Human Behavior and the Social Work Profession
Evaluative Criteria for Theory
Is it functional? ~Does it clearly explain how concepts are related to one another and to the phenomenon it is trying to explain? Is it strong? ~Is it able to make certain predictions about behavior that can be confirmed through empirical observation? Is it parsimonious? ~Do the Theory's concepts explain a lot about the phenomenon in clear, simple, and straightforward terms? Is it falsifiable? ~Can it be tested and refuted by empirical observation? Does it make practical sense? ~Does it inform your work with clients and relate to what you already know about various phenomena? What are the philosophical underpinnings of the theory? ~Do the philosophical underpinnings of the theory fit with and promote social work values and ethics?
science-based knowledge
Knowledge that relies on empirical or experimental research and theoretical tenets on which to base ideas about certain issues. developed over time through the process of research and investigation, using objective methods to test hypotheses Information gained through research and theoretical tenets.
Human behavior in the social environment will help you to place your knowledge into a meaningful and coherent context as you work with clients organizations, and communities.
New Ideas and perspectives on the human conditions Assessments and interventions Creative and effective social workers.
The Debate about Empirical Knowledge and Practical Knowledge:
One way is through Practical Knowledge, or practice-Based wisdom, Which is knowledge generated from experience and informal observation Constructs our reality and perceptions of things is often based on the types of experiences we have.
Carl Rogers idea of
"Starting where the client is" in person-centered therapy: Principles in feminist theory that challenge established knowledge and promote different way of knowing: and techniques in interviewing that require taken an unknowing stance in our work with people to avoid making assumptions or working off of bias and stereotypes.
Despite the trend towards Science-based knowledge, there is considerable debate about how much the social work profession can and should rely on empirical and theory-based knowledge given the complexity of human behavior
( Osmond & O'Connor, 2006; Parton, 2000; Sheppard, 1998; Smith, Meyers, and Cook, 2014).
On one end of the continuum is the idea that social workers must have some kind of guiding conceptualization of client challenges, which can support the empirical testing of interventions, which can lead to the modification of theoretical conceptions and ideas and ultimately, to better and more effective interventions.
( Simon & Thyer, 1994)
Social work processes such as intake
(initial client interviews and information gathering), relationship-building, assessments, planning, intervention, evaluation, and follow-ups are commonplace in many agency settings and working relationships. relying on one approach from one particular theoretical orientation might not be all that social workers need in certain circumstances or at different places in the working relationship (Payne, 2016)
Where do we go from here?
- families are not going away - era of consumerism - families = active caregivers - mission & vision of the hospital
To see the benefits of drawing on a broad knowledge base, lets us consider how other disciplines might approach Janice's Situations:~
A Physician ~ might be concerned in Identifying and alleviating Physical symptoms. ~ Interventions restoring physical health or removing evidence of disease. A Psychologist ~individualistic or Psychological aspects ~Symptoms of PTSD ~Developing depression or mental illness ~Emotional and cognitive development ~Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy ~abilities to adjust to civilian life Improving Functioning in these areas. An Economist or Politician ~employment and economic conditions of the communities ~costs of Social Services ~Relying on Veteran's Services. A Sociologist ~Social and Cultural dynamics ~Unemployment ~Poverty Perspectives are important, considering them in isolation contributes little to understanding the scope and complexity of Janice's Problems and her Well-Being.
Knowledge in this context refers to
A wide range of information such as: Theories, empirical research, practical experience (generated from different disciplines).
The terms theory, model, approach, and perspective often are used interchangeably. However, these terms differ from theories because they a. lack some of the necessary elements that allow for empirical testing of hypotheses and constructs. b. are not related to human behavior in the social environment. c. refer only to psychology or sociology and are not used in social work practice. d. refer to smaller, more minute details.
A. Lack some of the necessary elements that allow for empirical testing of Hypotheses and constructs.
The Single Theory Argument
Proponents of adhering to a particular theory maintain that the sheer number of potentially useful theories cannot be taught in sufficient depth for students to understand them adequately and apply them correctly in practice ( Simon & Thyer, 1994) For Example: A social worker who uses behavioral theory to assess children's behavior problems needs to have a deep understanding of the underlying tenets of behaviorism ( its history, developers, applications, constructs, and limitations).
The practice of unknowing doesn't imply that we forget all we know or never employ theoretical models and evidence-based practices.
Rather, it suggests that while knowledge can help guide our work and should be utilized when warranted, practicing unknowing is a way to assess situations comprehensively and not exclude any possibilities as we work with people.
Social Workers is concerned with:
Social Justice Dignity Worth of People Among other Values S.W. must understand how to incorporate Strength-Based Empowerment concepts into their work.
