Human Behavior and the Social Environment
Social Systems Theory
4th Edition
Published on 16. April 2003
Book
Hardback
464 pages
978-0-205-35957-8 (ISBN)
Description
This unique text provides a framework for evaluating various theories and a context for addressing social work practice with varying levels of social systems.
This revision places current theories of human behavior in a systems context. It is based upon a generalist practice foundation and includes practice examples that help students understand the underlying theory. The text examines the basic concepts in each of the various system sizes: the social group, the family, the organization, and the community. It includes expanded coverage of diversity, values and ethics; social and economic justice/oppression; populations-at-risk; and other areas.
This revision places current theories of human behavior in a systems context. It is based upon a generalist practice foundation and includes practice examples that help students understand the underlying theory. The text examines the basic concepts in each of the various system sizes: the social group, the family, the organization, and the community. It includes expanded coverage of diversity, values and ethics; social and economic justice/oppression; populations-at-risk; and other areas.
More details
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 243 mm
Width: 184 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
853 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-205-35957-8 (9780205359578)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
04/1998
3rd Edition
Pearson
€70.75
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
"Summary," "Glossary," and "Notes" appear at the end of each chapter.I. OVERVIEW.
1. Introduction.
What Is This Book About?
Who Is the Intended Audience?
What Is Social Work?
What Is the Purpose of Social Work?
What Is the Purpose of Social Work Education?
What Do Social Workers Do?
What Do All Social Workers Need to Know?
What Is the Relationship of Social Systems Theory to Generalist Practice?
How Is the Construction of Social Systems Theory Approached in this Book?
How Is Social Systems Theory Presented in this Book?
Can Social Systems Theory Be Modeled?
Can the Generalist Practice of Social Work Be Modeled?
2. A Social Systems Perspective: The Foundations for Social Systems Theory.
The Nature of Theory.
Social Systems Perspective.
General Systems Theory.
Ecological Theory.
Functional Theory.
Symbolic interactionism and Role Theory.
3. Social Systems Theory: General Features.
Definitions.
Social Systems Theory.
II. THE INDIVIDUAL.
4. The Individual: Theories of Psychology Used by Social Workers.
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Theory.
Behaviorism/Learning Theory.
Humanist Theory.
Cognitive Development Theory.
Moral Development Theory.
Symbolic Interaction Theory.
5. Psychosocial Theory: A Social Systems Perspective.
Focus.
Assumptions.
Concepts.
Infancy.
Post-Infancy.
Pre-School.
School.
Adolescence.
Early Adulthood.
Middle Adulthood.
Late Adulthood.
III. THE SOCIAL GROUP.
6. The Social Group: An Introduction.
Definitions.
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.
Natural and Rational Will.
Primary and Secondary Groups.
Collections of People, Categories of People, and the Social Group.
7. The Social Group: Theoretical Support.
Field Theory.
Exchange Theory.
Symbolic Interaction Theory.
8. The Family as a System of Roles.
Families as Emergent Structures.
Structural Family Theory.
Family Systems Theory.
Communications/Interactive Theory.
9. The Social Group and Family: Social Systems Theory.
The Social Group and the Family.
Social Systems Theory: Review of General Features.
Social Systems Theory: The Social Group and the Family.
IV. THE FORMAL ORGANIZATION.
10. The Formal Organization: An Introduction.
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.
Definition.
Organizational Theory and Practice Authority.
The Weberian Bureaucracy-The Rationalist Position.
The Human Relations Position.
Organizational Theory and Social Work Education.
11. The Formal Organization: Social Systems Theory.
Comparisons with the Rationalist and Human Relations Positions.
The Dialectic.
Social Systems Theory: Emergence.
Social Systems Theory: A Review.
Social Systems Theory: The Functional Requisites.
Social Systems Theory: The Structural Components.
Social Systems Theory: Developmental Stages of Formal Organizations.
Social Systems Theory: Total Quality Management.
12. The Formal Organization as a Social System.
Boundary.
Suprasystem.
Interface.
Input.
Proposed Output.
Conversion Operations.
Output.
Feedback.
V. THE COMMUNITY.
13. The Community: An Introduction.
Definitions of Community.
The Ecological Position: Human Ecology.
The Community Power Position.
