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