Systems Theory
1. Systems theory and the Ecological perspective
As a social worker, one must understand the impact of systems in the environment.
The interactions between the individual and their multiple systems give social workers a
visual of how to interpret their consumer 's life. System theories is one way to try to
interpret a consumer 's life to have somewhat of a general idea of how to help solve the
problems they are facing. The easiest way to view system theories are by creating
ecomaps. These maps give you a visual written in black and white to see the different
systems that the individual interacts with.
To understand this concept in the field, a social worker, must know what a
system even is. "A system is a set of elements that are orderly and inter-related to make a
functional whole." (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman p. 4) I have a family system, social and work
groups system, communities system, and organizations system that have an effect on me
as the individual. There are three levels of systems that social workers go by. The micro
level, which consists of the individuals themselves, is the smallest of the three and would
be me. The next level is called the mezzo level. This consists of small groups. Some
examples would be my friends, family, and coworkers. The last and largest level is the
macro level. The macro level consists of institutions, organizations, communities, and
cultures. In my ecomap, some examples of the macro level would be my neighborhood at
home, college, dorm life, suburban, and my father 's fire department. The point at which 2
systems or more come in contact with each other causing conflict is called interface. This
can include the individual, families, groups, organizations and communities. In my
ecomap, due to the stressful relationship and negative energy flow between my brother
and I, the most obvious interface would be my parent 's house.
As a social worker, one must understand the impact of systems in the environment.
The interactions between the individual and their multiple systems give social workers a
visual of how to interpret their consumer 's life. System theories is one way to try to
interpret a consumer 's life to have somewhat of a general idea of how to help solve the
problems they are facing. The easiest way to view system theories are by creating
ecomaps. These maps give you a visual written in black and white to see the different
systems that the individual interacts with.
To understand this concept in the field, a social worker, must know what a
system even is. "A system is a set of elements that are orderly and inter-related to make a
functional whole." (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman p. 4) I have a family system, social and work
groups system, communities system, and organizations system that have an effect on me
as the individual. There are three levels of systems that social workers go by. The micro
level, which consists of the individuals themselves, is the smallest of the three and would
be me. The next level is called the mezzo level. This consists of small groups. Some
examples would be my friends, family, and coworkers. The last and largest level is the
macro level. The macro level consists of institutions, organizations, communities, and
cultures. In my ecomap, some examples of the macro level would be my neighborhood at
home, college, dorm life, suburban, and my father 's fire department. The point at which 2
systems or more come in contact with each other causing conflict is called interface. This
can include the individual, families, groups, organizations and communities. In my
ecomap, due to the stressful relationship and negative energy flow between my brother
and I, the most obvious interface would be my parent 's house.