MSW 502 Human Behavior and the Social Environment Module 3 Video Lecture: transcript Hello. My name is Emily Greenfield, the author of this video presentation, which is titled "Intro to Complex Systems Theory." This area of "grand theorizing" actually belongs to a larger family of perspectives that you might come across in your future studies. This includes dynamic systems theory, general systems theory, and developmental systems theory. Looking at this list, you can tell that there is one word that is common to allSYSTEMS! So that is the first focal concept that we will begin with here: systems. A system simply refers to an entity with interrelated parts. We can illustrate this concept by looking at the system depicted in the image below. Here we see a collection of gears that are lined up next to each other, side by side. That just covered our working definition of a system! We have partsthat is the gearsthat are inter- related with each otherthat is they are lined u next to each other. Note at this point that we can describe this system by focusing on the parts themselves or by focusing on how the parts are related to each other. If we were focusing just on the structure of the parts, we might count how many there are, how many big ones there are versus small ones, what color they are. If we were focusing on how they function in relationship to each other, we might describe what likely would happen to the gears on the right side if we started to move the gears on the left side. Now clearly, social workers typically are not in the business of working with mechanical gears. So how does this apply to our profession? Well, we can use this "systems" perspective when thinking about person-environment systems. We can view: - Persons as systems in their own right, with biological subsystems, psychological subsystems, and social subsystems all influencing each other - Environments as systems in their own right, with all levels and types of social and physical environments influencing each other Page 1 of 2

- And then finally persons and environments as dynamically transfused systems as a whole Complex systems theory pushes us to move beyond viewing person-environment systems in these relatively simplistic terms by adding in the component of COMPLEXITY. Instead of viewing person-environment systems as a simple system such as this (SHOW LINEAR GEARS SYSTEM), it views person-environment systems along the lines of something like this (SHOW OVERLAPPING GEARS SYSTEM). Notice the difference between these two images in terms of the number of parts within the system, how clearly the boundaries of the parts and the system itself are defined, and what the inter-relationship among the parts is. For example, in the complex systems, would we know what happens to the gears on the right if we move some of the gears on the left? Given the complex nature of this system, it is much more difficult to say with certainty what would happen. Page 2 of 2

Simple Systems	Complex Systems
1. Direct and linear causality	1. Indirect and nonlinear causality
2. Reductionism	2. Non-reductionism
3. Determinism	3. Probabilism
4. Uniformity	4. Heterogeneity

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Finish the worksheet to reinforce your understanding of the key concepts of complex systems theory. Following the examples provided below regarding older adults in skilled nursing facilities and depression, come up with statements that demonstrate a simple systems approach in contrast to statements that demonstrate a complex systems approach regarding early childhood development. Throughout your examples, be sure to make use of complex systems theories to work through potential biases regarding your example. This exercise will work best if you pick examples that are relevant to your own professional or personal experiences.

Key concept #1: Direct causality versus nonlinear causality

	Simple Systems	Complex Systems	CRT
Course example	Living in a skilled nursing facility causes depression.	Loss of physical health in later life can lead to feelings of depression. Feelings of depression, in combination with loss of physical health, can contribute to older adults being placed in a skilled nursing facility. This placement can further exacerbate any pre-existing symptoms of depression.	The CRT tenet of intersectionality is consistent with Complex Systems Theory as it illuminates the cumulative impact of forces such as microaggression PTSD (Post traumatic Slave Disorder as described by Joy De.. (Date) ect., of oppressed minoritized groups, can cause chronic stress resulting in a variety of overt and covert emotional and physical challenges for older individuals as they confront losses and other developmental challenges.
Your example

Key concept #2: Reductionism versus non-reductionism

	Simple Systems	Complex Systems	CRT
Course example	Depression among older adults in skilled nursing facilities can be reduced to biological processes in the brain.	Depression among older adults in skilled nursing facilities results from a complex interplay of person-environment factors that cannot be reduced to any one or one set of contributing factors, such as the brain, genetics, social relationships, or one's sense of self.	Depression among minoritized populations especially Blacks, is a consequence of living in a Eurocentric ecosystem that is still perceived as universal and consequently devalues, delegitimize, and dehumanize the storytelling of the lived experiences of older Black individuals.
Your example

Key concept #3: Determinism versus probabilism

	Simple Systems	Complex Systems	CRT
Course example	Older adults who live in skilled nursing facilities inevitably will experience depression.	Older adults in skilled nursing facilities are at greater risk for depression than older adults who do not live in such facilities.	Older adults of color who experience institutional racism and sexism such as the devaluing of their lived experience are more at risk for depression that older white or minoritized older adults who's lived experience is valued.
Your example

Key concept #4: Uniformity versus heterogeneity

	Simple Systems	Complex Systems	CRT
Course example	All older adults in skilled nursing facilities are depressed.	While some older adults in skilled nursing facilities are depressed, many older adults in skilled nursing facilities function quite well and are clearly not depressed.	The resilience of older Black adults acquired from their lived experience often sustains them despite institutional and cultural subjugation.
Your example