This document discusses various theoretical perspectives on human behavior that are relevant for social work professionals. It covers key concepts from different theories like systems theory, conflict theory, rational choice theory, and psychodynamic theory. It also outlines criteria for evaluating theories and discusses how theories can be used to guide social work practice interventions. The document emphasizes that theories provide frameworks for understanding human behavior and that scientific knowledge of theories and research is an important ingredient for doing social work.

1. Theoretical
Perspectives on
Human Behavior
Florida Atlantic University
School of Social Work
Module #2
Dr. Whiteman

2. Agenda
• Quiz
• Knowledge Ingredients for Helping
Professionals
• Theories in general
• Big Ideas and Applications
• Theories compared

3. Knowledge Ingredients Necessary
“TO DO” Social Work
• Specifics of the case or situation
– Quality of relationship between social worker
and client
How can you improve quality of relationship?

4. Knowledge Ingredients Necessary
“TO DO” Social Work
• Thinking processes, emotions, and social
location of self

5. Knowledge Ingredients Necessary
“TO DO” Social Work
• Social work values and ethics.
– Service
– Social Justice
– Dignity and Worth of the Person
– Importance of Human Relationships
– Integrity
– Competence

6. Knowledge Ingredients Necessary
“TO DO” Social Work
• Scientific knowledge of theory and
research
– http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/

7. Scientific Knowledge: Theory and
Research from the THEORY side
THEORY
– Provides a framework for understanding
person/environment transactions
– Guides interventions
– Focuses our attention on particular aspects of the
person-environment-time configuration
– Is based on assumptions, or beliefs held to be true
without testing or proof, about the nature of human
social life
– Is composed of concepts which are put together to form
propositions and statements of relationship

8. Scientific Knowledge: Theory and Research
from the THEORY side
THEORY DEFINED
– A logically related set of concepts and
propositions, organized into a deductive
system, that explains some aspects of our
world.
– Concepts are the building blocks of theory
(i.e., acculturation, loss, self-reliance).
– Example: Risk & Resiliency theory

9. Scientific Knowledge: Theory and Research
from the RESEARCH side
RESEARCH:
• Is a problem-solving process
• Is a systematic method of seeking answers to questions
• Is empirical -- something that we experience through our senses,
as opposed to something that we experience purely in our minds
• Is a way of observing events with the intent to look for patterns in
those events
• Is a way to test the assumptions of theories

10. Scientific Knowledge: Theory and Research from
the RESEARCH side
Criteria for Evaluating Research
• Corroboration
• Multidimensionality
• Definition of terms
• Limitation of sample
• Influence of setting
• Influence of the researcher
• Social distance
• Specification of inferences
• Suitability of measures

11. Florida Atlantic University
School of Social Work
Module #2
Theories

12. Theories
• Are useful for thinking about changing
configurations of persons and environments
• Are not mutually exclusive but overlapping and
intersecting
• Differ by focus and perspective
• Evolve as world views expand and change to
accommodate diversity and inequality
• Are used to guide practice interventions

13. • Break into groups
– Summarize the assigned theoretical
perspective
– Explain group’s interpretation of the
perspectives usefulness when applied to
McKinley Family

14. Big Ideas of the Systems
Perspective
• Systems are made up of interrelated members
(parts) that constitute an ordered whole.
• Each part of the system impacts all other parts and
the system as a whole.
• All systems are subsystems of other larger systems.
• Systems maintain boundaries that give them their
identities.
• The dynamic interactions within, between, and
among systems produce both stability and change,
sometimes even rapid, dramatic change.

15. Big Ideas of the Conflict
Perspective
• Groups and individuals try to advance their own interests over
the interests of others.
• Power is unequally divided, and some social groups dominate
others.
• Social order is based on the manipulation and control of non-dominant
groups by dominant groups.
• Lack of open conflict is a sign of exploitation.
• Members of non-dominant groups become alienated from
society.
• Social change is driven by conflict, with periods of change
interrupting long periods of stability.

16. Big Ideas of the Rational Choice
Perspective
• People are rational and goal-directed.
• Social exchange based on self-interest as actors try
maximize rewards / minimize costs.
• Values, standards, expectations, and alternatives
influence the assessment of rewards and costs.
• Reciprocity of exchange is essential to social life.
• Power comes from unequal resources in an
exchange.

17. Big Ideas of the Social
Constructionist Perspective
• Human consciousness, and the sense of self, is shaped by
continual social interaction.
• Social reality is created when people, in social interaction,
develop a common understanding of their world.
• People perform for their social audiences, but they are also free,
active, and creative.
• Social interaction is grounded in language customs, as well as
cultural and historical contexts.
• People can modify meanings in the process of interaction.
• Society consists of social processes, not social structures.

18. Big Ideas of the Psychodynamic
Perspective
• Emotions have a central place in human behavior.
• Unconscious, as well as conscious, mental activity serves as the
motivating force in human behavior.
• Early childhood experiences are central in the patterning of an
individual’s emotions and, therefore, central to problems of living
throughout life.
• Individuals may become overwhelmed by internal and/or external
demands.
• Individuals frequently use ego defense mechanisms to avoid
becoming overwhelmed by internal and/or external demands.

19. Big Ideas of the Developmental
Perspective
• Human development occurs in clearly defined age-graded
stages.
• Each stage of life is qualitatively different from all
other stages.
• Each stage builds on earlier stages.
• Human development is a complex interaction of
biological, psychological, and social factors.
• Moving from one stage to the next involves new
tasks and changes in statuses and roles.

20. Big Ideas of the Social Behavioral
Perspective
• Human behavior is learned when individuals interact with the
environment.
• Similar learning processes taking place in different environments
produce differences in human behavior.
• All human problems can be formulated as undesirable behavior.
• All behavior can be defined and changed.
• Human behavior is learned by association of environmental
stimuli, by reinforcement, by imitation, and by personal
expectations and meanings.

21. Big Ideas of the Humanistic
Perspective
• Each person is unique and valuable.
• Each person is responsible for the choices
he or she makes within the limits of
freedom.
• People always have the capacity to
change themselves, even to make radical
change.

22. Big Ideas of the Humanistic
Perspective (cont.)
• Human behavior can be understood only from the
vantage point of the phenomenal self—from the
internal frame of reference of the individual.
• People make psychologically destructive demands
on each other, and attempts to meet those demands
produce anxiety.
• Human behavior is driven by a desire for growth,
personal meaning, and competence, and by a need
to experience a bond with others.

23. Theories Comparatively
• What criteria should social workers use to
evaluate theories?
– Coherence and conceptual clarity
– Testability and empirical support
– Comprehensiveness
– Diversity and power
– Usefulness for practice

24. What two important things did we discuss
today?

25. Homework
• Chart amount of sleep, exercise, and
eating habits for five days.
• Bring the chart to class next Thursday to
discuss their findings in small groups.
– Document physical health, psychological
health, and exterior environmental conditions.

26. Homework
• Interview, by phone, in person, or through
e-mail, a medical social worker at a local
or state medical facility to find out the
following:
– How the social worker uses information about
the different biological systems to work
effectively with their client population.
– How other medical professionals view the role
of social work in that particular medical facility.

27. Homework
• What perspective/theory best explains
HBSE?
• Why?
• Given what you have read, what two
interventions would be most successful
working with your group/population of
interest?