Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Social Systems Approach Book

	Acknowledgments
	Introduction to the Fifth Edition
	Introduction (1999)
1	Social Systems Theory
	Introduction: Providing Meaning to Theory	1
	Essence and Ancestry: The Atomistic/Holistic Continuum	4
	Energy/Information: The Necessary Element	9
	The Four Basic Energy Functions	11
	Organization: The Sufficient Element	14
	Causation, Feedback Loops, and Chaos Theory	16
2	Aspects of Social Systems
	Introduction: Energy - Evolutionary, Structural, and Behavioral	23
	Evolution of Social Systems: The Interplay of Change and Maintenance	24
	Structural Characteristics	28
	Behavioral Aspects of Social Systems	35
3	Culture and Society
	Introduction	43
	Species and Culture: Unique Aspects of the Human Species	48
	Analytic Dimensions of Culture: Qualities of a Society	55
4	Communities
	Introduction	73
	Community as System	74
	Definition of Community	76
	The Community in Critical Condition	94
5	Organizations
	Introduction	101
	Theories of Organization	103
	The Open Systems Perspective: The Systems Model	113
6	Groups
	Introduction	137
	Types of Groups	139
	Dimensions of Groups	144
	Aspects of Group as System	146
7	Families
	Introduction	165
	Approaches to Family Analysis	166
	A Social Systems View of Families	182
8	The Person
	Theoretical Approaches	197
	The Critical Phases of the Life Cycle	226
	Holonistic Thought	264
	Implied Values and Ethical Positions	267
	Bibliography	271
	Literary Sources	285
	Glossary	287
	Name Index	297
	Subject Index	301