Other Arguments along this line of thinking include the following ( Payne, 2016)
Social workers get their training early in their career and are likely to stick to the ways of thinking and practice that they learned in school. thus , they are unlikely to be familiar with new knowledge across a range of theories and therefore cannot integrate this knowledge into their practice. There are no guidelines or rules about how to choose concepts from one theory or another, making the use of different theories rather haphazard and unsystematic. Social workers are unlikely to get needed supervision on using multiple theories and techniques, so relying on multiple techniques in practice can be risky. because the underlying philosophies about human behavior tend to differ from one theory to the net, trying to integrate their concepts may lead to disjointed practice or even contradictory applications.
The application of theory and knowledge in Social Work Practice.
Social workers need to have a well-grounded knowledge base, know how to evaluate the effectiveness and validity of knowledge and theory, and understanding how knowledge and theory can potentially affect the helping process ( both Positively and negatively). Often, the knowledge base and theoretical orientation of the social worker influence the way in which the social worker engages with the client, focuses questions in assessment, develops intervention for problems, and terminates and evaluates the process.
The Counsel on Social Work Education (CSWE) apply knowledge of human behavior and social environment. (CSWE) (2015, p. 8)
Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Scientific Approach allows practitioners:
Some degree of reliability and accuracy, to generalize their knowledge beyond single-client cases. Allows Social workers theorists to modify existing theories and develop new ones that might explain issues more accurately Driven by a trend towards Evidence-based practice.
Interactions of Theories~
Sometimes concepts from different theoretical frameworks overlap: theories can explain aspects of problems in different realms. Individual ~Human Development Theory: Physical Processes of growth and aging, Cognition/Emotions, Morality, Attachment, Learning, Spirituality, Self-Actualization and Well-Being. Sociological Theory: ~Social Action, Racism, Conflict, Functionalist, Interactionist, Community, Organization, Social Justice, Social Constructionism. (Society and Larger Forces) Small Systems Theory: ~Family Systems, ~Group Dynamics, ~Ecological Theories (Family and Small Groups)
Complexity of individuals' lives and the multifaceted nature of the clients problems, the working relationship, Social workers needs to have a broad knowledge base in many different areas.
Such as: ~politics, ~Biology ~psychology ~Sociology, Economics Understanding how aspects from these different realms interact with and influence one another in ways that affect the well-being of: ~individuals, ~families ~communities S.W must be able to think COMPREHENSIVELY and CREATIVELY to access their knowledge and "Pull it all together to assess and intervene with clients problems.
Theoretical Eclecticism
The approach of investigating the varied models and concepts and choosing the best to apply to a particular issue interactionist view emphasizes that both bio and experience contribute to language development
Maintaining Social Work Values
The knowledge based or theoretical perspective being applies, the social worker profession strives to uphold values of services integrity, competency , social justice, the importance of human relationship, and the dignity and worth of people in its approaches to individual and social problems. Ethical guidelines in the National Association of Social workers Code of Ethics are grounded in these values and also guide the work that social workers do ( National Association of Social Workers, Approved 1996, revised 2017).
Janice Story ~ 25 yrs old, Single Veteran Severed 1 yr. in Afghanistan ~Trouble finding a job ~Supporting herself ~depressed economy ~lack of Job skills ~Several Health Problems Janice Suffers From ~Migraine Headaches ~P.T.S.D ~Trouble Sleeping ~Trouble Concentrating.
As a Social Worker, Janice's Story exemplifies the complexity of Human problems. Examining her Situation:. Identify Several Major Issues. ~Health ~Mental Health ~Developmental Issues with Age Effects of Policy and Programs ~Veterans Administration People problems in Social work are often Multifaceted and Interconnected. S.W need to Seek, Solid, Knowledge-Based understanding of Human Behaviors in the context of Social Environments.
Understanding How Knowledge and Theory Inform Social Work
As a profession, social work tends to generate, draw from, and apply knowledge based in Strength, Empowerment, Social Justice Tenets.
Social workers use this knowledge of Human Behavior in work with clients.
Assessments to evaluations of interventions and this knowledge is based in and supports the core value system of the profession. This means that the social worker must have the ability to critique knowledge that they use and apply in their practice (council on social work education, 2015) Students will learn about the interrelationships between individual behavior and the large social environments.
Proponents of this viewpoint would argue that good social work practice should maintain a
Balance between knowing and unknowing to challenge rigid assumptions about what we think we know based on science and embrace new possibilities for our work and outcomes with people (Blom, 2009; Hakansson, 1982; Moren, 1994)
The Role of Theory The profession's roots in:
Charity Societies, "Theory" and "Empirical knowledge" Theories' limitations can affect their explanations of problems. Back up those theories with knowledge based in research.
Historically, Social work was rooted in:
Charity and volunteerism, So social workers, (or their Predecessors) relied almost exclusively on experiential or practical knowledge.
