Comprehensive Overview of Human Behavior, Systems, and Social Work Perspectives

Systems Perspective

Human behavior is the outcome of interacting systems, influences include biological systems, economic systems, political science, psychology, and sociological systems.

Open System

Constant interaction, has feedback systems which affect each other mutually.

Closed System

Isolated from other systems.

Ecosystems Theory

The relationships between living organisms and the environment and how they affect each other through mutual influence and interdependence.

Urie Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Perspective

Considers gene-environment interactions and looks at the impact of the environment on brain development.

Risk Factors

Conditions or circumstances which put individuals at an increased risk of a harmful outcome.

Protective Factors

Circumstances which support a positive outcome of a person and their environment.

Social Network Theory

A perspective which focuses on the social ties between individuals, groups, or organizations in social networks.

Social Capital

Social networks provide this, the indirect and direct connections with others who are possible sources to other resources.

Actor Network Theory

Looks beyond human relationships because society is not solely made up of humans.

Anthropocene

Current geological era, collective human activity is the dominant influence on the climate and natural environment.

Critical Analysis of the Systems Perspective

Overall this theory is very comprehensive; bioecological theories and anthropocene include time dimensions.

Critical Perspective

Focuses on injustice and the pursuit of justice.

Karl Marx's Theory

Focused on the exploitation and domination of workers as central ingredients in the capitalist economic system.

Neo-Marxist Theory

A new version that includes some theorists who criticize the economic determinism proposed by Marx.

Feminist Theories

Focus on male domination of the major social institutions and present a vision of a just world based on gender equity.

Post-colonial Theories

Focus on the ongoing impact of the 18th and 19th-century colonialism on social, cultural, political, and economic development.

Critical Race Theory

Concluded that race is a social construct and racism is a regular part of U.S. society.

Social Constructionist Perspective

Social reality is constructed and constantly reconstructed as humans interact with each other.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Human behavior is driven by internal processes, needs, drives, emotions, mental states and much of this behavior happens unconsciously.

Freud's Drive Theory

Two main instincts: Eros (life, survival, pleasure) and Thanatos (aggression, destruction).

Topographical Model (Levels of Mind)

Includes Conscious, Preconscious, and Unconscious levels.

Structural Model (Personality)

Includes Id, Superego, and Ego.

Psychosexual Stages

Development occurs in stages during childhood; early experiences shape adult personality.

Ego Psychology

Focus on adaptation and coping, using defense mechanisms to protect from anxiety.

Object Relations Theory

Focus on relationships with others ('objects') and how they shape identity.

Self Psychology

Focus on the kinds of life experiences that contribute to mature self.

Relational/Intersubjective Theories

Humans are driven by relationships and emphasizes emotional connection and diversity.

Neuroscience Support

Much behavior is unconscious; emotion and cognition are interconnected.

Polyvagal Theory

Body responds to stress automatically through fight or flight, freeze, or connect and calm.

Developmental Perspective

How human behavior unfolds across the life course, how people change and stay the same over time.

Cumulative advantage

Involves the accumulation of increasing advantage as early advantage positions an individual for later advantage.

Cumulative disadvantage

The accumulation of increasing disadvantage as early disadvantage positions an individual for later disadvantage.

Learning Perspective

Focuses on how human behavior is learned when individuals interact with their environments.

Human behavior learning mechanisms

Includes association of environmental stimuli, reinforcement, observation and modeling, and personal beliefs and expectations.

Limit to rationality

There is a limit to rationality in cognitive learning.

Implicit and explicit cognition

Humans engage in both implicit and explicit cognition.

Humanistic-Existential Perspective

Proposes that humans have the capacity for choice, to search for meaning, and to strive to become the best version of themselves.

Hierarchy of needs

A framework that includes self-actualization, esteem needs, love and belongingness needs, safety needs, and physiological needs.

Self-actualization

Self-fulfillment, realization of potential.

Esteem needs

Self-respect, confidence, competence, reputation.

Love and belongingness needs

Affection, intimacy.

Safety needs

Physical security, stability, dependency, protection.

Physiological needs

Food, water, oxygen, maintenance, or bodily functions.

Biological essentialism

Refers to the thinking that groups exist on the basis of a single common characteristic, such as skin color.

