The Social Systems Theory revolves around the study of civilization as a multifaceted organization of elements comprising individuals and their viewpoints, as they connect to a broader community. But the application of the concept starts with the establishment of a focal system that contains more than one individual who bonds to interact directly or indirectly. In Moore (2011), a (1) focal System is the composition of Wes Moore, his older step-sister Nikki, his younger sister Shani, and their mother Joy. Within social studies, the three are a perfect example of a focal system as they function in such a manner as a broader community.
The focal system happens to be a section of the suprasystem which contains multiple other systems. Examples of the systems within the (2) suprasystem , as elaborated in the book consist of Moore’s Bronx neighborhood where his grandparents lived, the private school he attends within the Bronx, as well as Valley Forge Military Academy. The boundary is an aspect within the Social Systems Theory that is a fictional outline establishing people within and those without the system. Therefore, they are helpful in the description of the system. Take, for instance, the family of Joy, Nikki, Shani, and Moore has a clear (3) boundary. As much as there are many more other interactions with other systems such as the grandparents, but the nuclear family remains independent.
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A father figure in this focal system would have great significance in their role, but the part of Moore's father was non-existent as he was deceased. Moreover, the grandparents are so supportive even though they have strict rules for Moore and the other children but remain out of the boundary of the focal system. However, the grandparents stepping in as the missing father-figure is comparable to input into the focal system. (4) Input is any problem, opportunity, need, or satiation that, after consideration, into the focal system forces adjustments within the focal system. The family had to adjust to living within the grandparents, who were ministers, rules.
Besides the strict rules within the ministers' home, the focal system had to adjust, which is the cause that led Moore always to find himself in trouble. Joy was striving to maintain a healthy family, which would be similar to a proposed output. The (5) proposed output is the effort that the family put in trying to replace the father-figure and live a productive life. As the author put his narrative, the action of replacing the father figure was no simple fete. The (6) Conversion operations adopted by the family of four to adjust to the input is in the admission of Moore to a private rather than a public school, and when he shows no sign of reforming the subsequent acceptance into a military school.
As the narrative progresses, the reader cannot miss noticing the (7) subsystem between Moore and Shea, who the police arrest for spray-painting on a wall. Another subsystem is the assignment of Moore to Captain Ty Hill as his mentor while at the Military academy. These mechanisms were necessary for Moore to manage the input of the missing father-figure within the family of four. The occurrence of an interface is also noticeable as an aspect of the Social Systems Theory. The description of the (8) interface is interactions between different systems within the suprasystem. This is evident in the several arrests of Moore, the military academy, and the public school is an interface. The most pronounced interface is the admission of Moore to Valley Forge Military Academy, where he grew to learn discipline and humility, which changed his life.
The adjustments of the family to meet the needs of the proposed output introduces them as an aspect of (9) the output that is the concluding outcome of the nuclear family as a consequence of the input. The focal system was able to address the proposed output as Moore was given a mentor after several attempts to escape. Moore reformed and was an extremely skilled basketball player. Several colleges want to recruit the star player who is currently training as a paratrooper after successful completion of college and subsequent enlistment into the military.
(10) Entropy is not evident as the family does not move towards destruction in the end but towards the correct adjustment according to the input. Entropy is the natural tendency to shift towards death, depletion, and disorganization. The absence of the father-figure had no meaningful impact on the family of four. (11) The feedback was the maintenance of a healthy dynamic focal system through the recognition of the distinction between the output and the proposed output. Joy was able to decipher the information and made the appropriate adjustments for the proper functioning within the suprasystem. She made adjustments regardless of the risk factors that manipulated the focal system. Some of them (12) risk factors comprise of poverty, financial issues, crime, drug use, and the absence of a father within the nuclear family.
Figure 1 : An example of simplified Social System Theory. This picture shows the use of information from the input to adjust and allow for positive outputs.
This narrative as simplified in Figure 1., is vital for it helps social workers comprehend the human experiences, behavioral paths, as well as life patterns. The significance of understanding the Social Systems Theory is undeniable as the concept shows that the result is on how the information is perceived and necessary adjustments made accordingly. Therefore, a comprehension of the social systems and individuals is relevant in the acknowledgment of treatment, prevention, and advocating of social problems within the society.
References
Moore, W. (2011). The Other Wes Moore: one name, two fates. (pp. 22-270). New York: Spiegel & Grau Trade Paperbacks.
