(MSW 516) Module 6 Case Study – Podcast Assignment 1

Running head: REFLECTION ON SYSTEMS THEORY IN SOCIAL WORK 1

Reflection on Systems Theory in Social Work

Timothy M. Beagle

Northern Kentucky University

May 15, 2020

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REFLECTION ON SYSTEMS THEORY IN SOCIAL WORK 2

Systems Theory

In social work, there are many theories and some that are more common than others.

“Social work practice approaches are highly influenced by theory. Theory is something that helps

us explain and predict human behavior” (Bosco-Ruggiero, 2019). Social work systems theory is

defined as “the interdisciplinary study of complex systems” (Flamand, 2018) by looking into

ways to improve standards of living for all individual people and their communities. Systems

theory provides value to helping professionals in social work by helping them recognize and

work on problems in social systems (Flamand, 2018).

Overall, systems theory looks at the complexity of systems with relation to how each part

of the system connects with each other to make the entire system. It also looks at the pressures of

the social system and the impact it has on all individuals, families, institutions, and societies. The

purpose is to understand how the system functions and what aspects of that particular system

impact people (Flamand, 2018).

Looking at the micro level of social work, systems theory is utilized to understand the

dynamics, relationships, and roles in the family and how it impacts people within the family. An

example is a social worker would make sure that parents are meeting the safety needs of their

children and everything within the family was stable. If there was an issue, the social worker

would help the parent by helping them on an individual level, providing resources and referrals,

and completing regular checks on progress, reporting to key stakeholders like court if necessary

(Flamand, 2018).

When looking at the macro level of social work, the systems theory then has social

workers checking into concerns about the social welfare and wellbeing of the entire community

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REFLECTION ON SYSTEMS THEORY IN SOCIAL WORK 3

and society. Social workers want to understand the overall social structure, advocate for policies

and programs, economic prosperity, and equal standards of living in the community. Typically, a

social worker engages with individuals first in the micro level which then leads to a macro level

to advocate for the entire community (Flamand, 2018).

As discussed, the systems theory reviews the complex systems and how it impacts

individuals and communities while connection to the system as a whole, making the entire

system. It’s also based on principles for the expectations on how the system functions. “The

principles are: 1) systems are interrelated parts of an ordered whole; 2) each part affects the other

parts and the whole; 3) the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; 4) systems are defined by

their boundaries; 5) systems receive input and feedback from their environment; 6) systems seek

to attain goals, and yet 7) systems ten toward equilibrium” (Schelbe, Randolph, Yelick,

Cheatham, & Groton, 2018). Within systems theory, there is a main perspective by viewing how

all the moving parts affect one another. The systems theory has been utilized in the field of

psychology to review and enlighten behavioral patterns within a system (GoodTherapy, 2017).

The “approach was spearheaded by several individuals, including Gregory Bateson, Murray

Bowen, Anatol Rapoport, W. Ross Ashby, and Margaret Mead” (GoodTherapy, 2017).

Those in the field of psychology understand systems theory as individuals “seeking

homeostasis within their system or groups” (GoodTherapy, 2017). For the system to work, “the

expectations, needs, desires, and behaviors of each person within it must be considered”

(GoodTherapy, 2017). If there are problems with the system, the problems are “attributed to

breakdowns in systemic interactions rather than deficiency of one person” (GoodTherapy, 2017).

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REFLECTION ON SYSTEMS THEORY IN SOCIAL WORK 4

Dr. Murray Bowen, who was a part of spearheading systems theory, utilized the systems

theory approach to develop family systems theory. In the 1960s, Dr. Bowen “applied systems

thinking to the family unit and developed family systems theory” (GoodTherapy, 2017) that

“views the family as an emotional unit and assumes individuals cannot be fully understood in

isolation” (GoodTherapy, 2017). Due to Bowen’s insight of applying systems thinking for

families, it has “developed into an effective and widely popular form of treatment, called family

systems therapy” (GoodTherapy, 2017).

In conclusion, systems theory has been effective for those in social work because it looks

at the entire system from individuals to the community and how they interact with one another. It

allows social workers to look at breakdowns from a micro individual level which leads to the

macro level breakdowns within a community which allows social workers to advocate for

change.

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REFLECTION ON SYSTEMS THEORY IN SOCIAL WORK 5

References

Bosco-Ruggiero, S. (2019, October). A Brief Introduction to Social Systems Theory. Retrieved

XXXXXMay 13, 2020, from https://www.socialworkdegreecenter.com/study/social-systems-

XXXXXtheory-introduction/

Flamand, L. (2018, June 27). Systems Theory of Social Work. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from

XXXXXhttps://classroom.synonym.com/systems-theory-of-social-work-12079509.html

GoodTherapy (Ed.). (2017, November 27). Systems Theory / Therapy. Retrieved May 13, 2020,

XXXXXfrom https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/systems-theory-therapy

Schelbe, L., Randolph, K. A., Yelick, A., Cheatham, L. P., & Groton, D. B. (2018). Systems

XXXXXtheory as a framework for examining a college campus-based support program for the

XXXXXformer foster youth. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 15(3), 277–295.

XXXXXhttps://doi.org/10.1080/23761407.2018.1436110

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