ABSTRACT
The aim of this book was to present some insights from sociological systems theory for an audience in social work and the helping professions. It is not primarily a social work textbook but rather a book about an interdisciplinary theory that social work and other helping professions – both in academia and practice – can benefit from. Like other complex theoretical frameworks, this sociological systems theory offers in-depth, condensed insights through some key concepts based on certain presuppositions. The framework has its origin in natural sciences and provides, to some extent, a common vocabulary for natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Hence, the framework is abstract and difficult to access but its openness to influences from other disciplines and theories makes it suitable for describing a large number of phenomena as systems. The framework can be applied equally to cells, neuronal systems, minds, and several types of social systems, including societal function systems (politics, law, economy), but also small interaction systems (such as a counselling session between a social worker and a client) or medium-sized organisations (such as a care facility).
