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Becoming a Systems Thinker

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Becoming a Systems Thinker, Major Concepts
After reading Chapter 1 in the Dallos and Draper text, as well as reviewing the glossary in the text and the provided glossary file.
1) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages (if any) how a family is more like a biological system than a mechanical system
2) Define the term "system" and give an example.
3) Pick eight of the systems concepts discussed in the reading (e.g., feedback, functionalism, circularities, linear causality, circular causality, triangulation, rules, and so forth) and define them in your own words and give an example of these terms based on real life, movies, books, other popular media, etc.

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Solution Summary

This solution discusses the concept of "systems thinking" in the context of a theoretical model of the family.

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(1) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages (if any) how a family is more like a biological system than a mechanical system

Biological systems have a developmental process and history and the environment impacts on the basic design or phenotype to influence the development of the system. Several behavioral studies support the view that biological mechanisms provide an advantage for a healthy development (e.g., Halari, Hine, Kumair, Mehrota & Wheeler, 2005). For example, the biological functions associated with genetics have a primary influence on factors such as cognitive and physical development (e.g., intelligence). Based on the Systems theory an interaction tales place in which various activities of the body work together. An advantage occurs with this coordinated system when parts of the body work as a whole to maintain stability
and function. For example, the body regulates the temperature through an interaction of the hormonal system, the regulation of body temperature, physical activity, and mechanisms in the brain such as those that control breathing. Another advantage is based on the capability of the system to provide feedback (Bateson 1972 as cited in Dallos & Draper, [needs date]). As they explain further, a system is seen as existing when interacting systems communicate with and influence each other. Further, according to Dallos and Draper, the overall patterns are summed up as one unit worker together for the benefit of the whole.

For this reason, the mechanical system is advantageous because analogously the body resembles a well-oiled machine in which all the parts have a specific function all working together so that the machine could run, or work effectively. As a machine, the body has the capability to be stronger and faster with functions that maintains balance and regularity. For instances, the body communicates to reminds the body of when to eat, sleep, excrete bodily fluids, and or the uptake of bodily fluids (e.g. thirst). With the interaction of the brain and other parts of the body, a person is able to make decisions and carry them out, think and out (e.g., walking and talking). Dallos and Draper point out that Systemic thinking suggested the way that families do and should interact. Thus, the change in a person's ...

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