Chapter 1 Human Behavior and the Social Work Profession Flashcards
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
the body that accredits undergraduate and graduate social work programs
CSWE policy on undergraduate/graduate social work programs
“Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate engagement with clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.”
Social Work knowledge definition
refers to a wide range of information such as theories, empirical research, and practical experience that might be generated from different disciplines
Social Work Theory definition
a set of ideas or concepts that, when considered together, help to explain certain phenomena and allow people to predict behavior and other events
Theoretical interactions in social work; 3 main groups
Individual, Family and Small Groups, and Society and Larger Forces
Human Development Theory
Physical processes of growth and aging, Cognition/emotions, morality, attachment, learning, spirituality, self-actualization and well-being
Small Systems Theory
Family systems, group dynamics, ecological theory
Sociological theory
Social action, racism, conflict, functionalist, interactionist, community organization, social justice, social constructionism
practical knowledge or practice-based wisdom
knowledge generated from experience and informal observations
empirical knowledge
knowledge based in observable fact
science-based knowledge
developed over time through the process of research and investigation, using objective methods to test hypotheses
evidence-based practice
social workers’ increased responsibility to document that their interventions are effective
“unknowing” stance
suggests that people’s challenges and behaviors are inherently unpredictable and the contexts in which people live are complex and diverse
cultural humility
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
Evaluative Criteria for Theory (6)
Is it functional? Is it strong? Is it parsimonious? Is it falsifiable? Does it make practical sense? Is it philosophically sound?
Human errors with research: problems with observations
Human beings have notoriously faulty memories, and our own experiences of events can be very unreliable
Human errors with research: overgeneralizations
We tend to assume that what we experience can be generalized to other people and circumstances
Human errors with research: Biases and value judgments
We often impose our own values, inclinations, expectations, and experiences onto an event to help make sense of it
Human errors with research: lack of inquiry
We stop asking questions about an event because we think we understand it or have pursued it sufficiently
What are the four human errors with research?
Problems with observations, overgeneralizations, biases and value judgments, lack of inquiry
Criteria to consider when evaluating research (7)
How current is the information? Who is the intended audience? Who is the author? Are original sources of information listed? Is the information peer reviewed? Is the information biased? What is the purpose of the information?
“pure theorists”
social workers who tend to rely on a single theory
eclectic practitioners
social workers who borrow ideas and constructs from several theories
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
Other arguments for using single theory
Social workers get their training early in their careers and are likely to stick to the ways of thinking and practice that they learned in school
There are no guidelines or rules about how to choose concepts from one theory or another
Social workers are unlikely to get needed supervision on using multiple theories and techniques
Trying to integrate different concepts may lead to disjointed practice or even contradictory applications
Arguments for eclecticism
The need to be flexible and comprehensive is inherent in social work
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
Relying on a single theory to explain all problems will cause social workers to miss the bigger picture
This line of thinking supports the idea that clients should benefit from all of the theoretical knowledge available to social workers
It is obvious that to be an effective social worker, you must have at least a working knowledge of various theories that explain human development and behavior
Core Social Work Values (6)
Service Social justice Dignity and worth of the person Importance of human relationships Integrity Competence
Core Social Work Values: Service
Help people in need and address social conditions and concerns
Core Social Work Values: Social Justice
Challenge social justice
Core Social Work Values: Dignity and worth of the person
Respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person
Core Social Work Values: Importance of human relationships
Recognize the central importance of human relationships
Core Social Work Values: Integrity
Behave in a trustworthy manner
Core Social Work Values: Competence
Practice within areas of competence, and develop and enhance professional expertise
Policy courses
prepare you to develop, interpret, analyze, and apply social policies, which in turn influence the well-being of individuals, families, and communities
Research courses
an important facet of social work education because they teach you how to evaluate practice as well as how to incorporate research into practice for more effective results
Practice courses
rely heavily on theory to teach you empirically based practice methods for working with clients
