies like school refusal. Additionally, it outlines the strengths and weaknesses of the systems approach in social work practice, advocating for a comprehensive understanding of issues beyond immediate behaviors.

1. SYSTEMS THEORY
incorporating Unitary Approaches,
Family Systems, Institutional
Systems, Ecological Models and
Networking

2. SYSTEMS THEORY
SYSTEMS THEORY
 What is Systems Theory?
What is Systems Theory?
 Biological Models
Biological Models
 A Case Study
A Case Study
 The Pincus and Minahan model
The Pincus and Minahan model
 Social Work and Ecology
Social Work and Ecology
 Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths and Weaknesses

3. 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
system
system

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
 The whole is equal to more than the
The whole is equal to more than the
sum of its parts
sum of its parts
 Systems are highly organised
Systems are highly organised
 Boundaries are very important, as are
Boundaries are very important, as are
patterned transactions
patterned transactions
 The behaviour of the individual cannot
The behaviour of the individual cannot
be understood without reference to
be understood without reference to
the system to which s/he belongs
the system to which s/he belongs

9. 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

10. Practice Example of Simple Use of Systems Theory –
as an Explanatory Framework – School Refusal
David
refuses
to go to
school
Mum worries
about her
Health, but
cannot discuss.
Worries about
money problems
Parents pleased
by D’s help.
David feels
safe at home
Dad guilty
Mum unhappy
Money focus
makes him
feel useless
Anxiety
Attacks – angina
gets worse
David picks
up anxieties.
Wants to
comfort Mum &
cheer up
Dad

11. 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:

12. 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
anti-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!

13. 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)

14. 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

15. 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

16. Linking Systems and
Linking Systems and
Structural Theory
Structural Theory
 “
“Community social work demands a
Community social work demands a
systems orientation and a change of
systems orientation and a change of
attitude from social work about roles
attitude from social work about roles
and tasks” (Coulshed, 1988)
and tasks” (Coulshed, 1988)
 Working with communities,
Working with communities,
neighbourhoods and networks: a
neighbourhoods and networks: a
systems approach to service delivery
systems approach to service delivery

17. 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

18. 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)

19. Coates J (2003) Ecology & Social Work
Coates J (2003) Ecology & Social Work
Starts from the notion that SW
Starts from the notion that SW must
must support sustainable
support sustainable
development, through:
development, through:
 Developing caring communities
Developing caring communities
 Identifying & developing activities that benefit ‘the
Identifying & developing activities that benefit ‘the
common good’
common good’
 Promoting active partnerships
Promoting active partnerships
 Building capacities in individuals & communities
Building capacities in individuals & communities
 Promoting
Promoting decentralised & localised
decentralised & localised decision
decision
making - & making it work!
making - & making it work!
 Promoting community health & social resilience
Promoting community health & social resilience
 Promoting environmental and social justice
Promoting environmental and social justice
 Reducing human & ecological stress – with much use
Reducing human & ecological stress – with much use
of grief work
of grief work
 Focus on natural methods of healing & spirituality
Focus 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 alternatives
which SW is practiced - and promote alternatives

20. Strengths & Weaknesses of Systems Approach as a
Strengths & Weaknesses of Systems Approach as a
Guide to Practice
Guide to Practice
Strengths
Strengths
 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, as
understand the impact of people on each other, as
well the impact of systems on people & other
well the impact of systems on people & other
systems
systems
 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 approach
eclectic – not ‘stuck’ in one preferred approach
 It allows for the integration of approaches
It allows for the integration of approaches
 It avoids strict determinist accounts of behaviour
It avoids strict determinist accounts of behaviour

21. Weaknesses
Weaknesses
 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 specific
It is a generalised theory - hard to apply to specific
situations
situations
 It points to many connections but does not provide
It points to many connections but does not provide
any
any specific theory
specific theory that might link them in an
that might link them in an
explanatory manner
explanatory manner
 Maybe it includes too much – maybe we need theory
Maybe it includes too much – maybe we need theory
that places some emphasis on what is most
that places some emphasis on what is most
important
important
 In many guises it can be quite conservative – creating
In many guises it can be quite conservative – creating
stable self reliant systems
stable self reliant systems
 Similarly it may overstate the importance of social
Similarly it may overstate the importance of social
cohesion and solidarity
cohesion and solidarity
 It can have a complex and over technical language –
It can have a complex and over technical language –
like many other theories!
like many other theories!