Social Work Theories Analysis

accessible pretend Theories AnalysisIntroduction kindly usage brings about friendly change. It hyperkinetic syndromeresses complex relationships mingled with mercifuls and the surround. complaisant wrench contains analyzing hu firearm puzzles and sum upresses issues to reconcile in more than all overice, discrimination, and dysfunction. Thus, according to world(prenominal) Federation of Social act uponers (2000 qt. Ramsay 2003), the friendly get to concern can be defined as a profession that promotes mixer change, difficulty puzzle out in human being relationships, and the authorization and liberation of people to enhance substantially-being. Using theories of human demeanor and neighborly sy bases, complaisant cast intervenes at the points where people interact with their surroundingss. Principles of human rights and amicable justice argon fundamental to hearty practise. Social reach profession is base on the fundamental interrelation of a system o f values, surmise and dedicate. Although over the years, the definition of affectionate work has undergone tremendous transformation. Nevertheless, the essence of its humanitarian and democratic ideals of amicable work by dint of the centuries has remained the same. Today, amicable work has a global background and originals follow national and international code of morals that make the scope of their work more complex and challenging. Moreover, social work lords as well as draw their have intercourses from accepted methods developed with systematic evidence- found friendship from extensive research designed for both specific and general get alongs (Ramsay 2003). hypothetical frame kit and boodle form the dry land of their evaluation of human behaviors, development and social systems and enable them to resolve the chores subjective therein.Social Work TheoriesSocial work theories entertain their roots from the need to develop a disciplined plan of attack to so cial work. By adopting common principles, social nonrecreationals were able to focalize on the social tendencys. Charles Loch developed this conceptual framework during the early 20th century. Later social work scholars took up his seminal work. During the 21st century, renowned Harriet Bartlett (Bartlett 1970) had interpreted up and continued to develop professional frame whole shebang for social work to utter words, price, concepts to show the important facets and components of the professions exerts as a whole. As more and more formalized ideas, theories and disciplines formed, social work has come to be ac acquaintanced as an independent discipline with sub dress out familiarity and systems for dealing with troubles of the club. Bartlett (1970) also promote reiterated the three separate concepts person, fundamental interaction and environment as the basis for social work usages. Any surmise developed with the heap to examine, evaluate and resolve social issues must be based on these three pigment concepts.Given the above background on the development of social work theories, the researcher now shall discuss theories of peculiar(prenominal) interests, which atomic number 18 the theories of problem solving and psychoanalyticalal. In the following discussion, the researcher shall trace the theories in its historical mise en scene, values, concepts and fittingness with the strengths approach. The strengths approach basically involves challenging the traditionalistic problems-oriented way of working done training, expectations and work experience of professionals. The problems ar and whence resolved through ontogenesis a collaborative framework based on examination of the professionals strengths and resources for absolute growth and development (Morgan 2006 Wormer and Boes 1998).Problem-Solving Theory Social Work Treatment concord to Duncker (1945)A problem arises when a living creature has a goal but does not know how this goa l is to be reached. Whenever one cannot go from the addicted situation to the sought after situation simply by action, then there is recourse to thinking Such thinking has the task of making some action which may mediate mingled with the existing and the desired situations.According to this definition, a problem arises when it is not clear to the soul what action(s) are to be taken to achieve some desired goals. The action to reanimate this problem is known as problem-solving. Problem solving starts from a bowl overn situation where the problem or state of the situation requires additional knowledge to work towards its solution (Anderson 1980).Problem-solving scheme has its developmental origin to Herbert Simon, Alan Newell and colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University during the mid-eighties (Patel 1991 Newell and Simon 1972). The general theoretical approach is that problem-solving theory is based on a given problem-solving situation. The second premise is that knowledge is a set of rules that get actions to be performed in specific situations. The third premise is the distinction amidst weak and strong methods for solution problems. Thus, an expert is expected to utilize the set of rules to find the solution for the given problem situation by utilize forward reasoning or observations. Alternatively, problem solving can involve using exhaustive knowledge base for deductive reasoning and assessing the lustiness of the hypothesis or goals against the facts given. This is a backward reasoning approach (Patel 1991). Newell-Simon theory of problem solving describes cognitive processes for developing expert systems in cognitive psychology, which forms the basis for separate experiments in specific fields.Social work fieldIn social work field, problem solving has its origin in the concept of social change developed by Helen Harris Perlman of the University Chicago (1957). In her work Social Casework A problem-solving process, the author views casework and problem solving synonymous which are based on constant elements, forces and processes. The constants form the reasoning framework for analyzing problems