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Licensure > Ch. 2: Conceptual Foundations - General Systems Theory > Flashcards

Ch. 2: Conceptual Foundations - General Systems Theory Flashcards

1
Q

Ludwig von Bertalanffy

A
  • father of GST
  • life was found in “organisms”: a self-regulating form of life with mutually dependent, interactive parts of subsystems
  • An organism as an open system engaged in continuous inflow and outflow of energy/info with its enviornment
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2
Q

The family therapy movement has its foundations in what two independent but related theoretical paradigms?

A

GST and cybernetics

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3
Q

Who was the father of cybernetics?

A
  • Bateson
  • interested in self-correcting systems
  • viewed communication as the means through which systems maintain themselves through positive and negative feedback loops
  • focused on paradoxical communication styles
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4
Q

GST basics

A
  • von Bertalanffy was the founder
  • the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
  • global and expansive and not reductionist
  • roots in biology and cybernetics
  • the whole has characteristics and properties (“emergents”) that are not present in its parts
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5
Q

What key family therapy concepts have emerged from von Bertalanffy GST?

A
  • equifinality
  • equipotentiality
  • isomorphism
  • the ripple effect
  • boundaries
  • hierarchy
  • subsystem
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6
Q

General living systems theory

A
  • James Miller
  • theory rests on principle of isomorphism
  • GLST has been applied to all living systems from simple cells to human groups
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7
Q

Isomorphism

A

2 or more systems or subsystems exhibit similar or parallel characteristics, especially in supervision when roles and interactions between therapist and supervisor mimic those of the family being discussed. For example, a therapist seeing a family that rejects all suggestions for change becomes similarly rejecting of his/her supervisor’s suggestions.

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8
Q

Cybernetics

A
  • interested in organization, pattern, and process

- refers to the control mechanisms that provide feedback to the primary system

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9
Q

Cybernetics: Term: Boundary interface

A

the regions between each subsystem of the family and between the family and the suprasystem. The interfaced is referred to as the familial boundary
- therapist functions in the boundary interface between family and environment

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10
Q

Cybernetics: Types of boundaries

A

rigid, clear, or diffuse

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11
Q

Cybernetics: Boundary: open system v. closed system

A
  • open: interact relatively freely with the environment

- closed: more isolated and resist such interaction with environment

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12
Q

Cybernetics: How do families manage their boundaries?

A

Models and maps. Ts need to be able to understand these in order to negotiate and alter family boundaries

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13
Q

Cybernetics: Circular or mutual causality

A

the relationship in which A and B do, say or feel mutually influence one or another
- “it doesn’t matter whether the chicken or the egg came first. They interact in a mutual circle of causality”

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14
Q

Cybernetics: Entropy

A

refers to a system’s tendency to break down that, over time, threatens the survival of the system

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15
Q

Cybernetics: Negative entropy

A
  • Is a systemic state that emerges when a system is balanced between openness and closedness
  • info is allowed to enter the system, and change can occur when appropriate.
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16
Q

Cybernetics: Equifinality

A

The idea that an organism or system can reach a certain end state from a variety of different sources, conditions, and means or from different initial states

example: depression may stem from bio imbalance or from trauma

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17
Q

Cybernetics: Equipotentiality

A

different end states can occur from the same initial conditions

Example: a single traumatic event may result in PTSD. OR it may have little impact or lead to growth.

18
Q

Cybernetics: Feedback loops

A
  • core of cybernetics
  • a circular mechanism whereby feedback is introduced into the system in a lopping chain of events that influence one another
  • feedback occurs from outside the system and input occurs from within the system
  • positive and negative
19
Q

Cybernetics: Positive feedback loop (amplifying)

A

Mechanisms by which families respond to changes or deviations in homeostasis. Positive feedback loops attempt to change the system from its steady state to a new steady state. It exacerbates the reaction.

Example: kid is throwing a tantrum. Parent responds and starts screaming at kid to stop. Kids tantrum gets worse. Thus, the deviation from homeostatis increases.

20
Q

Cybernetics: Negative feedback loop (attenuating)

A

Corrective information that flows back into the family system that services to minimize deviation, keep the system functioning within prescribed limits, and discourage change

Example: Thermostat. When outside temp drops below inside temp (passes the “limit”), the heat turns on until pre-set temp is reached (back to homeostasis)

Example: Kid is throwing a tantrum and passes the limit. Parent reacts to bring the behavior back to homeostasis. When the child stops acting out the parents response ceases.

21
Q

Cybernetics: Homeostasis

A

The tendency of a system to resist change and maintain equilibrium/steady state.

