HDSS-w2-presentation

Week 2

Human Development & Social Systems

Part I: Theories & Perspectives

go!

Review: Escape from W1

Think about the W1 reading check activity and concepts covered.

• What questions do you still have about the content?
• How will understanding theoretical frameworks help unpack social work practices?
• Did you enjoy the reading check activity?

Overview

Theory vs. Theory

Cultural Perspectives & SW

Theories & Perspectives

Small group and large group discussion

NASW Standards

Quick guide

Case Study: Celia Sanchez

End of Class: Review

Social Stratification

Small group discussion

Self-reflection and open discussion

Large group discussion

References

APA format

Theories & Perspectives

Use this quick guide for review.

Culturalism Individual experiences help give structure to experiences and shape society

Functionalism Aspects, or functions, of a society work together to maintain stability

Conflict Theory Tensions among groups shape social structures

strengths

weaknesses

strengths

strengths

weaknesses

weaknesses

Feminism Interactions of individuals and social forces affect development, oppression and discrimination, and institutional structure and functioning

Symbolic Interactionism Ways in which people and systems interact, and the meaning that people attach to those interactions, shape individual experiences and society

weaknesses

strengths

strengths

weaknesses

Cultural Perspectives & SW

• Understand how policies and programs affect culturally diverse clients.
• Support efforts that advocate for professional diversity in social work education and practice.
• Work toward eliminating service barriers for culturally diverse clients.
• Provide leadership in cultural competence for the profession.

• Recognize how personal and professional values impact work with culturally diverse clients.
• Continually develop knowledge around cultural diversity.
• Use culturally appropriate methods in work with clients.
• Be knowledgeable about culturally appropriate services for clients.

Social Stratification

Does the NASW code of ethics address social stratification and power in the practice of social work?

Why social workers need to be aware of social location and stratification? Duration: 20 minutes

How do you plan to address social stratification and privilege in your social work practice?

Theory vs. Theory

In your small group, build a case for why your assigned theory is the best. Duration: 15 minutes Each group will have 3 minutes to present to the class.

Case Study: Celia Sanchez

In your small group, use your assigned theory to analyze the case study. Duration: 20 minutes

Download the case study document from the chat.

What assumptions does this theory make regarding this Celia’s issues/problems?

What is 1 strength and 1 limitations of this theory when applied to Celia?

Identities:Woman, Wife, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Immigrant, Latina

How may a cultural perspective be applied when working with Celia?

Share your group's findings with the class. Duration: 5 minutes

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world."

- Anne Frank

In the chat, tell us ...

Conclusion

1 takeaway from today’s class

Incorporating sociological theories and perspectives offers social workers a balanced approach to their work.

1 question you want to follow up on

1 thing you want to learn more about

Next week: Applying theories to SW practice

References

Always use APA format!

Altmann, G. (2018). People, network, social media [Photograph]. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/people-network-social-media-3139194/

Rogers, A. T. (2022). Human behavior in the social environment: Perspectives on development and the life course (6th ed.). Routledge. Chapter 4.

Functionalism

Strengths

• Offers clients an alternative viewpoint to problems
• Understanding manifest and latent functions of social institutions can help social workers target interventions
• Tenets of theory fit well with ideas from systems and ecological theories
• Focusing on changing dysfunction within a system could be an empowering approach for clients

Symbolic Interactionism

Strengths

• Provides a useful way to assess problems
• Focus on the meaning clients place on their experiences can be empowering
• Approach to assessment fits well with the humanistic perspectives and can be combined with other theories
• Tenets have been useful in postmodern research.

Feminism

Strengths

• Focuses on equality and the role of the dominant structure in causing and perpetuating client problems
• Tenets have helped guide postmodern research
• Has raised awareness of multiple points of view on issues.

Limitations of Culturalism

• There is no single, coherent theory of culture
• Concepts may be difficult to define, apply, and test empirically
• Cannot predict behavior

Limitations of Feminism

• Focuses on women at the expense of other minoritized groups
• Can be difficult to define and empirically test concepts
• Cannot predict behavior

Conflict Theory

Strengths

• Can be used to conceptualize interventions in community-based practice

• Helps social workers understand the complexity of client problems

• Focuses on how power can bemisused to create inequality and to disenfranchise clients

Consider its application in family and healthcare settings.

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Culturalism

Strengths

• Offers ways to articulate, organize, and understand cultural elements of clients’ lives
• Helps social workers to be more culturally competent in practice.

Symbolic Interactionism

Limitations

• Does not offer a clear way in which to intervene with clients
• Too micro-focused
• Lacks a solid, consistent theoretical base from which to examine relationships
• Can be difficult to define and empirically test constructs
• Difficult to predict behavior

Limitations of Functionalism

• Little attention given to the complexity of interactions that take place among systems
• Does not address the inequity that may result from a system’s manifest and latent functions
• Can be difficult to use for developing interventions
• Can be difficult to define and empirically test constructs.

Limitations of Conflict Theory

• Focus is limited to the macro level
• Interventions based on conflict can be difficult to carry out
• Can be difficult to define and empirically test constructs

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