The social worker encountered an unexpected personal bias during an interaction with a military client. The client was a 48-year-old white male retiring after 30 years of active service at the highest enlisted rank. The social worker initially felt angry and frustrated, thinking the client did not need assistance given his retirement pay and rank. After reflection, the social worker realized this was a result of unresolved personal issues from their own military career and a bias against those of higher socioeconomic class. Examining literature on social class bias and cultural competence standards helped the social worker identify and address this lapse in ethical practice.

1. Week 1 Individual Assignment: Personal
Bias in Ethics
Christopher Burrell
SOWK 602 Social Work Law and Ethics
UMass Global
January 14, 2023
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2. Introduction
My name is Christopher Burrell and I have chosen a personal experience to which
I was unaware of my bias. During my BSW practicum I was working with a non-
profit organization that assists active duty military personnel with their transition
from military to civilian. I would interview clients and help to facilitate resources
that would best fit the individual. The majority of my clients were young service
personnel whom had one or two enlistments and decided to transition out. In this
particular case I noticed some undiscovered biases which arose internally to
myself. The interaction was via phone call, forcing me to work with out the use of
nonverbal ques. I had to listen more carefully to tone, voice quality, pauses and
other potential signs indicating potential affect. 2

3. Personal Case
The client was a 48 year old, white, male retiring after 30 years active duty service
having reached the rank of Master Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (E-9). During
our conversation I was having internal thoughts that this individual should not
need our help and is trying to use the system. I felt angry and frustrated as if he
were taking a spot away from another client who needs immediate help and is not
fortunate enough to have E-9 retirement pay with 30 years of service (75% of his
current base pay, E-9 is the highest rank of an enlisted person)”. I would place this
into Classism.
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4. Article
I struggled to find any articles related to bias towards upper class in social work as
typically social workers might be considered middle class to upper. The article “The
psychology of social class: How socioeconomic status impacts thought, feelings, and
behavior” by Antony S. R. Manstead (2018)
The article goes into detail how our own backgrounds play into our perception of
different classes plays a role in our thoughts and feelings that then drive our
decisions and behaviors.
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5. Evaluate
The National Association of Social Workers (2018) discusses awareness to cultural
and social diversity. In this particular case, I was assuming because of his class he
should not need services.
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6. Evaluate
By the end of our conversation, the feelings of anger and frustration were gone. After
seeking supervision, I was able to identified that I have to remember I am not in the
military anymore and that was a lifestyle I lived and left at the door when I retired. I
also need to remind myself that individuals in the military act a certain way at work
to preserve their careers and their actions are not intentional or personal. I also
realized that I have some unresolved issues with not making the next rank in the
military which is chief. So I have to make sure to screen my clients and if they are a
chief or above, be extra cautious about potential counter transference.
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7. Manstead A. S. R. (2018). The psychology of social class: How socioeconomic status
impacts thought, feelings, and behavior. The British journal of social
psychology, 57(2), 267–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12251
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (n.d.). NASW - National Association of
Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-
of-Ethics-English
REFERENCE LIST:
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