While the idea of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts is not new, the advancement of systems theory lies in the specifics of where and how it is applied. Here are some of the key terms and concepts of systems theory as they apply to psychology, sociology, and social work: Some fields are extremely diverse in their applications, like social work. Within any discipline, the application of systems theory involves looking at how all the ingredients (systems) came together to make the cake (complex system/whole) and how this ultimately gave us the end result that none of these properties could produce on their own without a change to their environment (emergent characteristic). So now, we have a scheduled celebration, flour, sugar, eggs, etc., and ended with two individuals strengthening their relationship-the result of the unique interaction between all these moving parts. Perhaps, it will be served at a celebration, and two people strike up a conversation and further a bond or relationship while enjoying the dessert together. Now, consider the other factors associated with the baked good. But what gives it its other qualities? To find out, you’d need to learn the rest of the ingredients and how they were combined to make the final product. You taste it and it’s sweet, so you can reasonably hypothesize it includes sugar. Now, imagine you have just baked an item, and you’re unsure of its ingredients. From the perspective of systems theory, the whole-our dessert in this example-is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s because no single ingredient or environmental factor-in this case, heat-would produce a baked good such as cake. If you were to lay them out on your counter and weren’t familiar with baked goods, it would be difficult to envision how the eggs, flour, sugar, etc., could be combined and heated to create a cake. Consider all the ingredients that make up a cake. If a complex system expresses emergent behavior, that means it has characteristics that its properties do not display on their own.Ī simple systems theory example is baking. This is referred to as emergent behavior. Systems theory seeks to explain and develop hypotheses around characteristics that arise within complex systems that seemingly could not arise in any single system within the whole. What this means is that when holistically examining how smaller systems come together to affect the greater complex system, certain characteristics of the whole-the complex system-can not be easily explained or rationalized when looking singularly at any one of its systems-its parts. The key concept of systems theory, regardless of which discipline it’s being applied to, is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Systems theory is an interdisciplinary study of systems as they relate to one another within a larger, more complex system. Introduction to Psychosocial Development Theory.6 Important Theories in Social Work expand_more. Social Work: Core Values & Code of Ethics.Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs Online.Social Work vs Counseling vs Psychology expand_more.Social Work Salaries – How Much Do Social Workers Make?.Is a Master of Social Work (MSW) worth it?.How to Become a Veterinary Social Worker.2022 Study Guide to the Social Work Licensing Exam.How Long Does It Take to Become a Social Worker?.How to Become a Social Worker expand_more.Sponsored: Simmons University – DSW Online.Sponsored: University of Southern California – DSW Online.Sponsored: Case Western Reserve University.Sponsored: University of Southern California.Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Social Work (BSW) expand_more.Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Programs Online.Online Clinical Social Work Degree Programs (LCSW).Discover HBCU MSW Programs Online & On-Campus.Compare CSWE Accredited Online MSW Programs.
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