Transhumanism

Refers to profound changes in what is considered to be human and thus biologically legitimate.

Posthumanism

An interdisciplinary movement that rethinks the human form, values, and place in society.

Environment

Defined as the entire set of conditions under which one operates.

Proximal environment

Concerned with the description and explanation of the interbody: internal organ systems, genetics, interior structures and processes.

Distal environment

Characterized as nonorganic conditions not contained within the skin's perimeter.

Medicalization

A process that serves to pathologize typically daily experience and serve it up for medical intervention.

Constructivist perspective

Suggests that human phenomena are pluralistic in meaning and derive from social interactions.

Human literacy model

Proposes that flourishing, acceptance, and comfort can occur only when the full range of human diversity is appreciated and celebrated.

Biological diversity

Includes but extends beyond race, ethnicity, class, and gender.

Systems frameworks

Describe and explain phenomena as sets of interrelated parts.

Classical systems theory

Linear, simplifying links among system parts as nonstop routes.

Contemporary systems theories

Range from networks to mathematical modeling.

Biological systems theories

Range from embodied or interior systems to human systems composed of both humans and their surroundings.

NIH conference 2001

Acknowledged the inseparability of mind and body.

Social, political, cultural influences

Cannot separate health and illness from exterior social, political, cultural, technological, economic, intellectual, and aesthetic environmental conditions.

Nervous System

Communication and control system of the body (electrical signaling)

CNS (Central Nervous System)

Brain + spinal cord (control center)

PNS (Peripheral Nervous System)

Nerves connecting body to CNS

ANS (Autonomic Nervous System)

Controls involuntary functions (heart rate, digestion, breathing)

Neuroplasticity

Brain can reorganize after injury

Endocrine System

Hormone-based regulation of body processes

Pituitary Gland

Secretes ACTH, growth hormone, prolactin, vasopressin

Thyroid

Secretes thyroxine, controls metabolism + growth

Pancreas

Secretes insulin (lowers blood glucose) and glucagon (raises blood glucose)

Adrenal Glands

Secretes epinephrine (fight-or-flight response) and cortical steroids

Testes

Secretes testosterone (male reproductive development + secondary sex traits)

Ovaries

Secretes estrogen + progesterone (female reproductive system + secondary sex traits)

Thymus

Secretes thymosins (T-cell development for immune function)

Pineal Gland

Secretes melatonin (sleep/circadian rhythm)

Immune System

Defense against pathogens and disease

Innate Immunity

Nonspecific general defense (phagocytes)

Adaptive Immunity

Specific targeted response + memory (T cells, antibodies)

Autoimmune Disease

Immune system attacks body (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)

Cardiovascular System

Transport oxygen, nutrients, hormones, waste

Blood Pressure

Systolic/diastolic measurement of blood pressure

Musculoskeletal System

Movement, support, protection

Muscle Contraction

Depends on nervous system signals (acetylcholine)

Genotype

Genetic code

Phenotype

Physical expression of genes

Dominant Genes

Expressed if present

Recessive Genes

Expressed only if both copies are present

Sexuality

Biological and emotional aspects of sexual attraction and behavior

Gender Identity

Internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither

Transgender Identity

Gender identity does not match assigned sex at birth

Socioeconomic Status

Health is causally linked to socioeconomic status

Ecobiodevelopmental Model

Studies how health develops over the life course

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

Five categories of early life stress impacting health

Organizational health literacy

Equitably enabling individuals to 'find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.'

Media health literacy

The ability to identify, critically analyze, and use health information from a variety of types of media including non-digital media (television, print, radio, etc.) and digital media (Internet, social media, and mobile tools).

e-Health literacy

A subset of media health literacy; the ability to find, understand, analyze, and apply health information from electronic sources.

Health information technology (HIT)

Changing the nature and practice of health care; helps to further level the playing field and remove negative associations among socioeconomic status, poverty, and other forms of marginalization and exclusion.

Technology ubiquity

Technology is everywhere and easily accessible in everyday life, allowing people to access information and receive care remotely.

Cognition

How we know and make sense of the world.

Accommodation (cognitive)

The process of changing a schema when new situations cannot be incorporated within an existing schema.

Adaptation

Making changes in our biological responses, perceptions, or lifestyle to bring about a better adjustment to environmental demands.