Theories
help frame more than presenting problems—they also frame social problems, and both types of problems can be linked in relation to client issues. For example, many scholars and social workers have attempted to understand the social problem of poverty. Turner and Lehning (2007) classified various psychological theories to explain poverty under two headings: (1) individual-related theories or (2) structural/cultural-related theories. In other words, think of these two headings as lenses in viewing poverty. In this Discussion, you apply lenses through which to understand a client's problem in relation to social problems.
To prepare:
Read this article listed in the Learning Resources: Turner, K., & Lehning, A. J. (2007). Psychological
theories
of poverty.
Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 16
(1/2), 57–72. doi:10.1300/J137v16n01-05
Select a
theory
under the individual-related
theories
and a theory under the structural/cultural-related theories.
Complete the handout “Comparing Individual-Related and Structural/Cultural-Related
Theories
” to help you craft your response. (
Note:
You do
not
need to upload the handout to the Discussion forum. The handout is intended to assist you in writing your Discussion post.)
Post:
Describe how a social worker would conceptualize a presenting problem of poverty from the two
theories
you selected.
Explain how this conceptualization differs from an individual-related versus a structural/cultural-related theoretical lens.
Compare how the two theoretical lenses differ in terms of how the social worker would approach the client and the problem and how the social worker would intervene.
(separate paragraph) Evaluate two identified strength and one identified limitation your colleague may encounter when employing an individual-related
theory
and a structural/cultural-related theory to formulating interventions for poverty.
...
Theories help frame more than presenting problems—they also f
1. Theories
help frame more than presenting problems—they also frame
social problems, and both types of problems can be linked in
relation to client issues. For example, many scholars and social
workers have attempted to understand the social problem of
poverty. Turner and Lehning (2007) classified various
psychological theories to explain poverty under two headings:
(1) individual-related theories or (2) structural/cultural-related
theories. In other words, think of these two headings as lenses
in viewing poverty. In this Discussion, you apply lenses
through which to understand a client's problem in relation to
social problems.
To prepare:
Read this article listed in the Learning Resources: Turner, K., &
Lehning, A. J. (2007). Psychological
theories
of poverty.
Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 16
(1/2), 57–72. doi:10.1300/J137v16n01-05
Select a
theory
under the individual-related
theories
and a theory under the structural/cultural-related theories.
Complete the handout “Comparing Individual-Related and
Structural/Cultural-Related
Theories
” to help you craft your response. (
2. Note:
You do
not
need to upload the handout to the Discussion forum. The
handout is intended to assist you in writing your Discussion
post.)
Post:
Describe how a social worker would conceptualize a presenting
problem of poverty from the two
theories
you selected.
Explain how this conceptualization differs from an individual-
related versus a structural/cultural-related theoretical lens.
Compare how the two theoretical lenses differ in terms of how
the social worker would approach the client and the problem
and how the social worker would intervene.
(separate paragraph) Evaluate two identified strength and one
identified limitation your colleague may encounter when
employing an individual-related
theory
and a structural/cultural-related theory to formulating
interventions for poverty.
