MIDTERM: Chapter 2 - Social Work Theories Flashcards
What Is Theory? Explain in your own words
A theory represents an explanatory framework that aims to help us make sense of the complexity of human lives and behaviour
→ Theory helps to structure and organize thinking
→ Theories hold particular world-views and are embedded in assumptions
→ Theories are also fluid changing and shifting as new knowledge emerges
What are concepts?
Concepts are building blocks of theory:
→ They have two parts: a symbol (representing a word or term) and a definition.
→ Concepts have built in assumptions out the nature human beings , social reality, or a particular phenomenon
What are the approaches to selecting theories?
Purist and Eclectic Approach
What is the purist approach?
when a particular theory or theoretical perspective is regularly drawn upon regardless of the nature of a client’s presenting issues
→ Clear blueprint
→ But will it be relevant and useful for all clients
What approach is : when a particular theory or theoretical perspective is regularly drawn upon regardless of the nature of a client’s presenting issues
The Purist approach
What is the Eclectic Approach?
when a social worker draws upon a range of theories and techniques from different theoretical perspectives
→ social worker doesn’t favour one theory but is flexible to ensure no theory is excluded
→ The challenge is that if there is a lack of in-depth knowledge it may not be effective ( inappropriate use)
Example: If one theory focuses on working with the past and the other focuses on working with the future this could lead to confusion for the client and worker
What approach is :when a social worker draws upon a range of theories and techniques from different theoretical perspectives
Eclectic Aproach
What are the theoretical Perspectives?
- Ecosystem theories
- Onion-peeling theories
- Faulty-engine theories
- Story-telling theories
- Mountain-moving theories
What is the purpose of theoretical perspectives?
Have a goal to correct distorted thinking that impedes optimal funcitoning
What is Uri Bronfenbrenner (1979) known for?
He was an American psychologist that developed an Ecological perspective that change in one area results in change in the other.
His claim was that human development cannot be understood without attention to the social context thus, four layers of social systems should be considered.
What are the four layers of social systems?
Microsystem
Mesosystem
Exosystem
Macrosystem
What is the microsystem
A pattern of activities, roles, physical and mental abilities and interpersonal relations experienced by the developing person
→ Personal Bubble
what is the mesosystem
The interrelations among the systems in which the developing person interacts (e.g., school, work, family, or neighborhood)
what is the exosystem
Systems that indirectly influence or are influenced by the developing person (e.g., parents’ workplace, working conditions of a healthcare provider)
what is the macrosystem
Broader systems that exert influence on all other systems (e.g., policies, norms, values)