Community Power: The Elitist Position.
Community Power: The Pluralist Position.
The Conflict Position.
14. The Community: Social Systems Theory.
Comparisons with Ecological, Power, and Conflict Positions.
Social Systems Theory.
15 Social Stratification and Diversity.
Introduction.
Cultural Diversity.
Social Systems Theory.
Dimensions of Stratification.
Conflict and Consensus.
Ethical Issues in Stratification and Diversity.
16 The Community Problem of Child Abuse and Neglect: A Practice Application.
Child Abuse and Neglect.
Modeling a Child Protective Services System as a Community Subsystem.
Index.
1. Introduction.
What Is This Book About?
Who Is the Intended Audience?
What Is Social Work?
What Is the Purpose of Social Work?
What Is the Purpose of Social Work Education?
What Do Social Workers Do?
What Do All Social Workers Need to Know?
What Is the Relationship of Social Systems Theory to Generalist Practice?
How Is the Construction of Social Systems Theory Approached in this Book?
How Is Social Systems Theory Presented in this Book?
Can Social Systems Theory Be Modeled?
Can the Generalist Practice of Social Work Be Modeled?
2. A Social Systems Perspective: The Foundations for Social Systems Theory.
The Nature of Theory.
Social Systems Perspective.
General Systems Theory.
Ecological Theory.
Functional Theory.
Symbolic interactionism and Role Theory.
3. Social Systems Theory: General Features.
Definitions.
Social Systems Theory.
II. THE INDIVIDUAL.
4. The Individual: Theories of Psychology Used by Social Workers.
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Theory.
Behaviorism/Learning Theory.
Humanist Theory.
Cognitive Development Theory.
Moral Development Theory.
Symbolic Interaction Theory.
5. Psychosocial Theory: A Social Systems Perspective.
Focus.
Assumptions.
Concepts.
Infancy.
Post-Infancy.
Pre-School.
School.
Adolescence.
Early Adulthood.
Middle Adulthood.
Late Adulthood.
III. THE SOCIAL GROUP.
6. The Social Group: An Introduction.
Definitions.
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.
Natural and Rational Will.
Primary and Secondary Groups.
Collections of People, Categories of People, and the Social Group.
7. The Social Group: Theoretical Support.
Field Theory.
Exchange Theory.
Symbolic Interaction Theory.
8. The Family as a System of Roles.
Families as Emergent Structures.
Structural Family Theory.
Family Systems Theory.
Communications/Interactive Theory.
9. The Social Group and Family: Social Systems Theory.
The Social Group and the Family.
Social Systems Theory: Review of General Features.
Social Systems Theory: The Social Group and the Family.
IV. THE FORMAL ORGANIZATION.
10. The Formal Organization: An Introduction.
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.
Definition.
Organizational Theory and Practice Authority.
The Weberian Bureaucracy-The Rationalist Position.
The Human Relations Position.
Organizational Theory and Social Work Education.
11. The Formal Organization: Social Systems Theory.
Comparisons with the Rationalist and Human Relations Positions.
The Dialectic.
Social Systems Theory: Emergence.
Social Systems Theory: A Review.
Social Systems Theory: The Functional Requisites.
Social Systems Theory: The Structural Components.
Social Systems Theory: Developmental Stages of Formal Organizations.
Social Systems Theory: Total Quality Management.
12. The Formal Organization as a Social System.
Boundary.
Suprasystem.
Interface.
Input.
Proposed Output.
Conversion Operations.
Output.
Feedback.
V. THE COMMUNITY.
13. The Community: An Introduction.
Definitions of Community.
The Ecological Position: Human Ecology.
The Community Power Position.
Community Power: The Elitist Position.
Community Power: The Pluralist Position.
The Conflict Position.
14. The Community: Social Systems Theory.
Comparisons with Ecological, Power, and Conflict Positions.
Social Systems Theory.
15 Social Stratification and Diversity.
Introduction.
Cultural Diversity.
Social Systems Theory.
Dimensions of Stratification.
Conflict and Consensus.
Ethical Issues in Stratification and Diversity.
16 The Community Problem of Child Abuse and Neglect: A Practice Application.
Child Abuse and Neglect.
Modeling a Child Protective Services System as a Community Subsystem.
Index.