Systemic social work

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Systemic social work is an approach to social work based on systems theories, which is often associated with the name Peter Lüssi . After up to the 1980s, primarily the linear approach has been applied in the social work, based on the theory of personality of FreudIn order to solve the problem, a strengthening of the patient's ego promoted, or the “left” interest or class approach borrowed from critical social theory, now increasingly spread systemic approaches that also included the social environment of the target person. Finally, Peter Lüssi formulated an action-oriented systemic approach to social work. At the same time, at the Federal Academy for Social Work in Vienna, an approach was developed that was more strongly oriented towards autopoiesis , cybernetics and constructivism .

Today, the system-theoretical (systemic) -constructivist approach is very widespread in social work. He is closely related to contributions and work by z. B. by Dirk Baecker , Peter Fuchs , Johannes Herwig-Lempp , Wilfried Hosemann , Heiko Kleve , Björn Kraus , Roland Merten , Albert Scherr and Jan V. Wirth .

Systemic social work can also be understood as clinical social work . Clinical social work is health-specific specialist social work (“clinical” means “treating”). Its general goal is to include social work aspects in the advice, treatment and support of excluded (isolated), endangered, sick and disabled people. The focus is the person-in-their-world (person-in-environment) within the framework of a biopsychosociocultural understanding of health , disorders and social problems.

The first master's degree in systemic social work in Germany was installed by Johannes Herwig-Lempp in 2009 at the Merseburg University of Applied Sciences .

The systemic approach according to Lüssi

In contrast to the linear approach, the systemic approach according to Peter Lüssi is not based on a causal cause-effect system, but considers the interactions of elements of a system in the overall context. The behavior of the individual elements in the system and the behavior of the system to its environment are also taken into account. Here, a problem is not seen as the effect of a specific cause, but rather as a system malfunction that needs to be eliminated. The persons concerned are not viewed as holistic personalities, but as elements of the system in their special role that is relevant to the respective context.

Systemic social work emerged against the theoretical background of constructivism, which as a result of the criticism of positivism is less concerned with the mere facts of a fact, but rather looks at the structures and mechanisms that bring people to binding statements via communication and consensus.

How systemic social work works

In systemic social work, every problem is a systemic disorder. Peter Lüssi sees a disruption as either a disruption in the purpose of the system or a disruption in the relationships between the systems. On the way to solving the problem, constant reflection is essential in order to clarify whether the approach, where the problem lies and what the problem is, is still correct, or whether one has to revise one's approach.

System affiliation

To do this, it must first be determined which system is to be examined. Lüssi provides several system categories here : the social category or three options for another category: either psychologically a personality, medically an organism or a cultural being . The system under consideration is called the reference system. In social work, social systems are mostly relevant. There are different system levels, larger systems can contain smaller ones, super- and sub-systems arise. For example, a school class would be a subsystem of a school. The environment of the reference system is always its suprasystem, from which it is separated by its system boundaries. Within a system, its members have to take on special roles.

The malfunction can either be in the system functionality or in the system relationship.

System functionality

If one considers the system functionality , the system can functionally, i. H. function or be dysfunctional according to its purpose. In the case of dysfunction, there is a disorder, for which Peter Lüssi names three possibilities:

  • a malfunction: e.g. B. in a support system, a person in need of help becomes more and more dependent and passive instead of being helped to self-help.
  • a functional failure: e.g. B. an unoccupied job in a company
  • a functional conflict: e.g. B. Power struggle in a working group

System relationship

The system relationship is about the relationships between different systems. There are now different options.

