Theories of Social Work

This presentation is prepared by S.Rengasamy as a self learning resource for students doing their MSW course in the Madurai Kamaraj University area

1. S.Rengasamy
Madurai Institute of Social Work
Theories of Social Work
Social Workers
Celebrating Community –HonouringDiversity

2. SocialWorkisapracticaljob.Itisaboutprotectingpeopleandchangingtheirlives,not
aboutgivingtheoreticalexplanationsofwhytheygotintodifficulties…
Socialworkisaboutsocialchangeattheindividualaswellasatcommunitylevel.
Changeiscomplex,diversifiedandriskprone.Tounderstandit,socialworkerneed
knowledge.imagination,comprehension&creativity….inshort,aradicalshiftin
understanding“Knowledgeasprocess”asopposedto“Knowledgeasproduct”is
needed.
Butourunderstandingofsocialwork(especiallywiththefacultyandstudentsofsocial
workcollegesinnonmetropolitancitiesofIndiaandstudentswithlowlevelmasteryof
Englishlanguage)isfrozenwiththesimpledefinitionofsocialwork...itistheartand
scienceofhelpingthepeopletohelpthemselves.
Compilationandinterpretationofsocialworkdefinitionaccessibletothestudents(PD
Mishra1994)conveysameaningthatsocialworkisa“helping”“assisting”„enabling”
activity,whichinturnsuggestssocialworkisseenasabenignanduncontentious
activity,willinglyaccepted.Thisunderstandingfailstoreflectthemajortransformations
socialworkdisciplinehasundergoneaswellasitsglobaloutlook.Thereisnothing
wronginsimplifyingaconcept,butifitignoresthecomplexitiesassociatedwiththe
concept,thatwillendourfurtherseeking.
Whatever may be a definition of social work, it is normally based on certain perspectives
and understanding of that perspective / theory will help us to appreciate that definition.
It is this clarity that normally make one to commit in his/ her professional
responsibilities.

3. Definition of
social work
generally convey
What is the need
of social work or
Why Social work?
How social work
is carried out?
To whom social
work is going to
serve? or
characteristics of
its cliens
To answer these
questions one need to
know why people are
suffering. What is our
responsibilities towards
fellow human beings?
How we gain knowledge
about the human
problems? What makes
us perceive the human
problems in a particular
way? Why we subscribe
to certain methods of
solving problems? ….
Social workers need to
answer these questions
before addressing others
problems. Theories &
perspectives of social
work may provide some
answers to these
questions

4. Why Social Work?
Lifemeanstofacethedemandsofdaytodaylifeandrealizetheself.Bylifetaskswemeanthe
responsespeoplemakeastheyfacethedemandsmadeupontheminvariouslifesituations,such
isgrowingupinafamily,enteringschoolorwork,raisingafamily,earningtheirdailybread,
workingintheindustry,problemsrelatingtojoborearning,facingillness,accidentsanddeath.
Peoplearedependentonsocialsystemstorealizetheiraspirationsandtocopewiththeirlifetasks.
Inordertorealizetheirlifetaskspeoplehavetointeractwiththreekindsofresourcesystemsin
thesocialenvironment
1.Informalornaturalresourcesystemconsistsoffamily,friends,neighbors,coworkers,etc
2.Formal resource system consists of membership in organizations, trade union organizations or
other socio cultural organizations
3.Social resource system such as schools, hospitals, housing societies, police, banks etc
Whypeopleareunabletoobtaintheresources,servicesoropportunitiesintheresourcesystems,
theyneedtocopewiththeirlifetasksandrealizetheiraspirations?
1.Aneededresourceorservicemaybescarceormaynotexistormaynotprovideappropriate
helptopeoplewhoneedit.
2.People may not know the existence of a resource system or may be hesitant to turn it for help
for several reasons like distance, corruption, delay or poor quality etc
3.The polices and procedures of the resource system may inhibit / prevent it access (eg. eligibility
criteria, gender, etc)
4.Several resource system may be working at cross purposes
Thepurposeofsocialworkistoenablethepeopletousethesocialresourcestomeettheirlife
tasks