just as humans solve their quotidian problems. Learning is developed when various(prenominal)s are obscure in organizing, synthesizing and imagining the solutions of the problems (Perlman 1957). Perlmans theoretical framework is peculiar(a) to the casework components such as the single, problem, place, process, expert relationship and the resolution to the problem. The emphasis is more on the components kind of than on the problem solutions itself and the scope of the solution is limited by the casework situation.Alternatively, Compton and Galaway (1979) also developed a problem-solving model for social work practice, which emphasizes on hindrance and beyond processes. According to their theoretical framework, problem solving is connected with human relationships in a dynamic manner, which may involve partners, family m embers, friends or co- proletarians or group relationships such as race, ethnicity, gender or religion. Social works can resolve problems depending on the micro, mezzo or macro instruction level practice they are involved in. Compton and Galaways (1979) problem-solving theory is based on cardinal phases first the definition of the problem must be established for appointment of discussion methods. The second phase involves intervention methods based on the problem context defined by human, societal and physical environment. Thus, Compton and Galaways (1979) problem-solving theory is based on human relationships with the environment and opposite individuals. The instruction is on intervention rather than on the problem itself.These investigations and conceptualization leads to the unified theory of problem-solving, which holds that experts process raw information and integrate it into their existing knowledge base which helps them to back away and deal with situations rapidly through forward reasoning at bottom limited time span and scope. at that place is little account for differences in complexities in domains and situations. For this reason, the problem-solving theory is only valid for responding to domains that are apparent through straightforward patterns of results.From the social work practice, context problem-solving theory presents social histrion as the expert and the source for intervention, and the individual with the problem as the customer of the environment. The worker encounters problem situations within the work environment. To resolve, he/she refers to activities that co-workers or peers have undertaken on behalf of nodes. Working with the client, the social worker contemplates, and identifies problem commonality to resolve it through group relations. Hence, problem solving in the social work practice means participation and direct involvement of the client with the worker (Sheppard 1991). interpellation methodAnother underlyin g element of the problem-solving theory is the intervention method. contradictory early perception of social workers, the value of work is not gauged by the duration of its intervention. Instead, it is gauged by the significance of the knowledge base used to crumple the problems to develop solutions. Therefore, intervention is further defined by the relationships of interaction among individuals involved in the problem. The social worker is the support element who is responsible for mediating between the environment and the person (Sheppard 1991).As an intervention method, problem-solving method is dynamic in the sense that it mediates problems by resolving on a case-by-case basis. for each one individual problem in this theory is unparalleled and is defined by the individual, relationship and context of the environment which makes it versatile in addressing numerous problem solutions. Furthermore, the option of forward and backward reasoning helps social workers to analyze and check up on problem solutions from antithetical perspectives depending on the temper of the problem. In the social work context, this is a valuable tool as it releases individuals to work on a case from the grassroots level, without having to eliminate vital facts and situations to achieve desired social goals.Furthermore, the researcher is of the view that problem-solving theory, though limited by the expertise and knowledge base developed by peers and colleagues, is tensile in allowing new avenues to be included in the problem-solving process. As workers work their way through resolving the problem, they discover new facts, and perhaps new solutions, which might be different from the initial premise that they have set for its solution. From a strengths perspective this implies that problem-solving methods add new resources they enrich the experiences of the social workers by allowing them to explore new perspectives and add value in developing new approaches for solving simi lar albeit unique problems.psychoanalytical TheoryThe study of the unconscious was relatively schematic and ungenerous before the advent of Sigmund Freud. For this reason, it could be said that Freud was the pioneer in psychoanalytic theory. Freud held that the human mind takes into account of transactions within the limits of the body. Unlike traditional belief that the human mind is shaped by culture, Freud believed that the depth and endurance of human temper is dependent on the social context in which an individual is born. A psychosomatic process is the traditional method by which physicians analyze symptoms of mental disorders within the pathological discourse. However, Freud holds that psychosomatic processes are limited, as he believes that individuals are influenced by elements that are outside the body that is the environment. To typify that, he writes of the influences of human association and its invasion on the un mind. It is only through observational procedures that the expert would extricate subtle and multiple ties of the personality with the other individuals and environmental elements. Observations of body language, as well as human acts in relation to sequences of interaction form the study of individuals within the context of the community (Ruitenbeek 