This second practice theory course builds on SWK 501, Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families and Small Groups, extending the concepts of strengths based practice to work with organizations and communities. The relationships between communities and organizations and at risk populations are infused throughout the course. Knowledge, values and skills will be obtained throughout the course. These will be gained through readings, oral and written assignments, and videos

1. Understanding Human Behavior and the Social
Environment
Eleventh Edition
Chapter 1
Introduction to Human
Behavior and the
Social Environment
Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.

2. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
Learning Objectives (1 of 2)
• LO 1-1 Explain the importance of foundation
knowledge for social work with an emphasis on
assessment.
• LO 1-2 Review the organization of this book that
emphasizes lifespan development.
• LO 1-3 Describe important concepts for understanding
human behavior (that are stressed throughout the book
and include human diversity, cultural competency,
oppression, populations-at-risk, empowerment, the
strengths perspective, resiliency, human rights, and
critical thinking about ethical issues).

3. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
Learning Objectives (2 of 2)
• LO 1-4 Employ a conceptual framework for
understanding human behavior and the social
environment: ecosystems theory.
• LO 1-5 Recognize people’s involvement with
multiple systems in the social environment.
• LO 1-6 Recognize social worker roles.
• LO 1-7 Identify knowledge, skills, and values
necessary for generalist social work practice.

4. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-1 (1 of 2)
• Explain the Importance of Foundation Knowledge
for Social Work with an Emphasis on Assessment.
– The Profession of Social Work
– The Process of Social Work: The Importance of
Assessment
– Identifying and Evaluating Alternative Courses of Action

5. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-1 (2 of 2)
• People interact with:
– other people,
– organizations (such as social service agencies),
– small groups (such as families and colleagues in the
workplace).
• Social work targets not only how individuals
behave, but also how these other systems and
people affect each other.

6. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-2 (1 of 2)
• Review the Organization of This Book That
Emphasizes Lifespan Development.
– Common Life Events
– Normal Developmental Milestones
• Understanding and assessing human behavior
includes being knowledgeable about human
development.
• It also involves comprehension of the wide range of
issues facing people as they progress through life.

7. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-2 (2 of 2)
• The lifespan is divided up into four main phases:
– Infancy and childhood
– Adolescence
– Young and middle adulthood
– Later adulthood

8. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-3 (1 of 3)
• Describe Important Concepts for Understanding
Human Behavior.
– Human Diversity, Cultural Competency, Oppression, and
Populations-at-Risk
– Focus on Empowerment, the Strengths Perspective, and
Resiliency
– Critical Thinking About Ethical Issues
– Ethics in Social Work at the International Level: Human
Rights and Social Justice Issues
– Application of Values and Ethics to Bio-Psycho-Social
Assessments

9. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-3 (2 of 3)
• Social workers must be aware of human
differences and the effects they have on human
behavior.
• People in any society might be placed on a
continuum based on social status and the amount
of influence they have over others.
– People who experience discrimination and oppression
might be on one end of the continuum.

10. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-3 (3 of 3)
• Strengths perspective
– Every individual, group, family, and community has
strengths.
– Trauma and abuse, illness and struggle may be
injurious, but they may also be sources of challenge and
opportunity.
– Assume that you do not know the upper limits of the
capacity to grow and change, and take.
– Every environment is full of resources.

11. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-4 (1 of 3)
• Employ a Conceptual Framework for
Understanding Human Behavior and the Social
Environment: Ecosystems Theory.
– Understanding Key Concepts in Systems Theories
– Understanding Key Concepts in the Ecological
Perspective

12. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-4 (2 of 3)
• A number of terms are important to an
understanding of systems theories and their
relationship to social work practice:
– System
– Boundaries
– Subsystem
– Homeostasis
– Role
– Relationship
– Input

13. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-4 (3 of 3)
– Output
– Feedback
– Interface
– Differentiation
– Entropy
– Negative entropy
– Equifinality

14. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-5 and LO 1-6
• Recognize People’s Involvement with Multiple
Systems in the Social Environment.
– Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Systems
– Interactions Between Micro Systems and Macro
Systems
• Recognize People’s Involvement with Multiple
Systems in the Social Environment.
– A Variety of Roles

15. Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
LO 1-7
• Identify Knowledge, Skills, and Values Necessary
for Generalist Social Work Practice.
– Knowledge, Skills, and Values Needed for Social Work
Practice
 Social Work Competencies
o Competencies 1-9