5. What do we mean by helping people to help themselves?
1.Increased understanding of oneself or a situation.
2.Being able to make a decision
3.Being able to confirm a decision.
4.Being able to get a support for a decision.
5.Being able to change a situation
6.Adjusting to a situation that is not going to change
7.Being able to examine options and choosing one
8. Being able to discharge feelings
Compareself help with empowerment
Empowerment includes the following, or similar, capabilities:-
The ability to make decisions about personal/collective circumstances
The ability to access information and resources for decision-making
Ability to consider a range of options from which to choose (not just yes/no, either/or.)
Ability to exercise assertiveness in collective decision making
Having positive-thinking about the ability to make change
Ability to learn and access skills for improving personal/collective circumstance.
Ability to inform others’ perceptions though exchange, education and engagement.
Involving in the growth process and changes that is never ending and self-initiated
Increasing one's positive self-image and overcoming stigma
Increasing one's ability in discreet thinking to sort out right and wrong

7. Theory is an “attempt to retrospectively explain and to
prospectively predict”
Whatistheory?
Itisimportantfirsttobeclearwhatthetermtheorymeansinan
academicsense.Cottrellprovidesausefulgeneraldefinition:
Atheoryisasetofideasthathelpstoexplainwhysomething
happensorhappenedinaparticularway,andtopredictlikely
outcomesinthefuture.Theoriesarebasedonevidenceand
reasoning,buthavenotyetbeenconclusivelyproved.
Thompson‟sdefinitionincludessimilarideas:
Anattempttoexplain…aframeworkforunderstanding…aset
ofideaslinkedtogethertohelpusmakesenseofaparticular
issue.
Writingaboutsocialworktheory,Beckettmakesaconnectionwith
practice:
…asetofideasorprinciplesusedtoguidepracticewhichare
sufficientlycoherentthattheycouldifnecessarybemade
explicitinaformwhichwasopentochallenge.

8. It will be useful if we understand the different types of theories taught and the
logic as why are these theories imparted to the students.
It may be logical to group these theories in broader categories
e.g.
Theories of evolution,
Theories of personality (development) & learning theories,
Theories of social organization and social change, theories of
social stratification,
Theories of individual and group behavior,
Theories of deviance, crime and correction,
Theories of economic growth and development, theories of group
dynamics and leadership,
Theories of social work (clinical practice) etc.

9. Curriculum Development Centre in Social Work Education,
University Grants Commission, India recognized three elements of
social work curriculum
1. Values of the profession
2. Skills and methods that are developed for the professional task
3. Major theories and concepts
Objectives of teaching theories
1. Refinement of practice
2. Provision of changing theoretical inputs to the social work
knowledge base
3. Building up of new theories from the practice data
The centre has recommended to include many different theories
discretely and dispersalybut failed to do a wise selectivity of
appropriate theories to be taught rationally and coherently and
imparting knowledge of these theories compactly as an independent
course that are taught in other disciplines eg. Sociological Theories,
Modern Economic Theories, Contemporary Political Theories,
Psychological Theories

10. Thompsonexplainsthattherearedifferentlevelsoftheories.
Theseare:
Grand,macro-levelorglobaltheories
(sometimesknownasmeta-narratives),suchasMarxismor
Psychoanalysis,whichclaimtobeabletoexplaineverythingin
society,orallhumanbehavior;
Middle-rangetheorieswhichfocusonalimitedrangeofissues
–forinstance,labelingtheory,whichfromasocialintegrationist
perspectiveaimstoexplaindeviance;
Microtheoriesdevelopedtoexplainverysmall-scalesituations
–forinstance,relationshipsbetweenstaffandpatientsona
hospitalward.

11. The term theory is loosely used in social work
profession. The use of social work theories in
professional literature is rather ambiguous.
Concepts, frames of reference, practice
models and philosophical propositions have
been termed as theories.

