SUBSTANTIVE SUMMARY OF

IMOGENE KING'S GENERAL

SYSTEMS FRAMEWORK &
KOHLBERG'S MORAL
DEVELOPMENT

NAME: CARLOS G. ENRIQUEZ IV

SECTION: BSN 1-B

 IMOGENE KING'S GENERAL
SYSTEMS FRAMEWORK

CONCEPTUAL BASIS
Imogene King's own perspective on people and life shaped her beliefs on the environment, health, nursing,
individuals, and nurse-patient interactions. The conceptual structure and Theory of Goal Attainment
developed by King were "based on an overall assumption that the focus of nursing is human beings
interacting with their environment, leading to a state of health for individuals, which is the ability to
function in social roles."

King's theory is grounded in general systems theory, which views individuals and groups as dynamic
systems interacting with their environment. The framework incorporates three interacting systems:
personal, interpersonal, and social.
PERSONAL SYSTEM

Each person is a unique system. A patient or a nurse is an example of a personal system, according to King.
To comprehend human beings as persons, King outlined the ideas of body image, growth, development,
perception, self, space, and time.

"The self is a collection of thoughts and feelings that comprise a person's awareness of his individual
existence, his understanding of who and what he is." A person's self is the sum of everything he can name
his. The self is a collection of ideas, attitudes, values, and commitments, among other things. The self is an
individual's entire subjective world. Imogene King's own perspective on people and life shaped her beliefs
on the environment, health, nursing, individuals, and nurse-patient interactions.

The conceptual structure and Theory of Goal Attainment developed by King were "based on an overall
assumption that the focus of nursing is human beings interacting with their environment, leading
to a state of health for individuals, which is the ability to function in social roles."

Growth and development are the processes in people's lives that move them from the potential for success
to the actualization of self. Body image, according to King, is how one perceives one's own body as well as
the reactions of others to one's looks. Space covers all directions, is the same everywhere, and is determined
by the physical region known as "territory" and the behaviors of those who occupy it. The definition of
time is "a duration between one event and another as uniquely experienced by each human being; it is the
relation of one event to another event."

INTERPERSONAL SYSTEM

Focuses on the dyadic relationship between the nurse and the patient. The nurse and patient communicate,
set goals, and make decisions collaboratively. Four interacting elements: communication, interaction,
transaction, and role attainment.

Interpersonal systems involve dyads, triads, and groups with increasing complexity. Understanding these
systems requires concepts like communication, interaction, role, stress, and transaction. Interactions
involve observable behaviors, while communication involves sharing information. Transactions involve
goal-directed behaviors, with roles involving reciprocity. Stress is a dynamic state where individuals
interact with their environment to maintain balance for growth, development, and performance.
Understanding these systems helps in understanding the interplay between individuals and their
environment.

SOCIAL SYSTEM

The broader context in which healthcare is delivered, including family, community, and healthcare
organizations. Emphasizes the influence of social systems on the health and well-being of individuals.

In a social system, concepts like authority, decision making, organization, power, and status guide
understanding. Power refers to the ability to use resources to achieve goals, while status is an individual's
position in a group with privileges, duties, and obligations. Decision making is a dynamic, systematic
process of goal-directed choices. King (1986) added control as a subconcept but did not further define it.
  The central concept is goal attainment, where the nurse and patient work together to achieve
mutually agreed-upon health-related goals.
 Goal setting involves negotiation, communication, and understanding of both the patient's and
nurse's perspectives.
 King's model is considered an open system, recognizing the continuous exchange of energy and
information between the individual and the environment.
 The system adapts to internal and external changes to maintain equilibrium.
 King emphasizes the dynamic and ongoing nature of the nurse-patient relationship, with constant
adjustments made to achieve and maintain health goals.
 Feedback loops and adaptation are essential components of the model.
 King's framework guides the nursing process through a series of steps: assessing the individual's
systems, identifying goals, planning interventions, implementing care, and evaluating outcomes.
 The nurse's role is to facilitate the patient's attainment of health goals.

KOHLBERG'S MORAL DEVELOPMENT

CONCEPTUAL BASIS

Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral growth is a psychological framework that defines the phases of
moral thinking and decision-making that humans go through. Kohlberg extended on the earlier work of
Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget to identify six distinct stages of moral growth, which he divided into three
major levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional.

 Pre-conventional Level: a. Stage 1 - Obedience and Punishment Orientation: At this stage,

individuals focus on avoiding punishment. The emphasis is on obedience to authority figures, and moral
decisions are based on fear of consequences.
 b. Stage 2 - Individualism and Exchange: In this stage, individuals start considering their own interests
and the interests of others. Moral decisions are based on reciprocity and the notion of fair exchange.
 Conventional Level: a. Stage 3 - Interpersonal Relationships: At this stage, individuals prioritize
conformity and seek approval from others. Moral decisions are guided by societal expectations and
maintaining positive relationships.
 b. Stage 4 - Maintaining Social Order: Individuals in this stage are concerned with upholding social
order and obeying laws. Moral decisions are influenced by a sense of duty and respect for authority.
 Post-conventional Level: a. Stage 5 - Social Contract and Individual Rights: At this stage, individuals
begin to recognize the relativity of societal rules. Moral decisions are based on a social contract that
emphasizes individual rights and the democratic process.
 b. Stage 6 - Universal Principles: In the final stage, individuals develop a personal moral code based on
universal ethical principles. Decisions are guided by abstract principles of justice, equality, and human
dignity.

According to Kohlberg's view, individuals grow through these phases consecutively, and not everyone reaches the
highest levels of moral development. Moral thinking is influenced by factors such as cognitive development,
cultural influences, and life experiences. Although it has been critiqued for potential cultural and gender biases,
the idea has been influential in explaining moral growth.
Critics say that Kohlberg's theory does not fully account for cultural and gender variances in moral development.
Furthermore, the emphasis on moral thinking rather than actual behavior has been a source of disagreement.

Despite these concerns, Kohlberg's stages of moral growth have had tremendous impact in the domains of
psychology and education, giving a framework for understanding how people's moral reasoning evolves over
time.