ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the basics of the social systems approach to understanding human behavior. It provides an overview of the scientific context that gave rise to systemic thinking and the particular version known as social system. The chapter discusses basic concepts, such as holon. Social systems theory may be described as "contextual", "interactional", or perspectivistic. Comprehension of the part/whole nature of life is the central tenet of systems thinking. A social system is a special order of system within general systems. It is distinct from atomic, molecular, or galactic systems in that it is composed of persons or groups of persons who interact and mutually influence each other's behavior. If the family is viewed as a holon, attention must simultaneously be given to both the family's members and to its significant environment such as schools, community, work organizations, other families, and neighborhood.
