SYSTEMS THEORY Whitchurch, G. G., & Constantine, L. L. (1993). Systems theory.
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Transcript SYSTEMS THEORY Whitchurch, G. G., & Constantine, L. L. (1993). Systems theory.
SYSTEMS THEORY
Whitchurch, G. G., & Constantine, L.
L. (1993). Systems theory. In P. G.
Boss, W. J. Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R.
Schumm, & S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.),
Sourcebook of family theories and
methods: A contextual approach (pp.
325-352). New York: Plenum Press.
Three Distinct But Closely
Interrelated Theoretical Legacies
Information theory: focuses on the
reduction of uncertainty which is achieved
by the acquisition of information.
Cybernetics: a science of communication
concerned with the transmission and
control of information; it examines the
communication and manipulation of
information in various systems.
General Systems Theory (GST):
interested in systems in general; family
systems theory is an extension of this
branch.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Definitions and Terms
Three Uses/Definitions:
General Systems Theory (GST) is used to
explain the behavior of a variety of complex,
organized systems.
GST is also a process of theory construction
which focuses on building universal concepts,
postulates, and principles.
GST, as a worldview, emphasizes
interrelationships between objects.
Terms
Isomorphism: Refers to equivalence of form:
there is a one-to-one correspondence
between elements and relationships.
Cybernetic system: systems with feedback.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Core Assumptions of General
Systems Theory
GST Has Potential for Unifying Science: suggests
that there are unifying principles in every
discipline; GST is a way to consider isomorphism
between them.
A System Must Be Understood as a Whole
Von Bertalanffy: promoted the notion that a
family, or any system, is greater than the some
of it's parts.
Lewin: the whole is different from the sum of
it's parts.
Human Systems are Self-Reflexive
Human systems are characterized by their
ability to make themselves and their own
behavior the focus of examination; this is selfreflexivity.
Self-reflectivity
permits humans to examine their systems
and set goals.
permits humans to examine social
influences on systems and behaviors,
rather than naively accepting them as
“natural.”
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Research and Theory Foci
Ongoing Family Processes:
Transactional patterns (e.g., predictable
behavior sequences).
Shift focus from individual to the family.
Topics:
family functioning,
family communication,
family conflict,
separateness and connecetedness,
cohesion,
adaptation to change.
Example of research questions (from Montgomery
& Fewer, 1988):
What elements of a social system are
influenced by other parts of the system; how
does one element of a system recursively
influence the whole system?
How does the behavior of different
components fit together?
How does the fit between systems affect
functioning?
What is the Relationship of Family Systems to
Other Systems
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Major Contemporary Concepts of
General Systems Theory
Interdependence/Mutual Influence
Equifinality:
Definition: the ability of a system to achieve
the same goals through different routes (e.g.,
we may take different roads to campus but we
all arrive at the same place).
Communication patterns are organized into
feedback loops which affect goal-setting
behavior in systems.
Hierarchy:
The “layering” of systems of increasing
complexity, including
Subsystems: smaller parts of the same
system.
Systems
Suprasystems: larger systems (e.g.,
economic and political system).
Controversy: disagreement about definition of
sub- and supra-systems as well as
identification of components.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Major Contemporary Concepts of
General Systems Theory (cont.)
Boundaries and Open/Closed Systems
Boundaries define membership in a system.
Boundaries also represent the point of contact
between the system and other systems.
Boundaries vary in degree of permeability, the
degree to which they control the flow between
systems.
Customary approaches to operationalizing
boundaries:
Assessment of permeability and cohesion.
Emotional connectedness between family
members.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Contemporary Concepts (cont.)
Feedback and Control
Feedback loop
Path of communication in a system.
Feedback is considered either positive or
negative based on the effect it has on the
system, not on it’s content.
Types of feedback loops:
Negative:
feedback is used to maintain
homeostasis. This type of feedback has
also been called constancy loops and
deviation-attenuating loops.
Morphostatic feedback: refers to
feedback which promotes maintenance
of existing structure.
Positive: feedback used to promote
change.
These types of feedback are also
referred to as deviation-amplifying loops
or variety loops.
Morphogenic feedback: refers to
feedback which produces change in the
system.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Examples of Research Emerging
from General Systems Theory
Marital and Family Interaction
Hess and Handel (1959): integrated GST and
symbolic interactionism to examine the family
as a system that socially constructs it’s reality.
They suggested that there are five essential
processes of family interaction.
Comparison of family interaction patterns
between “normal” and “schizophrenic” families
(Mishler & Waxler, 1968).
Family Dysfunction: individual patterns of
dysfunction are attributed to family
interaction patterns.
Alcoholism: Steinglass and Wolin have
integrated a family development and systems
approach, suggesting that alcoholism
influences families in stages which accounts
for patterns of alcoholism in families.
Family violence: systemic explanations are
controversial. This research suggests that the
failure to leave an abusive situation is a form
of positive feedback.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Examples of Research (cont.)
Marital and Family Taxonomies
Olson’s Circumplex model
Three dimensions create sixteen
relationship types; the three dimensions
are
Cohesion
Adaptability
Communication
Three general types of relationships:
Balanced
Mid-range
Extreme
In general, research has revealed that
balanced families will function more
adequately than the other types of families.
It has been criticized for not including a
dimension for competence.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Examples of Research (cont.)
Marital and Family Taxonomies (cont.)
The Beavers systems model examines family
competence (e.g., healthy, mid-range, and
severely dysfunctional).
Typologies melding systems with symbolic
interactionism: develop, for example, a
typology based on the effect of family
members shared perceptions about their
social environment (symbolic interactionism)
on the social environment (a systems
construct) (Reiss, 1981; see also Constantine,
1986; Constantine & Israel, 1985; Fitzpatrick,
1976, 1988).
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Limitations of General Systems
Theory
General Criticisms: focus on application
of systems theory.
GST is too vague and general, making it
difficult to operationalize and evaluate
empirically.
Criticized for poor explanatory power because,
although it provides conceptualization, it is
difficult to clearly identify and measure
constructs.
Criticism of subtle assumption that all parts of
a system have equal power.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Limitations of General Systems
Theory (cont.)
Feminist Critique:
Limited recognition of power in family systems
which obscures the privilege of dominant
groups.
Systemic constructs often reflect sex bias.
Enmeshment is pathologized, for example,
while differentiation is promoted. This
devalues a way of relating that is common to
women.
Clinically, emphasizes therapist neutrality.
Ironically, it is viewed as not systemic enough.
Interdisciplinary scholarship has demonstrated
that all cultures utilize gender and generation
as fundamental categories of organization, but
systems theory ignores gender concerns.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson