SYSTEMS THEORY CHEAT SHEET
Shaylin Clark
MFT-5101
Dr. Megan McCoy
7 October 2017
Systems Theory Cheat Sheet
DIRECT QUOTATION
CONCEPT/TERM
(and citation)
System
“Systems are defined as
meaningful wholes that are
maintained by the interaction
of their parts (Laszlo, 1972)”
(as cited in Smith-Acuna,
2011, p. 6).
Subsystem
“Systems are made up of
parts, or subsystems, that
then make up larger wholes”
(Smith-ACuna, 2011, p. 86).
Suprasystem/Context “An individual child is
ual Connections embedded in a variety of
environments at all times and
that it would be a mistake to
try to understand the
individual without taking
these contextual variables
into account” (Smith-Acuna,
2011, p. 20).
Hierarchy “Most systems have an
invisible but identifiable
structure that establishes
some type of hierarchy and
role differentiation and is
made up of subsystems that
then constitute the larger
system” (Smith-Acuna, 2011,
p. 86).
PARAPHRASE
(and citation)
The relationships and
interactions of small units
contribute to the bigger
picture which we call a
system (Smith-Acuna,
2011).
Subsystems are the internal
parts of a system (Smith-
Acuna, 2011).
Multiple environments are
constantly surrounding
systems and should be
taken into account when
studying the system
(Smith-Acuna, 2011).
The subsystems that make
up a system are often
ranked in an invisible order
and can have different roles
(Smith-Acuna, 2011).
EXAMPLE EXPLANATION
Orchestras fit the
definition of a system
because the music is
An orchestra is created by the
an example of a interactions between
system. the different
instruments.
The orchestra has
many musical
The various
instruments, or
instrumental
sections in it. Each
sections in an
section adds to the full
orchestra are
sound of the orchestra.
examples of
The sections are the
subsystems.
subsystems in the
orchestra.
Using the earth as an
example of a system,
the Universe would be
The universe is the suprasystem
an example of a because it surrounds
suprasystem. the earth and is full of
various other systems
much larger than the
earth.
Although each
position is equally
important in a football
A football team team, most people tend
is an example of to rank the quarterback
a hierarchy. as most important even
though the success of
the team depends on
each of its players.
 SYSTEMS THEORY CHEAT SHEET
Boundaries
“Boundaries are designed to
define a space and determine
what can enter and leave the
space” (Smith-Acuna, 2011,
p. 93).
Open System
“In open systems, organisms
are constantly exchanging
information with the
environment and are both
adapting and being acted
upon” (Smith-Acuna, 2011,
p. 18).
“In closed systems,
phenomena can be isolated
Closed System
from their environments and
then reduced to their
component parts” (Smith-
Acuna, 2011, p. 18).
Rules “The subsystems within a
larger system are separated
by boundaries, and
interactions across
boundaries are governed by
implicit rules and patterns.
(Minuchin, 1985, p. 291).
Whole is greater than “The other concept is
sum of its parts nonsummativity, a term used
to describe the phenomenon
that the whole is greater than
the sum of its parts
(Watzlawick, Bavela, &
Jackson, 1967)” (Smith-
Acuna, 2011, p. 15).
Elements within a
“Any system is an organized
system are
whole, and elements within
interdependent
the system are necessarily
interdependent” (Minuchin,
1985, p. 289).
Homeostasis “The Family and its
interaction patterns are thus
seen as a homeostatic system
that remains in a constant
state of balance with respect
to one another, often resisting
Gates are examples of
Boundaries are used to
boundaries because
control what enters and
Gates are an they set up parameters
leaves a particular space
example of a for a specific space
which the parameters for
boundary. and control what
are set up by boundaries
enters and leaves that
(Smith-Acuna, 2011).
space.
Chameleons are like
Open systems are broad open systems because
systems. They interact with they have to interact
their environment and A chameleon is and adapt to their
adjust themselves in order like an open environment in order
to fit in with their system. to survive. If they
environment (Smith-Acuna, stayed green, their
2011). chances for survival
would be slim.
Closed systems have a In jails, prisoners are
narrow point of view. They isolated from their
don’t interact with their environment and one
A jail is like a
environment and try to must look at specific
closed system.
understand situations by parts inside jails to
breaking down specific understand how they
parts (Smith-Acuna, 2011). function.
The rule of taking your
Underlying rules within a shoes off when
House rules are
system determine the types walking into another
often used to
of interactions that happen person’s house helps
maintain
across boundaries maintain the amount of
boundaries.
(Minuchin, 1985). dirt that gets on their
carpet.
Sushi rolls are better
Sushi rolls eaten at once rather
Nonsummativity means
demonstrate the than taking multiple
understanding systems as a
idea that the bites similar to how a
whole rather than as a
whole is greater system is better
group of parts (Smith-
than the sum of understood as a whole
Acuna, 2011).
its parts. rather than a group of
parts.
The waiters in a
Parts within a system restaurant depend on
Restaurant
depend on one another to the cooks for the food
workers are
create the greater whole and the cooks depend
interdependent.
