Systems Theory
Key Concepts The systems theory has different levels. All these levels create a unit that is used to function and work together. A family is considered a system and those interactions with each other and the environment works together to keep the family whole. Through adaptation and interdependence is one of the ways a family works together (Fennel & Weinheld, 1989). Robbins pg.35
Ecological Perspective The ecological perspective relates to the system theory because it focuses on adaptation too. Adaptation is used for a population or a group which is related to the macro level system of how a family operates. The adaptation process is reciprocal and continuous focusing on how environments affect people. (Robbins et al.,
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Relating these behaviors to childhood experiences, environmental factors, and interactions. Freud also understood the behaviors of homosexuality and didn’t address them to have a mental disorder. Instead, he felt that it was a normal behavior but may have been due to childhood deficiencies (Robbins et al., 2012). As social workers we don’t believe different sexualities are based on a mental disorder. Instead we fight for their equalities to be the same as everyone else. According to the Social Work Code of Ethics (2008), “Cultural Competence and Social Diversity: (c) Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability” (1.05). For example, a social worker who is working with a homosexual client will understand the client’s behavior and empathize with the client’s feelings. While working to understand the oppression the client might be facing and work to advocate on the client’s
This article explains how this lack of awareness is unethical in social work practice and can cause clients great harm. Social workers need skills to assess clients’ entire systems. If ignored, social workers may echo society’s oppression by assuming that clients need to change, rather than working for societal change. This research also warns us that on the other hand, lack of cultural competence can also lead to overcompensation by social workers; clinicians may spend too much time focusing on culture or may excuse dysfunctional behavior. Child disciplines and physical abuse in immigrant Latino families; Reducing violence and misunderstanding.
The Family Systems Theory Family systems theory is a framework for understanding families and their strengths and dysfunctions. The strengths identified among family relations can be used to help solve existing problems. The same applies with problems identified. The family system theory is based on Bowen’s theory which argues that people cannot leave independent of each other’s network of relationships. People within a family are connected emotionally, which affects their overall well being and social relations and behaviour.
Ethical Issues in Social Work Practice The social work profession and its Code of Ethics dictate that social workers must act in the best interest of the client, even when those actions challenge the practitioner’s personal, cultural and religious values. In practice; however, ethical decision-making is more complex than in theory. As helping professionals, social workers are constantly faced with ethical decision-making or ethical dilemmas. As noted by Banks (2005), an ethical dilemma occurs “when a worker is faced with a choice between two equally unwelcome alternatives that may involve a conflict of moral principles, and it is not clear what choice will be the right one” (as cited in McAuliffe & Chenoweth, 2008, p. 43).
Family structure talks about family arrangement and composition which includes the roles and interactions (Edelman, 2014). According to Minuchin (2012), the family structural theory emphasis on the important of the family structure and its changes that occurs and how the individuals in the family relate collectively over time to put up and accept each other. Minuchin says further that a well-functioning family will choose how to solve and handle the family experience with a positive outcome. The goal of a structural family is to express the strengths in each other in critical moments, and helping each other through it. Developmental theory is the methods used as the viewpoint of family tasking and development through phases of life (Edelman, 2014).
A positivistic intellectual tradition that puts the researcher outside the system in search of strengths and limitations of the theory of the family (Turner & West, 1998). Likewise, Family System Theory has not resulted in a body of theoretical assertions or hypothesis which can be tested (Broderick & Smith, 1979; Fitzpatrick & Noller, 1993). The fields of system theory are information theory and cybernetics. Hence, this group of theories can help us understand a wide variety of physical, biological, social, and behavioral processes, including communication (Infante,
There are three main sociological theories these are functualist theory, conflict theory and symbolic interactionalist theory, Sociological theories help by explaining and predicting the social world that we live in. (laulima.hawaii.) There are also two main perspectives in sociology these are micro-sociological perspectives and macro-sociological perspectives. Each perspective offers a variety of explanations about the social world and human behaviour. Functionalism is when society works together to help promote stability and solidarity, society is like a human body that must work together to function smoothly.
Despite social workers best efforts to keep their feelings in check and to respect differences, being confronted with situations in which their values and morals conflict with those of their clients is a common scenario. For example, one may feel uncomfortable dealing with clients because of his or her sexual orientation. This issue arises because of the practitioner’s religious affiliation which results in the practitioner being unable to accept homosexuality. Another example, a pregnant client, ask her pro-life social worker for help obtaining an abortion. As the act of abortion conflicts with the social workers’ values, they may feel torn.
This essay discusses how the family is viewed by two different sociological perspectives- functionalism and conflict theory. Firstly, ‘family’ is defined. Secondly, the main ideas of functionalism will be discussed followed by how this theory perceives the family. The main ideas of Conflict Theory will then be examined and how conflict theorists perceive the family.
From this scenario, I have learned about systems theory as well as other psychological theories such attachment theory. Firstly, based on my research on “Family Systems Theory “(Murray B.) family systems theory suggest that an individual, in this case, Sinead, cannot be understood as an individual alone but instead as part of a family as a family is an emotional unit. Families in every aspect are systems of interdependent and interrelated individuals that cannot be understood if a single person is isolated and examined. Each member in the family, has a specific role to play and a set of rules in which they must follow. Maintaining a certain system in the family may lead to balance in the family but also to huge dysfunction.
Family theories have been used throughout the history of nursing to help guide patient care and provide the best patient outcomes. Certain theories may be more applicable to the specific patient encounter; however, each theory has benefits and drawbacks to their use. The purpose of this paper is to examine two selected theories, comparing their strengths and weaknesses. I will also discuss a theoretical family in relation to one theory, and how that theory can be best integrated into the care provided by an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). Description of Theories
There were many theories that we have discussed in class such as person centered theory, cognitive behavior theory, family system/ theory, solution focused theory, and feminist theory. Two theories that stood out to me the most were family theory/system and solution focused theory. I really liked the idea from the family theory/system that states how the individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family/system, as the family is an emotional unit. It is difficult to assess the student’s problem without fully understanding the family system; it was helpful to learn how family dynamic can have huge impact on how students understand and perceive things. I also think problem free talk in the solution
There are different ways of looking at a problem when studying the system theory . It also emphasises that problems are very complex and that our understanding of these problems is always incomplete. (Higgs, 2015).The system theory does not set out to reform the world; its questioning approach often reveals inconsistencies. It claims that social reformers often take an overly simplistic approach to society and the workings of society. Any system is part of the wider world.
System Theory: System theory is defined by the analytical intervention based on the complex social systems such as family, neighborhood, friends, school, employer or bigger social structures surrounding
Systems theory Systems theory mainly describes the human behaviour in terms of complex systems. It is based on the idea that an effective system is based on individual needs, rewards, expectations, and attributes of the people living in the system. According to this theory, families, couples, and organization members are directly involved in resolving a problem even if it is an individual issue. System, ecological, and network theory are all traditions in social work that can be identified within the system theory. System theory argues that the whole is something different to the amount of the detached parts.
I believe that every family has their own roots, essence, uniqueness, beliefs and thoughts, some families have both parents, some just the mother, just the father, two mothers or two fathers, they might have an only child or two, or maybe 5 or even 10, therefore, those children start learning all these things from their family and surroundings, they ask questions, they imitate each other’s actions and are constantly learning and trying to catch as much information and experiences as possible. Children are growing fast, their parents are their role models, they learn mostly from them; parents have the tremendous job of forming good citizens that provide to society, healthy and happy beings that keep growing as humans in every stage of their