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Systems Overview
From an Ecopsychological perspective; systems thinking can help us understand, manage, and identify root problems; adapt, widen our perspectives, widen our range of choices, and see new opportunities about ourselves, others and the natural world.

A System at its most fundamental definition, is an organized complexity of integrated relations, an interconnected set of elements that are coherently organized in a way that achieves something.

A system consists of three basic elements: (1) a functioning set of components, (2) a flow of energy which powers them, and (3) a process for the internal regulation of their functioning called feedback (Trewartha, et. al., 1977).

Systems can be classified as open, closed, or isolated:

Open systems allow energy and mass to pass across the system boundary. EX: The Ocean

A closed system allows energy but not mass across its system boundary. Ex: The Earth

An isolated system allows neither mass or energy to pass across the system boundary.

There are four main types of systems: Mechanistic, Animate, Social and Ecological.

Most systems share common characteristics, including:
  • Systems have structure, defined by parts and their composition;

  • Systems have behavior, which involves inputs, processing and outputs of material, energy or information;

  • Systems have interconnectivity: the various parts of a system have functional as well as structural relationships between each other.

  • Systems have by themselves functions or groups of functions.
Diagram,Courtesy of Univ Pennsylvania
 
» Systems
Systems Overview
 		  
Earth
Aquatic Systems
 		  
Desert Biomes
Forest Biomes
 		  
Tundra Biome
Grassland Biomes
 		  
SocioCultural Systems
Wetlands
 		  

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Ecopsychology Training
Ecopsychology is a budding discipline that recognizes the complex...

ICC and The Center for Ecopsychology have partnered with UNESCO to provide education through our Ecopsychology Training Program under The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development Program.
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Ecopsychology Training
Ecopsychology is a budding discipline that recognizes the complex interconnection, interaction, and interdependence among living and non-living nature. This of course includes humans, as we too are nature. It is a cross-pollination among the sciences and humanities that provides a critical and necessary understanding that the well being, the flourishing of the planet and that of the human and non human world must include sustainable and mutually enhancing relationships.

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