Theories Flashcards
(141 cards)
Cornerstone of social work practice–views client problems within the environmental context in which they occur.
Includes: social, economic, political, communal, historical, religious, physical, cultural, familial
Person-in-Environment
Looks at the constituent parts of an element (i.e. an individual) as well as how the element fits into the various systems it is a part of: Suggests that interventions focus on the interaction between person and environment.
Systems Theory
Key terms & concepts of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ System (suprasystem, subsystems) Boundary (permeable or clearly defined) Closed & Open Systems Negentropy
Systems Theory
_______ _________ allow energy or information to pass through.
Permeable boundary
(Systems Theory)
the more permeable the boundary, the more interaction the system has with its environment
a _______ _______ has a nonpermeable boundary: It is isolated from its environment and highly resistant to influence by outside forces. A ______ ______ is usually considered dysfunctional.
Closed System (noninteracting)
An ____ ______ has a permeable boundary that allows an ongoing exchange of energy (information) with its environment. This is usually considered functional
Open System
An open system is usually considered functional. In what situation could this become dysfunctional or harmful?
when the system is overly permeable and is easily influenced by forces outside the system that is unstable and easily destroyed.
______ refers to forces that maintain a system’s organization and promote its development.
Negentropy (negative entropy)
degree of disorganization in a system tends to increase to a maximum until the process eventually is in a state of equilibrium.
Entropy
Systems Theory
System Functioning consists of what 4 interrelated activities
Input (takes in needed energy from environment) Conversion Operations (processes input to sustain its functioning) Output (interacts with other systems) Feed back (monitors its own functioning & makes adjustments)
The term _____ refers to the tendency for any system to act in ways that allow it to maintain a steady state or balance between the system and its environment.
Homeostasis
The balance or homeostasis of a system is maintained by ______ _____. When the “temperature” rises or falls out of the comfort range in a family system, this recalibrates the system (reduces deviation) and restores a comfortable balance.
Negative feedback
Systems Theory
_____ _____ upsets the existing homeostatic balance and amplifies deviation from a steady state. Many techniques in family therapy might be called this, since they are designed to unbalance a family system’s existing homeostasis and permit a more functional balance to emerge.
Positive Feedback
Systems Theory
The ability of a system to adapt to its environment through making changes in its structure results in both a state of ____ (a relatively flexible sense of balance, akin to “bending without breaking) and a state of _____ (a sense of being in balance where there is very little variation in movement).
Homeostasis
Equilibrium
(Systems Theory)
The principal of _____ (same end) refers to the fact that a single effect or outcome may result from several different causes. Different behavior can lead to the same or “___ ___” results
Equifianlity
“equal final”
(Systems Theory)
The principle of ______ (many ends) refers to the fact that one cause (one action) may produce many different effects or outcomes. Subsystems have identical beginnings or origins but acheive different outcomes.
Multifinality (equipotentiality)
Systems Theory
The term ____ refers to the intersection or overlap of two or more systems such as a family and a school. SW often engage in ____ ___, which is work at the “____” of 2 or more systems to improve the interactions between a client system and relevant systems in a client’s environment.
Interface
boundary work
“interface”
(Systems Theory)
family group, community, single organization, and a network of affiliated organizations are examples of
social systems
According to Warren (1978), a social system has the following 4 characteristics:
- structural organization of the interaction of parts and endures over time.
- has internal & external elements that relate to its environment and its units to each other.
- boundary maintenance. must maintain boundaries
- strives to maintain equilibrium (homestasis)
Focus on reciprocal interaction between the individual and their environment.
An individual’s perception of their environment affects their well-being.
Ecological Theory/Perspective
The 2 underlying beliefs of the _______ ____ are 1) human development viewed within context of relationship with environment and 2) each person’s environment is unique.
Ecological Systems (Ecosystems) Perspective
The _____ _____ of the person-environment relationship suggests that a person and his environment are engaged in constant circular exchanges in which each is reciprocally influencing the other over time.
Transactional View
advocated by Germain
(Ecological Systems Perspective)
Gordon (1969) proposed that the transactions between an individual’s coping patterns and the qualities of his environment constitute a _____ _____ _____.
Person-centered duality
Ecological Systems Perspective
Key terms & concepts of the ______ ______ are: Ecosystems are always changing, Specialization, Competition, interactions between the different species in an ecosystem can take several forms
Ecological Systems Perspective