Systems theory is an interdisciplinary study of complex systems that explores how elements within a system interact with one another, producing patterns and behavior that are nonlinear and emergent. It is a holistic approach that focuses on the relationships between the parts of a system and the system in its entirety. It seeks to examine the behavior of a system from a holistic perspective–one that is not only concerned with a single component, but also with the system’s environment and the messages exchanged between them. In essence, it is a theory that attempts to explain the behavior of interconnected components forming a larger system.

See also: systems thinking, complexity, relational process, systems change, spiral dynamics