12. Howtheorieshelpsocialworkers?
Socialworkersmightusetheorytounderstandand
explainthreemainaspectsofsocialwork
1.Thetaskandpurposeofsocialwork–therole
ofsocialworkinsociety;
2.Practicetheories:sometimescalledsocial
workapproachesormethods–howtogoabout
doingsocialwork;
3.Theworldofserviceusers,includingthe
internal(psychological)worldandtheexternal
(social)world

13. In social work, the term ‘theory’ covers three different
possibilities:
Provable explanations why something happens (Explanatory
Theory)
Organized description of activity in a structured form
(Models)
Ways of conceptualizing the world or a particular subject
(Perspective)

14. Conceptual Frameworks
Theories OFSocial Work Theories FORSocial Work
Orienting Theories Practice Frameworks
Practice PerspectivesPractice TheoriesPractice Models
Theories ofsocial work
Focus on the profession and explain its purpose, domain, and character within the society.
They describe what the profession is all about and why it functions as it does.
Theories forsocial work
Focus on clients and helping activities. They explain human behaviours, the social environment,
how change occurs and how change can be facilitated by the social worker in order to benefit

15. Orienting Theories
Orienting theories describe and
explain behaviour and how and
why certain problems develop.
They provide important
background knowledge and are
usually borrowed from other
disciplines such as biology,
psychology, sociology,
economics, cultural
anthropology, and the like.
Examples
include the various theories
related to human development,
personality, family systems,
socialization,
organizational functioning, and
political power, as well as
theories related to specific
types of problems
such as poverty, family
violence, mental illness, teen
pregnancy, crime and racial
discrimination.
Practice Perspective
This is a particular way of
viewing and thinking about
practice. It is a conceptual lens
through which one views social
functioning and it offers very
broad guidance on what may be
important considerations in a
practice situation. Like a camera
lens, a perspective serves to
focus on or magnify a particular
feature. Two perspectives, the
generalsystems perspectiveand
the ecosystems perspective, are
commonly used in assessing
relationships between people
and their environment.
Practice Theory
Itoffers both an explanation of
certain behaviours or situations
and guidance on how they can
be changed. A practice theory
serves as a road map for
bringing about a certain type of
change. Most practice theories
are rooted in one or more
orienting theories. An example
is psychosocial therapy, which is
based primarily on
psychodynamic theory and ego
psychology. Another is
behaviour therapy, which is
derived from the psychology of
learning
Practice Model
Practice Model is a set of concepts and principles used to guide
intervention activities. The term model is also used when referring to
a conceptual framework that is borrowed from one field and applied
in another, for example, the medical model (study, diagnose, treat)
and the legal model (an approach to social action and client advocacy,
involving competition and conflict among adversaries).
Practice Frameworks

16. Framework for Social Work Practice
Social work draws from many frameworks for practice, but some of these frameworks have had
more influence on the profession of social work than others. The three influential frameworks are
The Ecosystem Perspective
This perspective focuses on the interplay between the person and his or her environment. To
understand the functioning of the individual, we must understand his or her environmental context:
Individuals exist within families
Families exist within communities and neighborhoods
Individuals, families, and neighborhoods exist in a political, economic, and cultural environment
The environment impacts the actions, beliefs, and choices of the individual
The Strengths Perspective
This perspective is built on the assumption that every individual, family, group and community has
strengths and focusing on these strengths leads to growth and overcoming difficulties.
Under this perspective, clients are generally the best experts about what types of helping strategies
will be effective or ineffective.
The Cultural Competence Perspective
This perspective is the understanding and approval of cultural distinctions, taking into account the
beliefs, values, activities, and customs of distinctive population groups.
Many cultures have prescribed ways of talking about health and the human body and these factors
impact a person's reaction and acceptance of health services.
These perspectives are consistent with a Family-Centered or Client-Centered approach, which is
central to the standards of best practice with persons with disabilities and consistent with social
work's central values and framework.

17. Howmighttheorybeofusetosocialworkers?
Socialwork,likeallprofessions,usestheorytoguidepractice.
Observation:theoryprovidesguidanceonwhatasocialworker
mightneedtolookoutforwhenmeetingpeoplewhouseservicesor
carersandtheirfamilies.
Description:theoryprovidesagenerallyunderstoodandshared
languageinwhichtheseobservationscanbeorganizedandrecorded.
Explanation:theorycansuggesthowdifferentobservations
mightbelinkedinaframeworkthatexplainsthem.
Prediction:theorycanindicatewhatmighthappeninthefuture.
Intervention:theorycanprovideideasaboutwhatmightbring
aboutachangeinthesituation.

18. The importance of theory
Theory is important, in social work and social work
education for a number of reasons because it:
Theory is the mark of a profession;
Theory can ensure accountability;
Theory can help avoid discrimination;
Theoryprovidesawayofmakingsenseofcomplexity
anduncertainty

19. A clear theoretical
perspective guides
and influences
social work
practice in five key
areas
Observation:it tells us what to see, what to look out for
Description:it provides a conceptual vocabulary and
framework within which observations can be arranged
and organized.
Explanation:it suggests how different observations
might be linked and connected; it offers possible causal
relationships between one event and another
Prediction:it indicates what might happen next
Intervention:it suggests things to do to bring about
change
Why should Social Workers be concerned about theory?

20. What do we mean by theory in social work?
Payne (1991: 52) helps us by distinguishing four types of theory
1.Theoriesaboutsocialworkexplainthenatureandroleofsocialworkin
society
2.Theoriesof social work describe which activities constitute social work, set
aims for social work activities and explain why those activities are relevant
and effective in meeting the aims
3.Theoriescontributing to social work are the psychological, sociological and
other theories which explain or describe personal and social behaviour
and are used to make theories of social work systematic, related to general
social science explanations and to give supporting evidence for the social
work theory’s prescriptions
4.Theories of social work practice and method prescribe in detail how the
other theories so far outlined may be applied in the interaction between
workers and clients

21. Is social work a teachable practice? Or does it come from
experience and creativity?
Some argue that Social work is less technical, more creative and
intuitive. Both client and social worker are important when dealing
with issues as the client is the expert of his own personal life. The
ideal theory for social work would therefore be one that encourages
deep thinking and questioning, one that respects the inherent dignity
of the client and complexity of social problems... not one that
categorizes
People believe that science can furnish means, but not ends.
Methods but not goals. So, Social workers must achieve something
other than technical proficiency, i.e. Understanding the human
condition, not science.
Social workers use contextual knowledge. Synthesis of knowledge
from many sources, including personal experience. Common sense
and wisdom on the job

22. Social Work Theories
Behavioral
Theories
B.F. Skinner
Ivan Pavlov
Cognitive
Theories
AlfredAdler
Jean Piaget
Crisis Theory
Kathleen Ell
B. Gilliland & R.
James
L.G. & H. J. Parad
Ecological System Theory
UrieBronfenbrenner
Empowerment Theory
E. Cox & L. Gutierrez
J. Lee, E. Canada,
P. Chatterjee& S.P. Robbins
Family Life Cycle
Theory
Family Systems Strategic
Therapy
(Model)
Humanistic (Existential/
Transpersonal)
Abraham Maslow,
Carl Rogers
Carl Jung
Object Relations Theory
Margaret Mahlen, Otto
Kernberg
Psychodynamic Theory
Sigmund Freud, Eric Erickson
Social-Cultural Theory
Lev Vygotsky:
Thomas Scheff:
Solution Focused Therapy
(Model)
Structural Family Therapy
Murray Bowen, Virginia Satir
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

23. Knowledge about
Different
Theories regard to
Different
Social Work Fields
Research
Methodology
Raising Awareness
about Life Long Learning
(Professional /Personal
Development)
Skills to Work
with Clients
Learning about
Different Theoretical
Approaches
Recognition &
Analyze of
Social
Processes
Knowledge from
other Disciplines
Professional
Values
Knowledge &
Understanding of Legal &
administration
Procedures & Social Care
Institutions Functioning

24. Social Work Practice
Encounters pressing need
Needs personally left
Requires immediate action
Focuses on interpersonal practice
Social Policy as theory
Seeks cultural Change
Requires social action
Calla for long term strategy
Stress on strategic planning/analysis