  • maintained by negative feedback loops
  • emerged from cybernetics
  • Don Jackson emerged principally from cybernetics
22
Q

Cybernetics: Metaphor

A

Symbolic representation that captures the basic and essential features of an object or event by using a description of a different category of objects or events.

23
Q

Cybernetics: Morphogenesis

A
  • Describes a system’s tendency towards growth, creativity, change, and innovation
  • similar to amplifying feedback looks in that they bring the values of behavior into new ranges.
24
Q

Cybernetics: Morphostasis

A
  • Describes a system’s tendency towards stability
  • function similarly to attenuating feedback loops
  • both reduce any deviation from existing values or established system goals
25
Q

Cybernetics: Process

A
  • A term used to describe the dynamics of a system, often contrasted with “content”
  • the HOW of an interaction

example: occasional marital argument
- differentiate between structure and process… if behaviors occur frequently, predictably, and with a definable pattern, then they might be a structure.

26
Q

Cybernetics: Recursiveness

A
  • refers to reciprocal or circular causality
  • speaks to the mutual interaction and influence that occur between people, events, and their ecosystems
  • example: a distancer cannot exist without a pursuer and vice versa
  • causality is circular and located at the interface of the relationships
27
Q

Cybernetics: Ripple effect

A

Refers to how a change that occurs at a level of a system will result in changes across other levels of the system.

28
Q

Cybernetics: Structure

A
  • the interrelationship among system elements that make up the organization of the system
  • first order change = structures can be affected without altering the organization of the system
  • second order change = the organization’s rules and structure are changed
29
Q

Cybernetics: System

A

A bounded set of interrelated elements with coherent and patterned behavior.
- closed and open systems

30
Q

Human systems theory: what is the primary domain?

A
  • communication
  • communication has been used at the foundation for other theories that attempt to explain family systems and how they regulate organizational structure, patterns, homeostasis, and change
31
Q

Human systems theory: Decomposition Law

A
  • States that a genuine systemic analysis must include an understanding of system components, which are the two aspects of an individual’s participation in a system. - The focus is both on what passes among individuals and what goes on within the individuals.
  • all behavior is communication; one cannot NOT communicate
32
Q

Human systems theory: Cognitive maps

A
  • Mental models by which incoming information is perceived, understood, transformed, and stored, together when a corresponding repertoire of behavioral options
  • maps are based on the integration of experiences
  • each part of the cognitive map (input and output) forms the individual’s internal representation of reality
  • Cog maps shape actions and communication
  • May be flexible, able to change and expand cumulatively with new information and experiences
  • or they may be rigid and limiting
  • Maps have both language and spatial aspects with a private vocabulary and imagery that determines how incoming communication is interpreted.
33
Q

Communication theory

A
  • originated by the MRI group
  • the study of the process by which verbal and nonverbal information is exchanged within a relationship
  • Communication can be:
    … analogic, with little structure but is rich in content
    … digital, which is verbal communication perceived and interpreted based on meaning
  • communication has both form and meaning
34
Q

Communication theory: What are the 4 types of communication?

A
  • haptic
  • kinesthetic
  • paralinguistic
  • streptic
35
Q

Communication theory: Haptic communication

A
  • communication through touch

- “symbolic”

36
Q

Communication theory: kinesthetic communication

A
  • Communication through body movement
37
Q

Communication theory: paralinguistic communiaction

A
  • Communication through tone, pace, and inflexion
38
Q

Communication theory: streptic communication

A
  • communication through sounds such as whistles and claps
39
Q

Communication theory: Meta-communication

A
  • communication messages, usually nonverbal, that qualify or clarify another communication (communication about communication)
  • The nonverbal message may be congruent with the message (A pat on the back that accompanies, “Good job”)
  • The nonverbal message may be incongruent (“Nothings wrong”, said through clenched teeth)
  • With incongruent communication, usually the nonverbal message settles the discrepancy.
40
Q

Communication theory: Types of communication patterns that are dysfunctional in that they are attempts to “not communicate”

A
  1. The constant message - if the same message is repeated, its meaning diminishes, and the receiver tends to ignore it
  2. The self-canceling message - messages that invalidate themselves
  3. Tangential communication - nonsense, irrelevant, and distracting communication
  4. Hyperbolic communication - the regular use of hyperbole
  5. Echoing communication - repeats the message and offers no new information
  6. Symptomatic communication - physical, mental, or emotional symptom communication
  7. Impervious communication - the intended recipient is unreceptive to communication, resulting in less communication
  8. Literal-figurative cross communication - taking what is meant figuratively as though it were literal

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