Deck 3: Social Systems and Social Work

Question 1

Identify some of the common boundaries of social systems that define the individual in society. How do you recognize in practice the boundaries that define a family? What are the internal boundaries that define individuals and sets of individuals within the family system?

Answer 1

not answered

Question 2

A central concept of cybernetics, the science of self-regulating systems, is

A) Maintenance
B) Feedback
C) Input
D) Steady state

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Feedback that instructs a system to make changes or adjustments in the outputs is called

A) Positive feedback
B) Negative feedback
C) Allopathic feedback
D) Maintenance

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The process by which system s emerge from disorder and become more complex is called

A) Entropy
B) Syntropy
C) Adaptation
D) Feedback

Question 5

The structure that both joins and divides a system and the environment is the

A) Output
B) Input
C) Feedback
D) Boundary

Question 6

In modern society, we see considerable attention to the issues associated with system propagation. What are the benefits of propagation at the community and international levels?

Question 7

A system that has no purpose other than its own preservation is called

A) Altruistic
B) Allopoetic
C) Autopoetic
D) Cybernetic

Question 8

Feedback regarding outputs from a system is considered crucial. What are the mechanisms you can imagine that will provide timely and accurate feedback to you as you work with individual clients? Describe the importance of clear goal setting in developing this feedback loop.

Question 9

In social systems, the "social environment" within which behavior occurs is considered the

A) Suprasystem
B) Focal system
C) Subsystem
D) Matrix

Question 10

If we consider a mental health center as a social system, the delivery of therapy services to help a depressed person function normally would be considered

A) A maintenance input
B) A signal output
C) Positive feedback
D) A conversion operation

Question 11

The largest social system addressed in the Generalist Practice Model is

A) Society
B) Groups
C) Communities
D) Nations

Question 12

Parson's functionalist perspective on social systems was often criticized due to the emphasis placed on

A) Adaptation
B) Innovation
C) Explanation
D) Stability

Question 13

The problems associated with crowding and pollution in urban societies would be addressed under which phase of the system cycle?

A) Propagation
B) Maturation
C) Dissolution
D) Completion

Question 14

Feedback provides what type of inputs to systems?

A) Signal input
B) Physical input
C) Raw materials
D) Maintenance input

Question 15

Describe examples of social work interventions that are applicable to systems during the stagnation and dissolution phases. What are some intervention goals that seem appropriate for a system such as a married couple undergoing divorce? For a social agency that has decided to cease operations?

Question 16

The processes of dying in a person or bankruptcy in an agency occur during which phase?

A) Completion
B) Entropic
C) Syntropic
D) Emergent

Question 17

If a cocaine addict receives treatment aimed at ending her drug use, and after treatment she continues to use cocaine but has increased self-esteem, the contrast between the goal of treatment and the outcome of treatment is called

A) Goal discrepancy
B) Goal displacement
C) Serendipity
D) Steady state

Question 18

The 'butterfly effect' describes the sensitive dependency of emerging systems on environmental conditions. Small changes can make huge differences in the ultimate shape of emerging systems. What are the implication of this observation for social work with children?

Question 19

The point of maximum turbulence in a field is located at

A) The boundaries
B) The interface
C) The feedback loop
D) The conversion point

Question 20

An allopoetic system is one for which

A) The only purpose is self-preservation
B) There is a goal to produce something new
C) The goal is displaced to a secondary activity
D) The goal is increased stability