25. Why do we need theories in social work?
The use of theories makes Social
Workers feel more safe & competent
in their practice, reduces feelings of
helplessness & fear of unknown
For social workers theory is important
because it teaches social workers how to
perceive people through their resources, not
to classify them according to their
problems...it’s a shift from control to help.
In order to see the beauty of one theory,
it’s important to learn about many
theories. This is how we can prevent
making an ideology out of one theory
The more social workers use theories,
less they use intuition, and it makes
social work practice more professional
and efficient
Theory, together with intuition is a way to develop
personal style of professional practice...without
theory, just with intuition, social workers would feel
like a puppet on strings.

26. MajorTheories–UsedinSocialWorkPractice
PrimaryPerspectives
CurrentSocialWorkPracticeModels
Inbrief,socialworkpracticemodelsarelikerecipes.Theyarestep-by-stepguides
forclientsessions.Perspectivesrepresentwhataspectsofthesessionare
emphasizedorhighlightedinasession(i.e.questionsaskedortimespent).
Theoriesareoverallexplanationsoftheperson-in-environmentconfiguration.
Theorieshelpexplainwhytheproblemisoccurringandwherethemostefficient
interventionshouldtakeplace.
Systems
Theory
Psychodynamic
Theory
Social Learning
Theory
ConflictTheory
Strengths Feminist Eco-Systems
Problem
Solving
Task-
Centered
Solution
Focused
NarrativeCognitive
Behavioral
Crisis

27. Types of theory
Theories
explaining what
social work is
Formal written accounts
defining the nature and
purposes of welfare (e.g.
upon by practitioners for
defining personal pathology,
liberal reform, Marxist,
feminist)
Moral, political, cultural
values drawn upon by
practitioners for defining
‘functions’ of social work
Theories
explaining how
to do social
work
Formal written theories of
practice(e.g. casework,
family therapy, group work);
applied deductively; general
ideas may be applied to
particular situations
Theories inductively
derived from particular
situations; can be tested to
see if they apply to
particular situations; also
unwritten practice theories
constructed from
experience
Theories
explaining the
client world
Formal written social
science theories and
empirical data (e.g. on
personality, (e.g. the
marriage, the family, race,
class, gender)
Practitioners’ use of
experience and general
cultural meanings (e.g. the
family as an institution,
normal behavior, good
parenting)

28. Theory
Ageneralstatementabouttherealworldwhoseessentialtruthcanbesupported
byevidenceobtainedthroughthescientificmethod.–Mustexplaininaprovable
waywhysomethinghappens.Ex:Learningtheoryexplainsbehavioronthebasisof
whatorganismshavelearnedfromtheenvironment.
Model
Isablueprintforaction.Itdescribeswhathappensinpracticeinageneralway.
Ex:Thebehavioralmodel(basedonlearningtheory)givesspecificguidelinestofor
howtoeffectchange.Ifaparentcomplainsthathischildishavingdifficultystaying
inhisownbedatnightandtheparenthasbeenallowingthechildtosleepin
his/herbed(therebyreinforcingthechild‟sdifficulty)thepractitionerwouldhelpthe
parenttoextinguishthebehaviorbyremovingthereinforcement.
Perspective
Awayofperceivingtheworldflowsfromavalueposition.Note:Theperspective
willinfluencechoiceoftheoryandmodel.Note:Payne(1997)arguesthatsocial
worktheorysucceedsbestwhenitcontainsallthreeelementsofperspective,
theoryandmodel.
Example:Menwhobattertheirpartners
Theory:Sociallearningtheory–menlearntheirviolentbehaviorintheirfamilyoforigin,
andfromaculturethatrewardsangerandviolenceinmen;cognitivetheory–whatmen
saytothemselvesinsituationsofstressincreasestheirangerandtheirpropensitytobe
violent.Model:Cognitive-behavioralPerspective:Feminist

