JIG JIGA UNIVERSITY Social Work Methods PDF

Session 5 JIG JIGA UNIVERSITY School of Social Work Methods of Social Work Practice (3 credit hours) First Semester, Academic Year Psychodynamic and Systems Theories to Social Work Practice Psychodynamics Theory: Psychodynamics theory proposes a model of personality...

Session 5 JIG JIGA UNIVERSITY School of Social Work Methods of Social Work Practice (3 credit hours) First Semester, Academic Year Psychodynamic and Systems Theories to Social Work Practice Psychodynamics Theory: Psychodynamics theory proposes a model of personality development based on the existence of opposing forces that strive for a dynamic balance Key Concepts Adherence to the following concepts borrowed from Freudian Psychoanalysis The importance of early childhood experience in personality development Existence of unconscious and preconscious motivation Existence of ego, which assists in rational action Existence of defense mechanism Feeling of ambivalence/uncertainity, people experience opposing emotions such as love and hate  The structure of the mind: The Id The Ego The Superego The Id corresponds to the unconscious and is present at birth The Ego includes both the conscious and preconscious and develop out of the Id from experience that help the child distinguish ‘self’ from ‘other’  The superego is the last to develop and is the special part of the ego that observes and sits in judgement above the rest. Application to Social Work Practice: Psychodynamic theory has provided a substantial core of knowledge about intrapsychic and interpersonal behavior that has been applied to social work practice. Emphasis on individual psychoanalysis led to the embracing of diagnostic casework and functional casework Diagnostic casework rested on diagnosis and treatment Functional casework rejected the illness metaphor and believed in the human capacity for problem solving and the capacity for growth  Systems theory Systems based theories: Assist us in developing a holistic and relational view of people and their environment Help us understand the interaction between individuals, groups, organizations, communities, larger social systems and their environment Enhance our understanding of the contextual nature of human behaviour Are useful in formulating assessments at all levels of practice Systems theory has its origin in sociology and biology We use the term dynamic systems theory to refer to contemporary perspective Living systems, particularly of human systems are characterized by development, creativity, and transformation Dynamic systems theory was introduced to social work in 1950s Dynamics systems theory has now cut across the dimensions of micro and macro practice perspectives, as well as across the disciplinary boundaries of sociology, physics, engineering, social work psychology and others Systems theory relevant to human behaviour include the following Structural functionalism also known as the general theory of action Examine show social system survive and why institutionalized patterns of interaction persist The ecological perspective, derived from earlier ecological theories The idea of adaptation is an essential concept The emphasis is the adaptation of population or groups The natural and the social environment The natural environment is the geographical environment The social environment is the network of relationships of individuals and groups Dynamic systems theory, also known as general systems theory, or simply systems theory Two basic concepts: objective and environment A system is a set of objects together with relationships between the objects and between their attributes For a given system, the environment is the set of all objects, a change in whose attributes affects the system and also those objects whose attributes are changed by the behaviour of the system  A family of four, for example, can be thought of as a system in which 1 each person is a subject 2 All family members together are mutually influencing 3 Family relationships are woven together into patterns and developmental processes 4 The family as a whole encompasses subsystems 5 The family transacts with external supra systems (neighbourhood or social services agency) Deep ecology The interdependency between human beings and the total planetary ecology There is intrinsic/inherent value in all life Diversity, interdependency and complexity reflects the nature of life Humanity is part of nature with extraordinary power Ecofeminism Modern societies give privilege to human over nature and men over women Focus feminist concerns on the human nature relationship Application to Social Work Practice: Systems theories have supported the refinement of social work’s person-in-environment perspective by embedding it within a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and holistic conceptual framework Contemporary insights of dynamic systems theory, deep ecology and ecofeminism on systems transformation, mutually, and global transformation well-being are rarely addressed in the social work literature.