WHAT IS SYSTEMS THEORY? - SCIENCE

The systems theory or general theory of systems (TGS) is an interdisciplinary research system that is responsible for studying systems. A system is a set of elements that are related to each other (that is, they influence each other), in addition to depending on each other.

By worrying only about the organization of the elements, no matter what type they are, it is used in a wide variety of different disciplines. For example, we can find applications of systems theory to psychology, biology or economics.

Systems are defined by the space and time in which they are found. In addition, the environment in which they are found and how it affects the system in question is also usually investigated.

Basic concepts of systems theory

The most important idea behind systems theory is that, in each of them, the set can be greater than the sum of each of the parts involved. This is the concept of synergy.

On the other hand, since all the elements that make up the system are interrelated, changing one of them will affect the whole. For this reason, applied systems theory is in charge of studying the possible effects derived from the alteration of one of the elements of the set.

It is said, therefore, that a system is an ordered set of interrelated elements, and that they interact with each other. Systems can be both observable in the real world (such as an ecosystem or the human body), and conceptual or logical (for example, a mathematical theory).

On the other hand, a real system is a group of organized components that interact with each other in the material world. As a result of this interaction, certain characteristics of the whole are produced, which cannot be guessed just by studying each of the parties involved.

These characteristics of the set are known as emergent properties. An example of a real system would be, for example, a company made up of different specialized workers, or a country.

Limits of a system

Another of the basic ideas of this theory is that all real systems have limits. These are the boundaries that separate the system from its environment. If this limit does not allow the system and the environment to interact, producing only energy exchange between them, it is said that we are facing a closed system.

On the contrary, if the system is capable of modifying the environment and vice versa, we are faced with an open system. A third option is that of isolated systems: systems that do not interact in any way with their environment, not even exchanging energy with it.

Sometimes it is difficult to establish the boundaries between a system and its environment (also called a suprasystem). This occurs mainly when we are faced with a logical or conceptual system, such as "economy of a country". In this type of system, it is not so easy to know what is part of it and what is not.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis is a state of equilibrium within the system. Through different mechanisms, systems can be regulated so that their internal conditions are stable and constant. If any change occurs that upsets the equilibrium, the system will tend to return to homeostasis.

This characteristic occurs in both open and closed systems.

Adaptability

Some types of systems are adaptive, that is, they are able to change some of their functions or components to function more efficiently in the environment in which they are located.

Adaptability is a very typical characteristic of living beings, which can be considered systems.

History

The idea of systems that work independently of their environment is not new. Some philosophers and scientists look for the origin of this concept in elements as old as the first writing or numbering systems. The idea is also reflected in the works of some pre-Socratic philosophers, such as Heraclitus.

In the 19th century, the first scientific approaches to several different systems occurred. For example, the "systemic approach" appeared, a way of studying the pure sciences created by Joule and Carnot.

biology

However, general systems theory first appeared as such in the field of biology, thanks to the work of Ludwig von Bertalanffy. In 1950, this Austrian biologist developed the foundations and first applications of systems theory, but it soon became clear that his discoveries could be applied in many more areas.

In 1973, Chilean biologists Francisco Varela and Humberto Maturana contributed to the development of this discipline by raising the concept of autopoiesis. This characteristic, typical of living beings, consists of the capacity for survival, development and reproduction of a system by itself.

Cybernetics

Another of the first fields to apply systems theory was that of cybernetics. Several scientists and researchers, including Ashby and Wiener, developed the concept of feedback in the 1940s.

This idea is now fundamental within the general theory of systems. It suggests that a system continuously receives information from its environment, and modifies its behavior based on this input; and in turn, it sends other information to its environment, changing it as well.

Maths

In the field of mathematics, various researchers such as Neumann and Foerster began to examine various complex systems. Lyapunov and Poincaré used the foundations of systems theory to propose chaos theory, a major advance in physics.

Starting in the 1940s, the development of systems theory allowed the advancement of science in many different areas. More recently, its use has also spread to the field of social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, and economics.

Systemic physics

In the 21st century, a new natural science called systemic physics has emerged, blending insights from physics, chemistry, and biology to explain the natural world more effectively.

It is mainly responsible for studying reality as a set of natural systems that interact with each other.

Principles of systems theory

Equifinality: If a modification is made to a system, it will depend on what the system was like at the beginning.
Equipotentiality: when a part of a system no longer exists, the other parts can adopt their functions.
Entropy: tendency for the identity of a system to persist over time.
Purpose: all systems have goals that are common.
Homeostasis: tendency of a system to maintain balance and stability.
Morphogenesis: the possibility that a system changes because it needs it.
Synergy: means that if one part of a system changes, other parts will be affected.
Feedback: information exchanges take place between the parts of the system.
Totality: the totality of the system is more than the sum of its parts.

Fields of application

Today, systems theory can be seen applied in many different fields. Some of the most important are psychology, sociology, and economics.

Systems theory in psychology

Human behavior is very complex, and psychologists have been trying to decipher the key to understanding it for more than two centuries. For this, all kinds of experiments, studies and theories are carried out.

At first, experimental psychology tried to study human behavior using the experimental method drawn from the natural sciences. In this way, behavior was seen as a consequence of a series of "inputs", in such a way that it was believed that the individual did not have any kind of freedom to choose their actions.

However, the application of systems theory to psychology caused a paradigm shift. Instead of considering the mind as a sum of stimuli and responses, it began to be assumed that it was greater than the simple sum of its parts.

This idea was defended for the first time by the Gestalt school, although it was quickly adopted by the rest of the currents of psychology.

From this moment, the mind began to be studied as a complex set of mental, chemical and physiological processes; that is, humans began to be considered complex systems.

From here, psychology was divided into many different branches, among which cognitive psychology, psychobiology and neuroscience stand out.

Systems theory in sociology

Within sociology, systems theory acquires special importance with the concept of social system. A social system is a set of groups, institutions and entities that work together to form an interdependent group; for example, a city.

Within sociology, the idea of social systems is used mainly to study the relationships that people establish with different organizations, which in general gives rise to larger and larger systems.

One of the most common examples of a social system is public education. It is a system that tries to unify people and standardize them in terms of their knowledge.

In this way, all citizens will be able to participate in the economy and contribute to it, in such a way that society will become stronger and stronger.

Systems theory in economics

Systems theory in economics is devoted to studying economic systems. An economic system is the structure that a society adopts in terms of how to manage its resources. Depending on the system that is adopted, the citizens of a society will have more or less freedoms, rights and obligations.

In general, it is considered that there are three types of economic systems, each of them formed by a multitude of components that interact with each other. In all of them, the ultimate goal is to make the whole better and more advanced than the sum of its parts; but the ways to achieve it are totally different.

The three types of economic system are capitalism, socialism, and mixed system. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, and today we can find examples of all three in different countries.

References

"Systems theory" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on: January 25, 2018 from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.
"What is Systems Theory?" in: Environment and ecology. Retrieved on: January 25, 2018 from Environment and ecology: environment-ecology.com.
"Systems theory" in: Britannica. Retrieved on: January 25, 2018 from Britannica: britannica.com.
"What is Systems Theory?" in: Principia Cybernetica Web. Retrieved on: January 25, 2018 from Principia Cybernetica Web: pespmc1.vub.ac.be.
"Systems Theory in Psychology" in: Study. Retrieved on: January 25, 2018 from Study: study.com.
"Social systems: Definition & Theory" in: Study. Retrieved on: January 25, 2018 from Study: study.com.

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