Social Work Practice Theory
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Numerous theories are attempting to explain particular concepts in life. Theories play an essential role in explaining unknown facts in different fields. They also enable the scientists to make predictions of what they should consider if a theory is factual. The central elements that the theory holds, and the more test it passes, and the numerous observation it forecast determine a theory’s strength. Though technology has advanced significantly, controlling almost every aspect of humanity, theories persist up to date. The Darwin theory, for example, is an ancient theory that is still accepted in society today. A theory is a well-substantiated elucidation of a natural world characteristic that integrates laws, suggestions, and evidence (Frost et al., 2020). A theory is a guess which does not have a reinforced proof. Many theories are used to give explanations of social work practice. This paper discusses strengths perspective theory, life structure theory, system theory, social intelligence theory, and psychosocial theory used in the social work practice.
- The Strengths Perspective Theory
The strength perspective is a methodology to social work that entails putting the strong point and resources of individuals, societies, and their surroundings, rather than their difficulties and pathologies, at the assisting course center (Clark et al., 2020). The theory was formed as a counteractive and transformative encounter to principal practice and strategies to diminish people and their potential for shortages, difficulties, pathologies, and dysfunctions. The terminologies used in theory are pathologies, dysfunction, and strength perspective, among others. The theory emphasizes human dimensions for flexibility, bravery, resistance, inventiveness, and victors as the right persons and communities to form and attain their objectives and ambitions. According to Clark et al. 2020,), the Strength Perspective theory does not limit people to their problems, disturbances, difficulties, and sickness in recognizing the teething troubles that they go through. Instead, the theory views such as encounters, opportunities, and persuaders for transformation. Social workers are forbidden to collaborate with their customers, relatives, and society in the process of discovering hopes and opportunities. This helps to motivate the inner and the surrounding strengths and resources. Therefore, the aiding relationship is characterized by the coalition, sympathy, teamwork, and emphasis on clients and communities’ ambition and objectives.
The theory has a lot of relevance concerning social work. It helps me to understand that everyone in society has his or her strengths and resources. People should therefore live in respect, harmony and always support each other. The theory accepts that people face challenges that interfere with fulfilling their goals (Clark et al., 2020). Therefore, people should support each other despite the numerous challenges they might encounter in fulfilling the set objectives in social work. This theory applies in real-life situations since it put it clear that every person is essential in society. Despite the differences that might be existing, everyone deserves respectful treatment since there is that thing that one can do excellently.
The theory is applicable in social work practice. It is applicable when it comes to people supporting each other in social work. According to Clara (2020), harmonious social work engagement should exist despite the differences that might exist. Also, the theory helps assess people’s strengths. It evaluates the benefits that are incurred when people support each other in social work. There is also the intervention part in the theory, where people should support each other to attain the set objectives in social work (Clark et al., 2020).
- The System Theory
System theory is a fundamental theory in social work. The theory tries to explain and develop a hypothesis based on the features that arise within complex systems that apparently might not occur in any solitary arrangement within the whole (Lesser, 2020). In social work, the theory is based on the assumption that behavior is determined by a diversity of factors that work together. This is termed emergent behavior. Some important concepts and terminologies used in the system theory are system, complex system, adaptation, and ecological system. The theory’s fundamental assumption is that a multifaceted method comprises multiple smaller systems, and it is the connections amongst these minor arrangements that make a complex system as it’s recognized.
The system theory is applicable in real-life experience. According to Lesser (2020), it is vital in a holistic approach to a person’s personality, choices, and hardships on the successful social work. The theory is applicable when trying to understand problems like family issues. Family issues specific are related to diverse personal matters such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and relationship issues. The theory explains that family issues are affected by various factors around family members.
The theory is applicable in social work practice. Social workers can employ systems theory to understand community dysfunction, family problems, and child abuse (Lesser, 2020). The approach helps to understand that the issues are related to self-harm, low self-esteem, and anxiety. Therefore, several multiple practices are employed with the system theory’s help to curb challenges encountered in social work.
- Life Structure Theory
The Life Structure Theory is a critical theory that is applied in social work. Levinson’s theory of life structure is comprised of a sequence-like stage that appears in two types of periods. The theory has an assumption that the steady era where critical life decisions are made and the Transitional Period where one-period finishes and the other begin concurrently. Life structure contains a combination of roles, activities, beliefs, which symbolize an individual, which is terminology evident in concept. The fundamental notion of living arrangement is the basic strategy of an individual’s life comprising of their connection with noteworthy persons, groups, and organizations in the social order. The theory is applicable in social work practice since it contains adulthood division in terms of stages. It also gives the details of essential relationships of groups, individuals, and institutions. There is, therefore, an engagement of different individuals from a particular group. The theory also assesses their relationship and also intervenes to empower the connection between the individuals.
- The Social Intelligence Theory
According to Osterhaus et al. (2020), the theory of social intelligence was initially brought to the forefront by an American psychologist called Edward Thorndike in 1920. Social intelligence is an essential terminology in theory. The theory entails the ability to understand and manage boys and girls and ladies and gentlemen to act in human relations. Edward pointed out that no man was born socially intelligent. The theory has an assumption that people should have the ability to get along and work together with others. The key concept in the social intelligence theory is cooperation.
The theory is applicable in real-life situations where people cooperate. In school, for example, there is a collection of both boys and girls. They work together and help each other as brothers and sisters. This helps to bring a satisfactory overall performance. Again, it helps in the attainment of the set educational objectives. The theory is also usable in social work practice. It is functional in promoting teamwork to workers in an organization. The approach can be applied to put away the differences between the workers in an organization and help them engage and work in teamwork focused on a common goal (Osterhaus et al., 2020). The assessment of the output of the partnership is based attainment of the organizational goals. Intervention is applicable in situations where a conflict may arise to try and maintain the workers in teamwork.
- Psychosocial Theory
The last theory discussed in this paper is the psychosocial theory. The theory attempts to address the patterned alterations in the growth of the ego. It comprises different concepts and terminologies such as self-understanding, self-relationships, uniqueness formation, and the worldview crossways to lifetime. According to Archard (2020), development in the psychosocial theory results from the ongoing interactions between people and their social environment. Therefore, the theory assumes that growth is a product of the continuous interactions between the people and the surrounding.
The theory is of much significance to the real-life situation. It clearly shows that the continuous development taking place in an individual results from the interaction with the environment. For example, in school, the student’s performance is highly linked to the interaction and the engagement the learners have with the environment. Assessment and intervention are applicable to the students’ journey to attain the set educational objectives. All these theories are, therefore, vital and appropriate to the social work practice.
Reference
Archard, P. J. (2020). The psychoanalytically-informed interview in social work research. Journal of Social Work Practice, 1-13.
Clark, S. L., Akin, B. A., & Wright, K. (2020). A Future of Strength: The Strengths Perspective and Developing Social Workers. University of Kansas Libraries.
Frost, L., Magyar-Haas, V., Schoneville, H., & Sicora, A. (2020). Shame and social work: an introduction. Shame and Social Work: Theory, Reflexivity, and Practice, 1.
Lesser, J. (2020). Introduction to Smith Studies in Social Work: Special Issue on Social Work and Social Class. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 90(1-2), 1-6.
Osterhaus, C., Putnick, D. L., Kristen‐Antonow, S., Kloo, D., Bornstein, M. H., & Sodian, B. (2020). Theory of Mind and diverse intelligences in 4‐year‐olds: Modelling associations of false beliefs with children’s numerate‐spatial, verbal, and social intelligence. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 38(4), 580-593.