MSW Exam Latest Update with Verified Solutions

MSW Exam Latest Update with Verified Solutions Systems Theory A system is a whole comprising component parts that work together. Applied to social work, systems theory views human behavior through larger contexts, such as members of families, communities, and broader society. Important to this theory is the concept that when one thing changes within a system, the whole system is affected. Systems tend toward equilibrium and can have closed or open boundaries. Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 43). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. Systems Theory Applications to Social Work 1. Social workers need to understand interactions between the micro, meso, and macro levels. 2. Problems at one part of a system may be manifested at another. 3. Ecomaps and genograms can help to understand system dynamics. 4. Understanding "person-in-environment" is essential to identifying barriers or opportunities for change. 5. Problems and change are viewed within larger contexts. Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (pp. 43-44). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. Some System Theory Terms Closed system- uses up its energy and dies Differentiation- becoming specialized in structure and function Entropy- closed, disorganized, stagnant; using up available energy Equifinality- arriving at the same end from different beginnings homeostasis steady state Input- obtaining resources from the environment that are necessary to attain the goals of the system Negative entropy- exchange of energy and resources between systems that promote growth and transformation Open system a system with cross-boundary exchange Output- product of the system that exports to the environment Subsystem- a major component of a system made up of two or more interdependent components that interact in order to attain their own purpose( s) and the purpose( s) of the system in which they are embedded Suprasystem- an entity that is served by a number of component systems organized in interacting relationships throughput energy that is integrated into the system so it can be used by the system to accomplish its goals Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (p. 44). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. The eight interlocking concepts of Bowen Theory include: 1) Differentiation of Self 2) Triangles 3) Nuclear Family Emotional Process 4) Family Projection Process 5) Emotional Cutoff 6) Multigenerational Transmission Process 7) Sibling Position 8) Societal Emotional Process. FAMILY THEORIES Family theory provides a theoretical and therapeutic base for dealing with family-related situations; it is also useful in understanding and managing individual problems by determining the extent to which such problems are related to family issues. A family systems approach argues that in order to understand a family system, a social worker must look at the family as a whole, rather than focusing on its members. People do not exist in a vacuum. They live, play, go to school, and work with other people. Most anthropologists agree that, next to their peculiar tendency to think and use tools, one of the distinguishing characteristics of human beings is that they are social creatures. The social group that seems to be most universal and pervasive in the way it shapes human behavior is the family. For social workers, the growing awareness of the crucial impact of families on clients has led to the development of family systems theory. Family systems theory searches for the causes of behavior, not in the individual alone, but in the interactions among the members of a group. The basic rationale is that all parts of the family are interrelated. Further, the family has properties of its own that can be known only by looking at the relationships and interactions among all members. Apgar PhD LSW ACSW, Dr. Dawn (). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success (pp. 44-45). Springer Publishing Company. Kindle Edition. The family systems approach is based on several basic assumptions: 1. Each family is more than a sum of its members. 2. Each family is unique, due to the infinite variations in personal characteristics and cultural and ideological styles. 3. A healthy family has flexibility, consistent structure, and effective exchange of information. 4. The family is an interactional s