(Minuchin, 1985). on the waiters to tell
them what to cook.
The human body likes
The human body
Dynamics within a family to stay in a steady
is an example of
system often stay in a state. When a change
a system that
steady state and avoid comes into the body, it
likes to maintain
change (Scaturo, 2005). reacts and tries to get
homeostasis.
 SYSTEMS THEORY CHEAT SHEET
change” (Scaturo, 2005, p.
106).
First Order Change
“First order change refers to
superficial changes within the
already existing system and
not to changes in the structure
or rules of the system itself”
(Davey, Davey, Tubbs, Savla
& Anderson, 2012, p. 76).
Second Order Change
“Second order change, a
transformation of the system
itself” (Davey et al., 2012, p.
73).
Continuous Change “Continuous change is
incremental, linear,
cumulative, and gradual
(Smith-Acuna, 2011, p. 75).
Discontinuous
Change
“Discontinuous change is
sudden and transformative”
(Smith-Acuna, 2011, p. 75).
Systems seek to
maintain order, but
“Systems inherently resist
are constantly
change and seek to maintain a
reorganizing
certain predictable order. At Systems are both stable and
the same time, systems are constantly changing
constantly reorganizing and (Smith-Acuna, 2011).
transforming themselves”
(Smith-Acuna, 2011, p. 67).
Positive Feedback “Messages that tell the
Loops system to keep changing are
known as positive feedback
(Watzlawick, Weakland, &
Changes that do not
directly alter the dynamics
of the system are first order
changes (Davey et al.,
2012).
Changes that do alter the
system are second order
changes (Davey et al.,
2012).
Continuous changes occur
slowly and little by little
(Smith-Acuna, 2011).
Discontinuous changes are
unexpected and alter the
system (Smith-Acuna,
2011).
Positive feedback loops
encourage change in the
system (Smith-Acuna,
2011).
back to its normal state
of functioning.
An alcoholic who
doesn’t drink for a few
weeks will decrease
An addict
the amount of times
stopping the
they are drunk (first
addictive
order change) but the
behavior for a
underlying causes and
while.
structure for the
addiction are still
there.
An example of a
second order change
would be if an
An addict
alcoholic decided to
changing their
call a friend when
behavior once
they’re lonely instead
they get
of getting drunk.
triggered.
Changing the behavior
would start to alter the
addiction.
Most weather changes
Seasonal changes in a new season occur
are continuous. slowly on a month by
to month timeline.
Traumatic events (or
perceived trauma) is
often unexpected and
Traumatic events
can alter the way a
can be a
person thinks. An
discontinuous
example would be a
change.
person having PTSD
symptoms after being
in a car wreck.
Movies have been
around a long time and
Movies are the basic parts of a
examples of movie remain intact
systems that are (actors, music, special
stable and effects) but movies are
constantly constantly changing
changing. and evolving.
Affirmations are Daily affirmations can
an example of help promote changes
positive feedback in thinking patterns
loops. and self-esteem.
 SYSTEMS THEORY CHEAT SHEET
Fisch, 1974)” (as cited in
Smith-Acuna, 2011, p. 74).
Negative Feedback
Loops
“Negative feedback is any
message in a system that tells
the system to resist change,
or change back” (Smith-
Acuna, 2011, p. 73).
Equifinality
“According to Nichols and
Schwartz (1998), equifinality
“means that no matter where
the system change begins, the
final result is the same”
(p.90)” (as cited in Sheperis
& Sheperis, 2002, p. 311).
Linear Causality “We like to establish
probability in a linear
fashion, noting that if a
happens, it will be followed
by b (Smith-Acuna, 2011, p.
34).
Circular Causality Early applications of systems
theory to psychology
emphasized the prevalence
off both multiple and circular
causality. This model
counteracts the very human
tendency to look for single,
linear explanations for
behavior (Smith-Acuna,
2011, p. 47).
Negative feedback loops
encourage the system to
stay in its same state,
regress, and avoid change
(Smith-Acuna, 2011).
The point at which a
system changes doesn’t
matter because the end
result will be the same
(Nichols and Schwartz,
1998) (as cited in Sheperis
& Seperis, 2002).
The perception that all
behaviors have a single
cause and effect (Smith-
Acuna, 2011).
The perception that there
can be multiple
explanations for behavior
(Smith-Acuna, 2011).
In the movie Inside
Out, the character
Angry exhibits a
Angry from the negative feedback
movie Inside Out loop. He tries to get
displays a Riley to avoid the
negative change of moving to a
feedback loop. new city by running
away and going back
to Minnesota where
she’s from.
It doesn’t matter where
the family members
are coming from, or
which route they take
Family reunions
to get to the reunion
are an example
because they will all
of equifinality.
end up at the same
destination.
The debate were
The nature versus behavior is either
nurture debate is determined by ones
an example of environment, or their
linear causality. inherent biological
makeup.
Research has shown
behavior is determined
by both the
When nature and
environment and
nurture
biological makeup.
determine
There are multiple
behavior
reasons why a person
simultaneously.
behaves the way they
do.