29. Levels of
Practice
Major Purposes, Outcomes, or Processes
Associated with Levels of Social Work Practice
Individual &
Group
Empowerment
Through"selfhelp,""mutualaid,"and"conscientization"strategiesindividualsand
groupslearnhowtoperceiveandactuponthecontradictionsthatexistinthesocial,
political,andeconomicstructuresintrinsictoallsocieties.
Conflict
Resolution
Effortsdirectedatreducing:(1)grievancesbetweenpersonsorgroups;or,(2)
asymmetricpowerrelationshipsbetweenmembersofmorepowerfulandless
powerfulgroups.
Institution-
Building
Refersbothtotheprocessof"humanizing"existingsocialinstitutionsandthatof
establishingnewinstitutionsthatrespondmoreeffectivelytoneworemerg-ing
socialneeds.
Community-
Building
Throughincreasedparticipationand"socialanimation"ofthepopulace,theprocess
throughwhichcommunity'srealizethefullnessoftheirsocial,political,and
economicpotential;theprocessthroughwhichcommunitiesrespondmoreequitably
tothesocialandmaterialneedsoftheirpopulations.
Nation-
Building
Theprocessofworkingtowardtheintegrationofanation'ssocial,political,
economic,andculturalinstitutionsatalllevelsofpoliticalorganization.
Region-
Building
The process of working toward the integration of a geo-political region's social,
political, economic, and cultural institutions at all levels of social organization.
World-BuildingTheprocessofworkingtowardtheestablishmentofanewsystemofinterna-tional
relationshipsguidedbythequestforworldpeace,increasedsocialjus-tice,the
universalsatisfactionofbasichumanneeds,andfortheprotectionoftheplanet's
fragileeco-system.
Levels & Definitions of Social Economic Development Practice in Social Work

30. While considering a theory or theories, social workers also understand its limitations too:
Limitations of Theories
Recognisethat no single theory can explain everything:
When a person engages in an action (or inaction) the reason
for their behaviourcan be rooted in a range of causes or
motives.
Related to the first point, recognisethat some theoretical
approaches just don't work with some people. Applying Brief
Solution Focused Therapy can be really effective with some
people. For other people, it leaves them cold.
Always apply the value base to theory -much of the theory
used in social care practice and social work is drawn from
outside of the profession. Theory may have its roots in
education, psychology or management. As such, it may not
incorporate social work values and you should take
responsibility for applying these
Never be intimidated by theory. You use it every day.

31. Why do we need to apply social work theory to practice?
Theories can help us to
make sense of a situation.
Using theory, we can
generate ideas about
what is going on, why
things are as they are etc.
For example the
information obtained as
part of an assessment can
seem like a jumble of
information -applying
theory can help "make
sense" of the information.
In work with individuals,
making use of the theories
which may relate to their
specific situation will give us
more direction in our work
with them.
Using theory can give an explanation about why an action
resulted in a particular consequence. This can help us
review and possibly change our practice in an attempt to
make the consequences more effective.
It is clear then, that
theory is important in
practice -both for work
with service users and
for social work to be
more valued in society.
Using theory can help to
justify actions and
explain practice to
service users, carers
and society in general.
The aim is that this will
lead to social work
becoming more widely
accountable and
ultimately more
respected.
Whilst individual social work
theories have different
purposes, using all kinds of
theory in our work offers us,
as social workers, some
important things.
1
2
4
5
6
3