Illustrates the concept of human behavior in the social environment. Each circle represents a level of practice on which social workers might focus. The visualization also shows you how the different areas of people's lives and environments can intersect..
Circle 1, Individual Circle 2, Society and Larger Forces Circle 3, Family and Small Groups. Overlapping one another.
Social Workers can more effectively bridge cultural divides between themselves and their clients if they have a knowledge base of others'
Cultural perspectives and experiences offer a different viewpoint. technical or Philosophical to give a new way for them to think about their problems. Familiarity with different theories of human behavior will be useful.
When working with Clients who suffer from Trauma, Social workers need to be familiar with:
Current Research and Knowledge on how the body and the brain Responds to and Process Traumatic Experiences.
Some social workers argue that:
Doubt, Ambiguity, and Uncertainty are the hallmarks of the profession.
The Quality of Knowledge and Theory
Everyone, not just social workers, faces the issue of the validity of her or his knowledge.
Social work is naturally informed by multidisciplinary knowledge.
Examples: Social work with children and families might borrow from psychological theory that deals with aspects of development and behavior change. Social work with communities might rely on sociological theory that addresses group dynamics and social change. Administrative social work might be heavily informed by economic or organizational theory.
empirical knowledge
Founded on information gained from evidence (facts), rather than intuition based on experience and observations that are rational, testable, and repeatable Knowledge based on the senses- on experiences with the world.
The more you know about different areas such as:
History Government Philosophy The better the foundation you will have for conceptualizing and Intervening with clients problems.
Evaluative Criteria for Research: Some Criteria to consider when evaluating research:
How current is the information? ~if it is not current, it is likely to still be valid? is there a good reason why it has not been updates? Who is the intended audience? ~ is the research conducted for the purpose of a particular interest group? Are the results biased to serve the needs of a particular group? Who is the Author? ~What is the author's expertise and affiliation? Are original sources of information listed? ~ Can you locate original works cited by the author? are you given other sources where you can check facts and statements or do further research? Is the information peer reviewed? ~Have other experts in the field reviewed the information? Is the information biased? ~ Does the language seem biased or slanted to suit particular purposes. What is the purpose of the information? ~is it to inform, teach entertain, enlighten, sell, or persuade?
Problems with Observations:
Human beings have notoriously faulty memories, and our own experiences of evens can be very unreliable. moreover, we tend to look for evidence to support our assumptions about certain phenomena, ignoring evidence that contradicts what we think we know.
What role should they play in applying knowledge to your work?
If someone is knowledge used in practice is potentially biased or suffers from other problems, is it ethical to ise it in work with clients? All of these questions have implications for the effectiveness of social work and indeed, the legitimacy of our profession.
There is considerable debate about whether social workers can be more effective when working with clients
If they are "pure Theorists" who tend to rely on a single theory or if they are eclectic practitioners.
Agency or funding source may only pay for the use of treatments based on a particular theory or set of theories
In these cases, social workers may be dealing with outside pressures to pick one theory over another, or even to use certain constructs form multiple theories, regardless of their personal orientations or biases or even the evidence supporting a particular theory's applicability.
A theory
Is a set of ideas or concepts that, when considered together, help to explain certain phenomena and allows people to predict behavior and other events.
The Argument for Eclecticism, The other side of the argument is that social workers should not adhere to a "one theory fits all" Policy.
The proponents of eclecticism states that because social work is concerned with people and problems on many different levels, that need to be flexible and comprehensive is inherent in the work. That if social workers try to use one theory for all types of populations and problems, they will inevitably be ineffective. Some might even argue that rigidly adhering to only one perspective can be oppressive to clients, forcing the unique characteristics of clients and the human condition into a uniform mold.
One study took a closer look at the single theory versus eclecticism controversy
The researcher examined the ways in which social workers' theoretical biases might play out in practice (Saltman, 2002) According to the researcher, it may be that respondents were using theories that best "fit" clients' problems rather than forcing the problems to fit respondents' favored theories. Respondents probably were relying on practice knowledge, empirical knowledge, or both, rather than their personal preferences, to guide their decisions about which theoretical approaches to use in their interventions.
Further, Interactions we have with clients are dynamic and continually changing, shaping future interactions and the therapeutic relationships
The social worker must remain open to the unpredictable and realize that knowledge of a clients and various issues is only general at best. For Example: we can't possible know, for certain, what the outcomes will be for individual clients based on preconceived notions from established knowledge (Blom, 2009)
Theoretical Lenses
Theory(ies) used and developed by a practitioner Whether they address individual, familial, or larger social issues or some combinations of these. Subcategories according to: Personality development Social Development
Some social workers primarily adhere to a particular theory. Some social workers might describe themselves as behaviorists, psychoanalysts, or family system theorists.
