Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Practice Exam

What measure indicates disorder in a system without imposed controls, according to General Systems Theory?

1. Enmeshment

2. Entropy

3. Emergents

4. Emotional Systems

The correct answer is: Entropy

In the context of General Systems Theory, entropy is a measure that indicates disorder in a system that lacks imposed controls. It refers to the degree of uncertainty or randomness within a system. As systems operate without external constraints or regulation, they naturally tend to evolve towards a state of greater disorder, which is described as increased entropy. This concept highlights the tendency of systems to lose energy and organization over time if no measures are taken to maintain order. Other components, such as enmeshment, emergents, and emotional systems, relate to different dynamics within systems but do not specifically quantify the disorder that arises in the absence of controls. Enmeshment pertains to overly close family relationships lacking boundaries, emergents refer to new properties or behaviors that develop from the interactions within a system, and emotional systems delve into how emotional dynamics function within family contexts. None of these concepts address the overall disorder and chaos described by entropy in a generalized systemic approach.