Week 1: Introduction to Systemic Practice Flashcards
What was Gregory Bateson’s quote?
“There are times when I catch myself believing that there is such as thing as something, which is separate from something else…”
What is Epistemology according to Winek?
Epistemology is a brach of philosophy that concerns itself with the nature of reality. It seeks to answer the philosophic question. What sort of world is this? These assumptions are often taken for granted, seen as truths and not clearly stated’
How does an epistemological position become a therapeutic techniques?
Epistemological position -> theoretical assumptions -> practice principles -> therapeutic techniques
What are the 4 epistemological positions?
Linear
Systemic
Constructivist
Social constructionist
Linear Epistemology
Post systemic
The observer can know the external world directly via observation and analysis of its essential parts
Systemic Epistemology
The world is knowable only as a complex network of mutually interacting parts and Holon’s. To understand the part I must understand the whole.
Constructivist Epistemology
We are unable to know reality directly, what we perceive is limited by our perceptual apparatus we construct models internally
Social Constructionist Epistemology
Post-systemic
There is not objective observer, human systems are essentially language systems. There is no truth only differing perspectives as meaning is socially constructed.
What is the linear (pre-systemic) paradigm grounded in?
Grounded in the intellectual tradition of Modernism - The world out there (reality) can be known directly as separate from the observer
How did Rene-Descartes perceive the world with regards to the linear paradigm?
Separation of mind & matter, perceived the world as a machine which could be understood by analysing its smallest parts
What formed the foundation of the scientific paradigm?
Nertonian physics
What Epistemology paradigm is associated with the scientific paradigm?
The linear paradigm
What does the linear paradigm understand causality as?
the linear paradigm is understanding the causality as linear. i.e. particular separate causes lead to predictable outcomes. This is one way and does not study interactions
what did the linear paradigm lead to?
increased specialisation and isolation between areas of knowledge.
Also leads to reductionist ideas about intervention and change i.e. if I do this then it will fix the problem.
Tends to lead to singular perspectives and explanations
What is an example of linear thinking in psychotherapy?
“An early child hood trauma (cause) results in a mental illness (effect), asks the ‘why’ questions and tends to focus on the past
What does the linear paradigm internalise?
Pathology. I.e. understands the problem as within the individual
What did Ludwig Von Bertalanffy say regarding the linear paradigm?
The analytic, mechanist, one way causal paradigm of classical science assumes that reality can be quantifiably analyzed; that a whole can be understood in terms of its parts; and the nature and function of a substance or organism can be comprehended by reducing it to its material externally observable components…”
What did Ervin Laszlo say about the linear paradigm?
We are drilling holes in the walls of a mystery that we call nature and reality on many locations, and we carry out delicate analyses on each of these sites. But it is not only now that we are beginning to realise the need for connecting the probes with one another and gaining some coherent insight into what is there”
Where did the General systems theory emerge?
Emerged across disciplines with figures such as Ludwig and Bertalanffy (biologist) and Gregory Bateson (anthroplogist) looking for general principles that governed all Systems
How did Marco Devries define a system?
A system could be defined as an organised whole - ‘a complex, mutual influence relationship of parts following a design or order. For Example, the difference between the piles of materials and a house’
How is the world understood in the systemic paradigm?
The world is understood as a network of phenomena that are fundamentally interconnected and interdependent whose essential properties cannot be reduced to those of its parts/
How is causality viewed in the systemic paradigm?
causality is seen as circular and non-linear (equifinality & Multi-finality)
What is the general scope of the systemic paradigm?
The explanation that incorporates the most factors is closest to what is actually occurring. Hence any individual phenomena/behaviour can only be understood within its broader context
What does the systemic paradigm tend to ask?
Tends to ask ‘how’ questions about the existence and maintenance of problems inn the here and now, leading to a focus on observable behaviour of the system.
What is the systemic paradigm open to?
It is open to multiple perspectives or view points
What are the principles of the General Systems Theory?
Wholeness and Mutual influence relationships
What is the wholeness principle of the general systems theory?
The system as a living whole The life blood of systems is information Holistic v reductionist thinking Design, order and rules Emergence
What is the mutual influence relationship principle of the general systems theory?
Circular v linear causality
Whole influences part and part influences whole
Feedback and homeostasis
What is the design, order and rules principle of the general systems theory?
implicit of explicit rules
Structure determining function
Boundaries and subsystems
What is the emergence principle of the general systems theory?
Whole is greater to and different from the sum of its part
Interaction/communication between parts - process not content
Responsibility and leadership - who’s running the show?
How did Family Therapy emerge?
It emerged in the context of a broader paradigm shift in both the physical and social sciences toward systemic worldview.
It was a major movement in the history of psychotherapy and counselling psychology
What has family therapy influences?
Many counselling and psychotherapy approaches in common use today
when did the first family therapies begin?
First therapists started seeing families in the 50’s as a reaction to the standard psychodynamic focus on the individual and early attachment dyad ignoring the social nature of psychic processes
Why is systems thinking important?
To work with families and relationships, it is helpful to have a conceptual framework that brings together theories, concepts and assumptions about how individuals, families and communities operate
What is the general systems theory a metaphor for?
General systems theory can and has been an organising metaphor to help guide practice at all levels of intervention
What can the application of the general systems theory provide?
It can provide a framework for understanding how problems may emerge and how they may be resolved
What is the first core principle of the General Systems Theory?
Individual’s are best understood within the context of their relationships with their families and broader social and cultural situations
what are the vertical stressors in the larger society?
racism sexism classism ageism homophobia
What are the vertical stressors n the community?
Disappearance of community
more work, less leisure
inflexibility of workplace
no time for friends
What are the vertical stressors of the extended family?
Family emotional patterns myths triangles secrets legacies losses
What are the vertical stressors of immediate family?
violence addictions ignorance depression lack of spiritual expression or dreams
What are the vertical stressors of the individual?
Genetic makeup
abilities
disabilities
What is the second core principle of the General systems theory?
Individual symptoms emerge from patterns of behaviour and meaning in family relationships
What is the third core principle of the General Systems Theory?
Relational patterns are informed by the structure of the system including role definition, rules, boundaries and hierarchy
What is visible according to the GST?
Events and patterns
What is hidden according to the GST?
systemic strictures and mental models
What is the fourth core principle of the GST?
Patterns are often circular and involve mutual influence
What is an example of the negative feedback loop?
Husband overinvolved with work –> wife feels lonely, unloved –> wife argues with husband to engage company –> Husband threatens to leave wife –> son experiences acute asthma attack –> Parents cease quarrelling, together seek help for son –> son settles down –> husband overinvolved with work
What is the fifth core principle of GST?
These patterns tend to travel across generations with emotion as the primary energy for contagion
What is the sixth core principle of the GST?
symptoms can often be understood to serve a homeostatic function within the system
What is the seventh core principle of the GST?
Symptoms often emerge at points of developmental transition in the family life cycle