These theoretical preferences tend to be influenced by the political and philosophical climate in which social workers received their training (Saltman & Greene, 1993)
They point out that many constructs or concepts in these theories have not been (and probably cannot be) Supported through empirical research
They point to various limitations in the development of many theories making them biased and inappropriate for se with people who come from diverse situations.
Theories are well developed
They provide a blueprint for testing hypotheses or hunches about behavior and other phenomena, predicting certain events, and validating assumptions and knowledge about certain issues.
While some social workers in private practice may only use Freudian psychoanalysis.
To be adaptable , as well as the serve clients ethically and responsibly, you need to understand multiple theories as well as how to critically evaluate their effectiveness and appropriate use in different context.
Defining "Human Behavior in the Social Environments"
Understanding how individuals interact both with other people and with their environments, As well as understanding how individuals are affected by these interactions. Influence and are influenced by the environments in which we live.
Biases and Values judgments:
We often impose our own values, inclinations, expectations, and experiences onto an event to help make sense of it.
Lack of Inquiry:
We stop asking questions about an event because we think we understand it or have pursued it sufficiently.
Overgeneralizations:
We tend to assume that what we experience can be generalized to other people and circumstances.
Freud's Theory of Psychosexual development and Piaget's theory on cognitive development:
Were developed in specific times and cultural contexts.
Consequently, they will be more likely to misinterpret problems and applying inappropriate interventions, potentially doing more harm than good for clients.
being eclectic, flexible, and comprehensive allows social workers to be creative and resourceful in finding solutions to their clients; myriad problems.
eclectic practitioners
borrow ideas and constructs from several theories practice with a wide range of ideas, theories, methods, and constructs when working with clients
evidence-based practice
clinical decision making that integrates the best available research with clinical expertise and patient characteristics and preferences Crime-fighting strategies that have been scientifically tested and are based on social science research. Nursing care provided that is supported by sound scientific rationale.
Knowledge and theoretical developments
coming from this research are often applied to other groups (such as women and ethic and sexual minorities). This does not take into consideration their biologicals, cultural, economic, and other differences from white males, which might invalidate the use of this knowledge with divers groups ( Reinharz, 1992; Schiele, 2013; Solomon, 1976) Many classic theories and empirical research on human behavior have been criticized because of these pitfalls.
Myriad Theories
from which to learn to choose when practicing social work, as well as the ongoing debates about the utility of learning one or more theories (or even learning any theory at all)
cultural humility
incorporates a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique, to redressing the power imbalances in the patient-clinician dynamic and to developing mutually beneficial and advocacy partnerships with communities on behalf of individuals and defined populations process that requires humility as individuals continually engage in self-reflection and self-critique as lifelong learners and reflective practitioners An acknowledgement of one's own barriers to true intercultural understanding.
If we adhere to a predefined way of viewing situations based on our knowledge,
our work is at risk of becoming routinized, and we miss the richness and diversity of human lives and behavior we operate from a false sense of surety that all decisions can be made logically and predictably
Core Social Work Values and Ethical Principles
service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence 1. service ~ Help people in need and address social conditions and concerns 2. social justice ~Challenge Social Injustice. 3. dignity and worth of the person ~Respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person. 4. importance of human relationships ~Recognize the central importance of human relationship 5. integrity 6. competence ~Practice within areas of competence, and develop and enhance professional expertise.
Some theories are more valid and useful than others, skilled Social Workers is knowing how to evaluate theories:
strengths and limitations and how to apply them responsibly. Systematically exclude different groups of people or marginalize their experiences, inclusive in their perspectives on human development and the human experience.
knowing
striving to understand an event as it has meaning in the life of the other
To augment Theoretical Knowledge, Social workers also acquire a lot of knowledge about problems:
such as facts, Statistics, New Research findings Problems conceptualization and intervention is part of the dynamic process.
Theories differ from other types of Knowledge
they allow you to organize knowledge on a particular issue and topic.
Proponents of using a single theory also argue that to remain valid, theories must be used as a whole;
they become invalid when only parts of them are sued in isolation. Using isolated parts of behavioral theory is especially inadvisable if the person using the technique does not adequately understand the underlying assumptions of behavior as explained through behavioral theory.
unknowing
when the nurse admits she does not know the client or the client's subjective world; this opens the way for a truly authentic encounter; the nurse in a state of unknowing is open to seeing and hearing the client's views without imposing any of his or her values or viewpoints
"Knowing and Unknowing" Includes the ideas that social workers must work from a place of cultural humility:
which entails a process of understanding culture through maintaining continuous curiosity and openness about others and committing to lifelong learning and self-reflection on our own culture, power, and privilege ( Tervalon & Murray_Garcia, 1998).
Social workers should be equipped:
with a broad "toolbox" of theoretical knowledge to work effectively with clients.
