SYSTEMS THEORY
incorporating Unitary Approaches,
Family Systems, Institutional
Systems, Ecological Models and
Networking
SYSTEMS THEORY






What is Systems Theory?
Biological Models
A Case Study
The Pincus and Minahan model
Social Work and Ecology
Strengths and Weaknesses
An Example
 Think of Lincoln’s transport system: if you
improve car access, you potentially boost the
economy, you satisfy individual demand, but
potentially damage the environment and
increase risks of accidents; if you switch to
public transport, you boost jobs through
infrastructural spending, but you lose income
from car parking, from passing trade,
potentially from tourism…….so any action in
one part has a consequence on the whole
system
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
The whole is equal to more than the
sum of its parts
 Systems are highly organised
 Boundaries are very important, as are
patterned transactions
 The behaviour of the individual cannot
be understood without reference to
the system to which s/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
Parents pleased
by D’s help.
David feels
safe at home
David picks
up anxieties.
Wants to
comfort Mum &
cheer up
Dad
David
refuses
to go to
school
Dad guilty
Mum unhappy
Money focus
makes him
feel useless
Anxiety
Attacks – angina
gets worse
Mum worries
about her
Health, but
cannot discuss.
Worries about
money problems
Reminder – how would other theories
intervene in this case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Psychodynamic – would try to engage
with David’s inner world of feelings
Behavioural – identify and try to isolate
those factors positively reinforcing
David’s school refusal
Cognitive – what do you think?
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
Change Agent
System
Social workers & the
organisations they work in
Further
Information
Not just social workers!
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
Client
System
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 Structural
Theory
 “Community
social work demands a
systems orientation and a change of
attitude from social work about roles
and tasks” (Coulshed, 1988)
 Working with communities,
neighbourhoods and networks: a
systems approach to service 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 Work
Starts from the notion that SW must support sustainable
development, through:
 Developing caring communities
 Identifying & developing activities that benefit ‘the
common good’
 Promoting active partnerships
 Building capacities in individuals & communities
 Promoting decentralised & localised decision
making - & making it work!
 Promoting community health & social resilience
 Promoting environmental and social justice
 Reducing human & ecological stress – with much use
of grief work
 Focus on natural methods of healing & spirituality
So, it is logical that a radical and critical systems theory
would question all the conventional systems within
which SW is practiced - and promote alternatives
Strengths & Weaknesses of Systems Approach as
a Guide to Practice
Strengths





It offers a unitary approach by combining psychological,
social and community approaches
It is interactive – it facilitates being able to understand
the impact of people on each other, as well the impact of
systems on people & other systems
It offers more than one way to tackle an issue – eclectic
– not ‘stuck’ in one preferred approach
It allows for the integration of approaches
It avoids strict determinist accounts of behaviour
Weaknesses
It is not prescriptive – does not tell us what to do (some
might say that’s a strength!)
 It is a generalised theory - hard to apply to specific
situations
 It points to many connections but does not provide any
specific theory that might link them in an explanatory
manner
 Maybe it includes too much – maybe we need theory
that places some emphasis on what is most important
 In many guises it can be quite conservative – creating
stable self reliant systems
 Similarly it may overstate the importance of social
cohesion and solidarity
 It can have a complex and over technical language – like
many other theories!