1962). Freuds conceptual framework was based on the observation of the human consciousness and unconsciousness, and its relation with the basic nature of man. It lacked the social work context. His theory implies that man is exceedingly indulgent or deprived by his/her touchs which give rise to a certain psychiatric state of mind.The Theory of Psychoanalytic TechniqueMenninger (1958), in his work The Theory of Psychoanalytic Technique counteracts the practice of external influence by suggesting that individual behavior is a contemplation of behaviors that occur during and after the yetts they are involved in. Menninger and Holzman (1973) differed from Freuds theory for analytic th inking in the sense that they were of the view many individuals may demonstrate similar behavior without having any psychiatric problems. Therefore, psychoanalysis is not essentially about the physiologic influence but rather associated with stimulus from interactions. The authors emphasize on new methods for observing and interpreting behavior in the context of culture and personality through structured research instruments. They believe that the psychoanalytic approach has particular associations with socialization sequences that lead to individual relationships with the environment, culture and personality. This implies that psychoanalysis approaches emphasize on the role of the professional engaged in the observation of individual behaviors and description of the same. The skills used to deduce valuable information about the personality is derived from daily lifespan processes. Likewise, an intervention is inherent in the behaviors and actions of the individual under study.Alt ernatively, works by Roy Schafer (1976) and Irwin Hoffman (1983) have entirely altered the conceptual framework of psychoanalysis theory and practice. They emphasize on the reality of social construct and its impact on both the individual and the professional. They present the view that solutions for problems in psychoanalytic are dependent on the cultural life at large. It is based on objective knowledge derived from social agreements and human actions are the memoir of the acts. Therefore, psychoanalysis is the study of the language of the human acts and interpretation of the same to represent possible accounts of the past or present life of the individual. Transactions between the analyst and the patient are constructed by subject experience, human agency, and fragments of personal identity/separation etc. Thus, For Schafer, (1) psychoanalysis is concerned in a immemorial fashion with language and its equivalents (2) subjective experience, objective reality, and selves are all constructions brought to life in language (3) these present-day tellings could be told in other terms and do not represent real world events (4) unitary selves are displaced by the notion that we tell useful stories about multiple selves in order to conduct our affairs and (5) cure accompanies changes in discourse. qt. Leary 1994). Similarly, Hoffman believes that human beings, whether professional or individuals, requiring intervention live worlds within worlds to make social interaction highly ambiguous. Observation of individual behaviors cannot construct individual social environment alone. Individual experiences must be taken into account to understand the influences of elements surrounding them. Intervention follows the paradigm of change and analysis of the participants because he believes individuals are unequal to(p) of understanding their own dilemma.These later conceptual frameworks of the psychoanalytic theory not only pose challenges for social work practices but also suggest new dimensions for analyzing complex individual social problems. The role of the social worker in the psychoanalytic context is separate from the individual and the environment, as he/she has to observe objectively to interpret individual behaviors in the psychiatric context as well as in the context of the environment in which the individual inhabit. Thus, the professional is unintegrated and does not really participate in the problems go about by the individuals. This tends to dissociate the analyst from the individual, which at clock hinders problem resolution. However, objective observations in psychoanalysis enable the social work professional to emphasize on interventions methods. Since interventions are not set in paradigms or experiments or processes from knowledge base, the social worker has more leeway in developing creative interventions that meet desired social goals at the individual and from the broader societal contexts.At the same time, there are certain limitations to the theory of psychoanalytic. There is too much emphasis of the individual and less focus of intervention for the broad social context. As individuals live in the golf-club interact, transact and have relationships with other entities within the environment it is natural to stick out that any problems or issues that they face should be resolved in the context of the community they live in. It is not natural to assume that the problem is inherent within the environment and the intervention method should be for the individual only. From this perspective, the psychoanalytic theory is limited.Therefore, the psychoanalytic approach does not really fit the strengths approach, which basically emphasizes on resource development. Although psychoanalysis emphasizes on problem resolutions, this is limited to the issues faced by individuals not from a communal or global context. There is little scope for adding value to interventions in the social work practice as it represe nts the realities of the individuals. Therefore, world events, social change and communal issues become vicarious to the analyst who adopts this approach.Compare and ContrastAt the beginning of the discussion, the researcher emphasizes on the importance of the key components in social work i.e. person, interaction and the environment. These key components, as one observes over the course of the evaluation of the theories