HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT
SYSTEMS THEORY AND THE
ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
The biological, psychological, and
sociological influences on human
development
A bio-psycho-social perspective
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Andrew T. Nilsson, Ph.D.
Eastern Connecticut State University
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003
THE MEDICAL MODEL
An early model for social work practice
•
STUDY
•
DIAGNOSIS
•
TREATMENT
•
CURE
•
Assessment
•
DSM IV
•
Therapy
•
Cure?
•Focus on the individual with the problem
•Assumes the professional has the knowledge
and power to cure
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THE SYSTEMS/ECOLOGICAL PERSPECIVE
BIOLOGICAL ROOTS
• Ecology – The complex relationship between living things
and their environment.
• Symbiosis – Mutual dependence – each part needs each
other part – each takes from and gives to the environment
SOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVE
• Views person-in-environment; takes focus off the
individual
• Utilizes a bio-psycho-social perspective
• Contributes to a strengths perspective/empowerment
vs.
Deficit and dependency (I’m O.K. – You’re not O.K.)
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003
THINK AND SHARE
What were the bio-psycho-social factors that had most
influence in making you the person you are today?
• BIOLOGICAL FACTORS?
• PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS?
• SOCIAL FACTORS?
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BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES
• Common biological factors:
– Physical appearance; sex; race; age; abilities or disabilities; family
history of inheritable conditions such as cancer, alcoholism,
schizophrenia, depression, etc.
• Do we start with a clean slate?
– No. At birth our slate is already written on by by heredity
– But environmental factors influence the unfolding of biological
development. Einstein would not have become Einstein if he had
been born into a family that could not feed him or who failed to
provide him with intellectual stimulation.
• Is biology destiny?
– The nature-nurture, heredity v. environment debate
– Can we modify biological inheritance? Genetic engineering,
mapping of the human genome, genetic selection
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PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCES
• Intelligence
Personality
Self-image
• Where does your psychological make-up come from?
– Inheritance (biology)
– Experiences (sociology)
• Cooley’s looking glass self – we learn who we are from
how others treat us
• Useful theory? One person may be strengthened by
growing up with an alcoholic parent; another destroyed.
What makes the difference?
• Important issue – application of theory to practice:
– If behavior learned (a response to environment) it can be unlearned
– If behavior inherited, change may be more problematic.
• Can the leopard change its spots?
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SOCIAL INFLUENCES
• People: Family and family relationships; relationships
with key individuals (parent, grandparent, spouse,
significant other)
– Influence can be positive or negative; nurturing and
supportive or destructive
– Clearly people are an important part of the factors which
make us who we are.
• Social environment: community, neighborhood
• Economics: economic status influences resources and
opportunities available to the individual
• Religion
Moral: bio-psycho-social factors interact to make us who we are.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003
REVIEW
BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL INFLUENCES
• BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES:
– Physical appearance; sex; race; age; abilities or disabilities;
family history of inheritable conditions such as cancer,
alcoholism, schizophrenia, depression, etc.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCES:
– Intelligence, personality, self-image
• SOCIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES:
– People (family, peers, significant others), social environment
(community, neighborhood), economics, religion
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003
SYSTEMS THEORY
A way of looking at individuals and their complex
environment; the interactive patterns between people, groups,
and institutions
System:
• A group of objects within a boundary
• Each object has a defined function and structural
relationship to the other objects within the system
• The objects are engaged in a dynamic process
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SYSTEMS
solar system
•
•
•
•
clock
human body
Boundary
Defined function
Structural relationship
Dynamic process
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BOUNDARIES
• Separate system from external environment – other
systems
• Separate subsystems within the system
• Separate “personal space” – define individual units which
comprise the system
• Boundaries may be permeable or impermeable
– Closed systems – self-contained; little influence form
outside
– Open systems – active exchange with external
environment
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A CHANGE IN ONE PART OF A SYSTEM
AFFECTS ALL PARTS
HOMEOSTASIS - DISEQUILIBRIUM - ADAPTATION
What would happen if
Earth were destroyed
by a nuclear war?
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A CHANGE IN ONE PART OF A SYSTEM
AFFECTS ALL PARTS
HOMEOSTASIS - DISEQUILIBRIUM - ADAPTATION
Earth becomes cosmic dust.
The gravitational balance
of the solar system is
thrown out of wack.
DISEQUILIBRIUM
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A CHANGE IN ONE PART OF A SYSTEM
AFFECTS ALL PARTS
HOMEOSTASIS - DISEQUILIBRIUM - ADAPTATION
Gradually the planets settle
into new orbits.
A new equilibrium
(homeostasis) is
achieved.
ADAPTATION
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HUMAN SYSTEMS
SOCIETY – OUR SOCIAL SYSTEM
EDUCATION
FAMILY
•The systems perspective
portrays society as a smoothly
operating network of social
institutions.
• Each institution performs
ECONOMY
•Our social institutions are
interdependent. Each relies on
and supports the others.
RELIGION
LEGAL
some function or functions
essential to the maintenance of
the society.
POLITICS
•A change in one social
institution will impact the entire
society.
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HUMAN SYSTEMS
SOCIETY – OUR SOCIAL SYSTEM
EDUCATION
FAMILY
•Equifinality refers to the fact
that there are many different
means to the same ends.
• Social institutions take
ECONOMY
RELIGION
LEGAL
POLITICS
different forms in other
societies; perform their essential
functions in different ways.
•The boundary of our social
system is the outer limit of
people who live by our social
institutions – the American way
of life.
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THE FAMILY AS A SOCIAL SYSTEM
THE SMITH FAMILY
FATHER
JOHN
MOTHER
MARY
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THE FAMILY AS A SOCIAL SYSTEM
The Smith family:
Father, mother, John, Mary
• What are the elements of the Smith family system?
• What are the boundaries of the Smith family system?
– Nuclear family
– Extended family
• Each member has a role (essential function)to play
– Father: instrumental role (bread winner)
– Mother: expressive/affective role (homemaker/nurturer)
– Children?
• What about Fleazie, the Smith family cat?
– In work with families, the relevant system may not be the
biological nuclear family. May include other relatives and/or
unrelated household members. Family is best defined by the
people who live in it.
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SUBSYSTEMS IN THE SMITH FAMILY
Put focus on different aspects of family functioning
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Parental unit
Marital unit
Siblings
Parent-child subsystem(s)
Change and the Smith family system:
• Change in one part of a system effects all parts
• What happens when Mrs. Smith gets a job?
Is the Smith family an open or closed family system?
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SYSTEM LEVELS
• Microsystems – The smallest unit of analysis – typically
the individual.
• Mezzo systems – Typically small groups in which
individuals are involved – family, friendship groups, work
groups.
• Macro systems – The largest units of analysis – society,
culture, social institutions, communities, organizations
• Exosystems – Systems outside the immediate area of
analysis which may have an impact on it
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Systems/ecological perspective
Person-in-environment
Social work views the individual in the context of his/her
surrounding social systems.
Bio-psycho-social perspective
Biological – genetic/physical make-up
Psychological – emotional (affective), intellectual
(cognitive), self-image, etc.
Social – interactions with others
Social work views individuals as multi-dimensional systems.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003
THINK AND SHARE
Your family system
• What are the elements that make up your family
system?
• What systems outside of your family system (exosystems) does your family depend upon?
• What systems outside of your family depend upon your
family?
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003
USEFUL WEB SITE
Robert Versteeg, MSW of the University of New England
Main Geriatrics Gerentology Education Center describes
the application of systems theory in work with an elderly
client.
• devel.une.edu/com/othrdept/int/agingandsocialwork/systems.htm
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003