Just in case you are not familiar with the word entropy, I will describe it simply as the tendency of a process (usually a chemical process) to move towards disorder. (A fuller description can be found here).
A popular example that is often given is that of ice melting. If we look at this from an energy point of view, we can see that in this case energy flows from a region of higher temperature (water) to a region of lower temperature (ice) in the form of heat. This reduces the state of order of the initial system, from very rigidly ordered blocks of ice, to the slightly more disordered ice and water to the totally disordered cooler water.
In this example we can see how entropy can be described as an expression of disorder or randomness in the worlds of physics and chemistry. And while entropy is generally applied to those worlds (or, more specifically thermodynamics) it also has interesting applications in human society, and in particular energy usage.
In the context of good design in child protection we will consider the psychological and societal applications of entropy, i.e. the efforts humans make to impose order on disorder or chaos.
Internal
In psychology entropy is concerned with the distribution of energy within us, which, over time, constantly tries to achieve balance. Our spiritual, emotional, relationship, physical and mental dimensions, while being distinct, complement and are at-ease with each other, tending towards integration and balance, and not outright separateness.
This seeking of balance is of importance in healing. It has been known, and used, in Oriental healing, (what we in the West commonly refer to as alternative or complementary healing) for millennia. Imbalance in the human psyche causes dis-ease, (which we also looked at in a previous Chapter), and resultant lack of well-being.
External
In wider society entropy is applied to the structures of social systems. It considers how the individual functions in society, how families, communities, cities, countries, and cultures (large groups of people) order themselves. How social equilibrium, or balance, is seen as desirable and how disorder is seen as undesirable.
People who are perceived to contribute to disorder are generally excluded from society, and efforts are usually made to correct [1] their behaviour so that they can contribute to the order that is desired by the vast majority. In totalitarian regimes this order is rigid and unbending, whereas in more democratic countries the very fact that elections are held introduces a certain element of disorder.
The balance between order and disorder is important when considering how civilisations evolve, how legal systems, social/cultural norms, and religions develop, what societies choose over time as values, and, most importantly from our point of view, how people are included and excluded in society.
Human Behaviour
If we consider the energy we all use to ensure that order prevails over disorder in our lives we will get an appreciation of entropy as it applies to human behaviour.
For example it takes energy to get out of bed in the morning, to overcome inertia, (that is, our resistance to change) as we change from a sleeping state to a waking state and then to a getting-out-of-bed state and then to a getting-on-with-our-day state.
Overcoming inertia, and maintaining enough order that is necessary for us to function well requires a significant amount of physical and mental, but particularly emotional energy at all stages of our development.
Giving in to this inertia will result in disorder, unpredictability, and eventually chaos.
In this context consider the behaviour of an active, adult, addict. He knows, cognitively, that the order that he observes around him in the majority of the population is a desirable state, (i.e. he thinks that he should have order, or routine in his life, and he knows that his disordered behaviour is not only disadvantageous to himself but also makes other people angry towards him).
However his body, the repository of his emotions, has not yet fully made this connection.
At a more macro level, I propose that when a critical mass of people in a community do not have the skills to maintain healthy routine and order in their lives then the community in general will be perceived to tend towards disorder. Sometimes people (though not everyone) who are bothered by the general disorder in their neighbourhood leave and move elsewhere. Others, of course, live disciplined and healthy lives in the midst of the disorder.
Still others get involved in community work and despite being very skilled and enthusiastic can sometimes feel that they are fighting an uphill battle [2].
It is also my belief that if we are an organisation that supports very vulnerable people we risk becoming mainstream unless we continually meet new challenges – and meet them with the most vulnerable as our priority. (I refer here to the Chapter in Section Three, Family Support Shamrock).
I was at a very enlightening seminar once presented by Dr. Dan Siegel, a neuroscientist. He analogised the brain to be more like a fruit salad than a smoothie. That is to say, each element is diverse and distinct while still contributing to the whole.
Applying this to our family support organisation, and thinking again of the ice-water example that I gave above when I was describing entropy; it is a constant challenge for a staff team to stay fresh and maintain its fruit salad type nature. That is, each member having a distinct flavour, combining to form an invigorating, distinct and stimulating taste, not being so alike that boundaries are blurred and the team melds into an indistinguishable porridgy mass.
That is probably why a family rarely becomes boring!
[1]. In most States in the USA prisons are run by a Department of Corrections.
[2]. For example, the wise and strong people in families identified in this post when I was describing the Focus Group. This website argues that some of the feeling of the work being an uphill battle arises from the paradigms of family support and/or child protection favoured by the Pillars.