of problem-solving and psychoanalytic, play intact roles in synergizing the conceptual framework for social work and professional practices. In this context, if any one component were missing from the theoretical framework, it would destabilize its daring and usefulness to the profession.Theoretical fit with the social work professional focusFrom the discussion, the researcher observes that the problem-solving theory, as compared to the psychoanalytic theory, has more dimensions to the mission of social work. The nature of forward and backward reasoning enables so cial work professionals to trace the problem from multiple layers of contexts such as culture, race, gender, ethnicity and religion, to extricate the inherent issues prevalent within the individual, a community or a society. In doing so, it encompasses broader social perspectives and addresses problems such as poverty, cultural diversity, discrimination, gender bias or social injustice. Thus, the problem-solving theory serves the purpose of problem acknowledgment and eventually leads to its intervention as well, even though the problem-solving theorists have not emphasized as such. Interventions, according to the theory, stem from set rules and the knowledge base that professionals can acquire through experience and expertise.On the other hand, the psychoanalytic approach adopts similar processes for problem identification within the individual and in the social context but does not really view the problem as a social problem. The components of person, interaction and environment a re not synergistic but rather segregated from each other. This makes finding interventions difficult as the social work professional would have to differentiate the person, relationship and the environment, before individual resolutions can be swot upd. This is because the psychoanalytic approach mandates objective observations and following set processes, which does not allow social workers to view the problem from different dimensions which are inherent in the social work mission. Therefore, psychoanalytic theory mostly identifies problems within the society from micro perspectives, thereby, limiting the scope of intervention. Unlike the problem-solving theory, the psychoanalytic theory integrates social problems like poverty, cultural diversity, discrimination, gender biases and social injustice into the social environment and explains its influence on the individual. Sometimes, these factors may or may not be the culprit for individual problems but, in fact, the problem stems f rom within the unconscious. Thus, the abstract nature of the psychoanalytic theory makes it difficult to devise interventions realistically that are possible in the social work field.Progress on the part of the client and ethical concernsAs a social work professional, one is responsible for the progress of the client. The problems or issues my client faces may be from the micro, mezzo and macro environment and therefore require different approaches towards interventions. Therefore, I would reserve the psychoanalytic approach for micro interventions so that I would be able to analyze the psychological as well as physiological dilemmas, and ultimately devise interventions that address the root problem. On the other hand, if the nature of the problem that my client is experiencing stems from the outset and requires a broad perspective in evaluation, then I would adopt the problem-solving approach to address the problem, first from the macro level then narrow it down to the micro level and resolve it accordingly. The approaches differ because, as a social work practitioner, I need to have flexible tools to evaluate the progress of my client. This can only be possible if I use a combination of theories and approaches to offer me flexibility as well as dynamism in my work.The only ethical concern I have regarding the application of these theories would perhaps be the scope and limitations each poses for social work practice. The problem-solving theory, as discussed earlier, emphasizes too much on the processes, which at times may result in compromised interventions. On the other hand, the psychoanalytic approach is too narrow and limited in its scope in addressing individual perspectives and tends to flunk the broader scenario. In resolving individual problems, perhaps I would neglect to incorporate the bigger picture and, thereby, inadvertently harm the society instead of benefiting it as a whole through my social work practice. endDespite the above reservations , the researcher is of the view that each of the theories has its own moral excellence and application in intended practice. It is difficult to choose one over the other, as social work professionals realize no social issues or problem congruent with the other. Each problem is unique and requires unique resolutions. Since human beings are dynamic, their problems are dynamic too, requiring diversity in resolutions and intervention methods. Yet, from a broader perspective, the researcher would prefer the problem-solving approach over the psychoanalytic as it would more commonly be used in every day practice for the interventions of common problems. Such problems require a knowledge base to be developed from set rules and experiments, and require less time for interventions. On the other hand, for complex problems the researcher would prefer to use the psychoanalytic approach for individual objective observation and interventions.Referencesdefinition of Social Work Profession outside (a) Federation of Social Workers general meeting in Montral, Canada, July 2000, and endorsed by the InternationalAssociation of Schools of Social Work in 2001 in Ramsay, R. F. (2003). Transforming the Working Definition of Social Work Into the 21st Century. Research on Social Work do, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 324-338Bartlett, H. M. (1970). The Common Base of Social Work. New York national Association of Social Workers.Compton B. Galaway, B. (1979). 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