  • The relationship can be between systems of different categories, i.e. H. for example between the social category of a family and the personality of a disabled child in the family. This relationship can be congruent or incongruent . In the case of incongruence, there is a fault and the goal is to restore congruence.
  • Furthermore, a system relationship between two systems of the same category, e.g. B. exist between two social systems "family". This relationship can be positive or negative, in the latter case there is a system malfunction, for which Lüssi again mentions three possibilities:
    • Lack of relationship: There is no relationship or a poor one, e.g. B. A school does not inform parents about special educational support options for a child who has problems
    • Off-purpose relationship: The system interactions seem to be without problems, but they contradict the purpose of the system, e.g. B. if the authorities are too closely interwoven, active advocacy for the clientele through complaints within these authorities becomes ineffective
    • the systems hinder each other to function properly, e.g. B. A psychiatric facility and the employment office are controversial when it comes to providing assistance to a client

Troubleshooting

To solve problems, the social worker creates a problem-solving system that connects the reference system with various auxiliary systems or through which the systems that have a relationship problem are connected to one another.

The task of social work

Lüssi names social problem solving as the task of social work . According to Lüssi, a social problem exists when the following criteria are met:

  • (im) material need
  • subjective burden
  • Problem solving

Lüssi describes means, methods and types of action for solving social problems .

Means and methods

medium

Peter Lüssi mentions the following as means available to social work to fulfill its tasks:

Methods

In the context of the methods, Lüssi explains three principles :

  • Conceptual principles : Principles that concern the individual case understanding, the interaction of understanding and action, the systemic, socio-logical and socio-ethical principles as well as the principles of creativity.
  • Principles of Action: Principles that affect the problem-solving process and the relationship between social worker and client
  • Acceptance principles : Principles that establish the credibility and efficiency of the procedure

As part of the methods of his principles of action, Lüssi names different types of action:

criticism

You have to make it clear with Lüssi's theory that it is a theory of action for a task of social work, because social problem solving is just part of the task area. So social work also includes prevention , which indirectly serves to solve problems by avoiding problems, but has significantly different objectives and a different starting point. In addition, creative activity within society is part of social work. In addition, the aspect of control within the framework of the double mandate (commitment to the interests of the client and society) is indispensable in probation services, for example .

Peter Lüssi therefore names a task of social work and describes means, methods and types of action for this.

In addition to Peter Lüssi, there are other representatives of systemic social work who - although they all come together under the label systemic - assign themselves to different directions.

From the perspective of emergent systems theory according to Mario Bunge , a criticism of the “power blindness” of systemic-constructivist approaches is expressed above all . As a representative of this approach, Silvia Staub-Bernasconi criticizes this phenomenon with the fundamental lack of terms and theoretical models for the description and evaluation of power processes within the constructivist-systemic approaches (cf. bibliography).

Systemic social work according to Milowiz

The Viennese orientation of systemic social work follows the constructivist-systemic paradigm.

The key points of this perspective are:

  • the comprehensive view of all events involved in interaction
  • the circular self-production and self-preservation of processes or problems
  • the abolition of the separation between “uninvolved” observers and helpers and observed or “helped” systems on the other hand, or the involvement of the observer in the “ realities ” that they are observing and describing, is treated
  • the constructivist idea of ​​any number of different ways to see and describe the world every " reality " allows for any number of descriptions,
  • the unconditional assumption that everyone acts in a comprehensible and honorable manner in every situation and that, if necessary, only information about the client's situation is missing to understand the action.

According to Milowiz, social work action is based on the principles of circularity and self-reproduction , i.e. H. “If a special form of communication - namely that with the helper - can lead to the“ problem ”disappearing, then that cannot mean anything other than that the“ normal ”communication that took place up to that point was decisively involved, the“ problem ” “Maintain. Therefore, we should primarily deal with the question of how we help to prevent problems. ”Milowiz describes the field of social work as an intervention in dysfunctional relationships between small and large systems:“ In every relationship, part of the available energies is used for definition and maintaining the relationship expended. If one can assume that ... that optimal relationships ... consume a minimum of energy for the relationship work, ... a dysfunctional relationship would be defined as a relationship in which the majority of the energies are used up in dealing with the relationship becomes. You have to accept that with every change in relationships ... the form of the relationship becomes unclear and therefore intensive work on new ... forms of relationships is temporarily necessary. One can only speak of a dysfunctional relationship when, in the course of such a development, a form of relationship occurs that is stable on the one hand, but is constantly in question on the other, i.e. a relationship that consists largely of an endless struggle to change it. "