32. MODELS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
ThevastmajorityofSocialWorkersfunctionwithinoneoffourbasicmodelsofpractice:thePersonalSocialServices
Model(PSSM);theSocialWelfareModel(SWM),theSocialDevelopmentModel(SDM),andtheNewWorldOrder
Model(NWOM).
The Personal Social Services Model
ThePersonalSocialServicesModel(PSSM)ofsocialdevelopmentpracticeseekstoextendtopeopleeverywherearangeofbasicsocial
servicesthatareneededtoeitherrestoreorenhancetheircapacityforsocialfunctioning.Themodel'sprimarygoalsare:1)toprovide
remedialandpreventiveservicestoindividuals,families,andgroupswhoseoptimalsocialfunctioningiseithertemporarilyimpairedorinter-
rupted;and2)toextendsocialprotectiontopopulationgroupsthatarethreatenedbyexploitationordegradation.ThePSSMalsoseeksto
ensureincreasedsensitivityandresponsivenessonthepartofhumanserviceproviderstothespecialserviceneedsofculturallydiverse
populationgroups.
The Social Welfare Model
TheSocialWelfareModel(SWM)ofsocialwork(development)practiceisrootedincomparativesocialpolicyandcomparativesocial
research.ThegoalsassociatedwiththeSWMinclude:1)selfhelp;2)mutualaid;3)humanitarianism;and4)theestablishmentofeffective,
preferablyuniversal,systemsofformalsocialprovision.TheSWMalsoviewsdevelopmentalsocialwelfarepracticeaspartoftheworldwide
movementthatseektopromotesocialsecurityandsocialjusticeforpeopleeverywhere
The Social Development Model
TheSocialDevelopmentModel(SDM)hasitsoriginsincommunityorganizationandcommunitydevelopmentpracticeanddoes,therefore,
promotethefullestpossibleparticipationofpeopleindeterminingboththemeansandgoalsofsocialdevelopment.Indoingso,themodel
seekstoprovideaframeworkforunderstandingtheunderlyingcausesofhumandegradation,powerlessness,andsocialinequalityevery-
whereintheworld.TheultimategoaloftheSDM,however,istoguidecollectiveactiontowardtheeliminationofallformsofviolenceand
socialoppression.
The New World Order Model
TheNewWorldOrderModel(NWOM)ofsocialdevelopmentpracticeiscloselyassociatedwiththewritingsof"visionary"economists,political
scientists,legalscholars,andenvironmentalists(BrandtCommission,1981).MajorcomponentsoftheNWOMarereflectedinthe
fundamentalsocial,political,andeconomicreformsintheexistinginternational"order"thatarebeingsoughtbytheUnitedNations(UN,
1990;UN/ESCAP,1992b),theUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram(UNDP,1997),WorldBank1997)andotherleadinginternational
developmentassistanceorganizations.ElementsoftheNWOMalsohavebeendescribedbysocialworktheoreticians.
TheNWOMassertsthatthemostseriousproblemsconfrontinghumanityarerootedinthefundamentalinequalitiesthatexistinthepresent
world"order,"i.e.,inthesystemofinternationalsocial,political,andeconomicinstitutionsthatgovernrelationshipsbetweennationsand,
withinnations,betweengroupsofpeople.Inpromotingitssocialchangeobjectives,theNWOMcallsforthecreationofa"newworldorder"
basedon:1)recognitionofandrespectfortheunityoflifeonearth;2)theminimizationofviolence;3)thesatisfactionofbasichuman
needs;4)theprimacyofhumandignity;5)theretentionofdiversityandpluralism;and6)theneedforuniversalparticipationintheprocess
ofattainingworldwidesocialtransformation..

33. Theory of
Human Behavior
Focus of Theory Main Concepts Regarding Human Behavior
SYSTEMS THEORY
Includes:
Ecological Systems
[Systems Perspective]
Includes:
Family Systems
[Systems Perspective]
How persons
interact with their
environment.
How the family
system affects the
individual and
family functioning
across the life-
span
*Persons are in continual transaction with their environment
*Systems are interrelated parts or subsystems constituting an ordered whole
*Each subsystem impacts all other parts and whole system
*Systems can have closed or open boundaries
*Systems tend toward equilibrium
*Individual functioning shapes family functioning and family systems can
create pathology within the individual
*Boundaries, roles, communication, family structure influence family
functioning
BEHAVIORISM &
SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY
Includes:
Cognitive theory,
Behavioral theory,
Social Learning theory [Social
Behavioral perspective]
How individuals
develop cognitive
functioning and learn
through acting on
their environment
*Imitation & reaction to stimulation shape behavioral learning
*Knowledge is constructed through children physically and
mentally acting on objects
*Intelligence is an evolutionary, biological adaptation to
environment
*Cognitive structures enable adaptation & organization
PSYCHODYNAMIC
THEORY
Includes:
Classical psychodynamic theory,
Ego-psychology, Object-relations
theory,
Self-psychology
[Psychodynamic Perspective]
How inner
energies and
external forces
interact to impact
emotional
development
*Unconscious and conscious mental activity motivate human
behavior
*Ego functions mediate between individual and environment
*Ego defense mechanisms protect individuals from becoming
overwhelmed by unacceptable impulses and threats
*Internalized experiences shape personality development and
functioning
*Healing occurs through attention to transferences and the
treatment relationship

34. PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENTAL
THEORY
[Developmental
Perspective]
How internal & external
forces shape life
development, generally
by life stages
*Human development occurs in defined & qualitatively different stages that
are sequential & may be universal
*Individual stages of development include specific tasks to be completed &
crises to be managed
*Time & social context shape & individualize the meaning of life stages
TRANSPERSONAL
THEORY
[Developmental
Perspective; built upon
Humanistic Perspective]
How the spiritual and
religious aspects of human
existence can be
understood
How spiritual
development builds upon
and goes beyond bio-
psychosocial development
*Focuses on meaning, connection, and purpose
*Some people achieve developmental level beyond the personal (ego-
based) level into transpersonal (beyond self or ego) levels of
consciousness and functioning.
*There is an inherent tendency to express innate potentials for love,
creativity, and spirituality
*There is a difference between psychopathological phenomena and
spiritual growth experiences
SOCIAL EXCHANGE
THEORY
[Rational Choice
Perspective]
How persons
minimize costs
and maximize
rewards through
social exchange
*Antecedents, consequences, personal expectations, and interpretation shape and
maintain behavior in the present
*Self-interest determines social exchange
*Unequal resources determine power inequities and reciprocity is essential
*Six propositions:
--Success proposition --Stimulus proposition --Value proposition --Deprivation-
satiation --proposition --Aggression-approval proposition --Rationality proposition
SOCIAL
CONSTRUCTIONISM
[Social Constructionist
Perspective]
How socio cultural
and historical
contexts shape
individuals and the
creation of
knowledge
How individuals
create themselves
*All experience is subjective and human beings recreate themselves through an
on-going, never static process
*Knowledge is created through an interplay of multiple social and historical
forces
*Social interaction is grounded in language, customs, cultural and historical
contexts
*All phenomenon, including the sciences, must be approached with doubt in
order to understand how people construct reality
*Humans are self-interpreting beings
Theory of
Human Behavior
Focus of Theory Main Concepts Regarding Human Behavior

35. Theory of
Human Behavior
Focus of Theory Main Concepts Regarding Human Behavior
SYMBOLIC
INTERACTIONISM
[Social Constructionist
Perspective]
How the “self” is
influenced and shaped
by social processes
and the capacity to
symbolize
*Human action is caused by complex interaction between and within
individuals
*Dynamic social activities take place among persons and we act according to
how we define our situation
*We act in the present, not the past
*Individuals are actors on the stage and take on roles, interacting with the
environment
CONFLICT
THEORY
[Conflict
Perspective]
How power
structures & power
disparities impact
people‟s lives
*All societies perpetuate some forms of oppression & injustice and structural inequity
*Power is unequally divided & some groups dominate others
*Social order is based on manipulation and control by dominant groups
*Social change is driven by conflict, with periods of change interrupting periods of
stability
*Life is characterized by conflict not consensus
CONTINGENCY
THEORY
[Systems
Perspective]
How individuals &
groups gain power,
access to resources,
& control over their
lives, often through
collective action
*Groups are open, dynamic systems with both change and conflict present
*Groups are stratified, with different and unequal levels of power and control
*High discrimination and low privilege equals low opportunity
*Oppression occurs when upward mobility is systematically denied
*The social context must be critiqued and deconstructed
*Assumptions for analyzing organizations:
--there is no best way to manage organizations
--there must be a match between the environment and internal resources
--the design of the organization must fit with the environment