Here the systemic approach to social work becomes clear: The goal - to put it in general terms - is to change forms of relationships that are perceived as problematic. "Wherever relationship conflicts, ie dysfunctional relationships, between society on the one hand and individuals or small, private subsystems on the other, stabilize or escalate, intervene in a functionalizing manner, where such stabilizations or escalations of relationship fights are to be expected, to take preventive action, that is the field of Social work. ”Milowiz consequently rejects any educational and / or charitable justification for social work. Rather, social work requires the basic social consensus of the welfare state, i. H. the right of all citizens to social security. The realization of this claim is jeopardized every time in dysfunctional, escalating conflicts. “In a society with a highly specialized division of functions, it now makes perfect sense to train specialists and deploy them within the framework of appropriate institutions to resolve such conflicts in which the basic right to a humane existence of individuals or small subgroups is at risk. These professionals are the social workers. "

Excursus "System Concept"

Milowiz explains the concept of the system using the “dance floor example”. Each individual dance movement can:

  • go unnoticed and therefore without consequences.
  • are noticed and picked up briefly, then the reaction "runs off" again.
  • noticed and taken up, which in turn is followed by a reaction, which is taken up in turn. Two or more people dance together, a recognizable structure, a form of relationship has emerged.

“This last case is - logically considered - of course an exception compared to the many 'non-encounters' that happen continuously. Nevertheless, this case seems to us to be the normal one that takes place all the time. Why? Because such a self-sustaining structure lasts from the moment it arises. It reproduces itself continuously. That means it is observable, in contrast to the 'non-encounters'. [...] We can only recognize things that last, that is, that repeat themselves over a certain minimum period. In addition, temporal 'interfaces' can still be identified: When regular events change. Such interaction structures appear to the human observer as independent elements, and the systemists have introduced the term 'system' for this. All systemic literature refers to structures that are considered to be relatively independent of the environment. "

In clear contrast to schools Luhmann 'shear stamping has Milowiz back here any definition of "system" arising from the substantive criteria. For him, “system” is a defining construct that summarizes a structure described above in a way that appears practical or useful to the perceiver.

The Vienna School of Systemic Social Work was taught at the Federal Academy for Social Work in Vienna from 1985 onwards, both in regular training and in advanced training courses; today it is represented at the University of Applied Sciences course for social work on the Vienna campus and is reflected in advanced training courses for systemic social work and in managing concepts Gender and Diversity .

literature

  • Timo Ackermann: The pitfalls of social work: system-theoretical, psychoanalytic and Marxist perspectives . 2nd Edition. Carl-Auer-Verl., Heidelberg 2011, ISBN 978-3-89670-940-0 .
  • Herwig-Lempp, Johannes: From family therapy to systemic social work, in: Nühlen; Maria (Ed.): History and Stories II, Merseburg History and Other Historical Forays. FH Merseburg, Merseburg 2002, ISBN 3-9807981-2-7 , pp. 162-186.
  • Herwig-Lempp, Johannes: The Construction of Systemic Social Work - Introduction, in: Context 2/2005, Vol. 36, 2005, pp. 111–117.
  • Hosemann, Wilfried & Geiling, Wolfgang: Introduction to systemic social work. Reinhardt UTB, Munich and Basel 2013, ISBN 3-8252-4008-8 .
  • Hosemann, Wilfried (Ed.): Potentials and limits of systemic social work. Lambertus, Freiburg im Breisgau 2006, ISBN 3-7841-1608-6 .
  • Kleve, Heiko , Jan V. Wirth. The Practice of Social Work Science - An Introduction. Hohengehren: Schneider Verlag, 2009, ISBN 978-3-8340-0539-7 .
  • Heiko Kleve: Constructivism and social work Introduction to the basics of systematic-constructivist theory and practice . 4th edition. VS, Verl. Für Sozialwiss., Wiesbaden 2010, ISBN 978-3-531-17012-1 .
  • Kleve, Heiko: Postmodern Social Work - A System Theoretical Constructivist Contribution to Social Work Science. Kersting, Aachen 1999, ISBN 3-928047-29-9 .
  • Kleve, Heiko: Social work without qualities. Fragments of a postmodern professional and scientific theory of social work. Lambertus, Freiburg / Br. 2000, ISBN 3-7841-1234-X .
  • Kleve, Heiko: Social Work Science, Systems Theory and Postmodernism. Fundamentals and applications of a theory and method program. Lambertus, Freiburg / Br. 2003, ISBN 3-7841-1489-X .
  • Kleve, Heiko and others: Systemic Case Management. Case assessment and help planning in social work with individuals and families - methodological suggestions. Kersting, Aachen 2003, ISBN 3-928047-41-8 .
  • Kleve Heiko: ambivalence, system and success. Provocations of postmodern social work. Carl Auer Systems, Heidelberg 2007, ISBN 3-89670-558-X .
  • Lindner, Ronny: Indefinitely determined - social counseling as a practice of not knowing. Carl Auer Systems, Heidelberg 2004, ISBN 3-89670-329-3 .
  • Lüssi, Peter: Systemic social work. Practical textbook of social counseling. 3. Edition. Haupt, Bern 1995, ISBN 3-258-05211-5 .
  • Miller, Tilly: Systems Theory and Social Work - Drafting a Theory of Action. Lucius & Lucius, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8282-0168-7 .
  • Milowiz, Walter: Vicious circle and life path - thinking systemically in social work. 2nd, revised edition. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2009, ISBN 978-3-525-40158-3 .
  • Neumann, Sascha: Critique of social pedagogical reason - field theoretical studies. Velbrück Wissenschaft, Weilerswist 2008, ISBN 978-3-938808-43-6 .
  • Ritscher, Wolf: Systemic models for social work - an integrative textbook for theory and practice. Carl Auer Systems, Heidelberg 2002, ISBN 3-89670-225-4 .
  • Ritscher Wolf: Introduction to systemic social work with families. Carl Auer Systems, Heidelberg 2006, ISBN 3-89670-468-0 .
  • Simmen, René, Gabriele Buss, Astrid Hassler & Stephan Immoos: System-oriented social pedagogy. Haupt, Bern 2003, ISBN 3-258-06472-5 .
  • Staub-Bernasconi, Silvia: Power blindness and perfection of power Luhmann's theory. In: Roland Merten (ed.): System theory of social work - new approaches and changed perspectives. Leske and Budrich, Opladen 2000, ISBN 3-8100-2278-0 .
  • Staub-Bernasconi, Silvia: Systemic thinking and acting in social work. In: Dieter Kreft , Ingrid Mielenz (Hrsg.): Dictionary social work. Tasks, fields of practice, terms and methods of social work and social education. 4th, completely revised and exp. Beltz, Weinheim and Basel 1996, ISBN 3-407-55781-7 .
  • Staub-Bernasconi, Silvia: Social work as action science. Systemic basics and professional practice - a textbook. Utb Verlag, 2007, ISBN 3-8252-2786-3 .
  • Weil, Harald: Postmodern social work between interest in knowledge and ethical orientation. A critique of principle. Marburg: Tectum Verlag, 2008. ISBN 978-3-8288-9797-7 .
  • Jan Volker Wirth : Lifestyle as a system problem - drafting a theory of lifestyle. PH Freiburg, 2013 ( full text online under OPUS ).
  • Jan Volker Wirth: Helping in the modern and postmodern. Fragments of a topography of helping. Carl Auer Systems, Heidelberg 2005. ISBN 3-89670-349-8 .

Web links