Assignment #1: Theory Application: Person-in-environment When analyzing a case, it is very important to discuss the major biological, psychological, and social factors involved. It is important to pay special attention on how these factors intersect on one another and how this intersectional play affects the whole well being of a human. Robins, S.P., Chatterjee, P. & Canda, E.R. (2012) stress that “all systems theories are based on a holistic view of people that acknowledges the interrelationship between biological, psychological, social cultural and spiritual dimensions of behavior” (Susan P. Robbins, Pranab Chatterjee, Edward R. Canda, Contemporary Human Behavior Theory A Critical Perspective for Social Work, 2012, p. 52). One must ask, 418-439). In the vignette Social Dominance Theory is at the forefront. The whole theme of homelessness verse working class illustrates the concept of Social Dominance Theory by addressing social hierarchies. Due to the dominant class holding all the power and profit, Michael developed a defeatist attitude towards life, ergo his homelessness. Another example of Social Dominance Theory presented in the vignette is police brutality. Shawn Ginwright and Julio Camarota stress the “‘get tough on youth” crime discourse has turned our attention from the powerful social forces and structural barriers that create and maintain problems to explanations of group behavior. As a result, racism, the influence of poverty, and the effect of unemployment have been ignored while the troubles of urban youth get pushed into sight” (Shawn Ginwright and Julio Cammarota, "New Terrain in Youth Development: The Promise of a Social Justice Approach", p. ACE was defined, as any type of abuse experienced prior to age eighteen, whether be emotional or physical. This research points out that those who suffered from ACE most likely developed risky behavior later in life because that was a way for them (him/her) to cope. The ACE research proves that there is a direct line to alcoholism, smoking and other addictions, homelessness, mental health issues, and incarceration (in Heather Larkin , Brooke A. Beckos & Joseph J. Shields (2012) Mobilizing Resilience and Recovery in Response to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE): A Restorative Integral Support (RIS) Case Study, Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 40:4,
In his observation of the boys, he finds that these boys are criminalized by many social forces besides the police. “I found that schools pushed out boys who had been victimized.” (pg. 6). Many boys feel that their school system blames them for crimes that have occurred in their area, or as a danger to other students in the classroom. These boys think that these experiences of victimization are part of their street life. Rios says that if the institutions of social control believe that all young people follow the code of the street, then programs and interactions with margined youth’s will be based on this false information. This dishonest perception of youth is what leads to their
The "youth control complex" is one of the concepts presented by the author to analyze young people 's lives. As mentioned in the book, it is "a ubiquitous system if criminalization molded by the synchronized, systematic punishment meted out by socializing and social control institutions"(p.40). It is a person 's normal daily behavior become ubiquitously treated as deviant or even criminal behaviors. For example, schools in Oakland often treat problem students as potential criminals, and some staffs and teachers act as prison guards telling students they are will never be amount to anything and threaten to call the police for misbehaviors which should be dealt with on campus. Many young men are often called a thug and frisked by police. It damages the mind and future prospects of them. They feel outcast and just want to be acknowledged
Childhood Trauma is defined as “The experience of an event by a child that is emotionally painful or distressful, which often results in lasting mental and physical effects.” (The National Institute of Mental Health). Childhood trauma is an epidemic that seems to be running its way throughout the world. Childhood trauma is a worldwide problem that can affect anyone and everyone. People tend to just try and help the problems that occur due to the childhood trauma, but not the problem itself. Many of these issues will also follow the child into their adult years and will cause negative effects. This paper will discuss the negative outcomes for a child who suffers from childhood trauma, and the negative outcomes that can follow them into adulthood.
Society is ever changing and the people are just the same. Throughout history, it is shown that people change and mold to their surroundings. But when a deeper look is taken it is revealed that there is a minority that is unwilling or unable to fit these standards as most people do. These people tend to be forced into seclusion or made to fend for themselves. This is shown through the colonization of America and up into more recent times. The Native Americans are the first to make a life on this land, and when the English set up a new society, the Natives are forced onto smaller and smaller plots of land until forced to conform or to live on a reservation. The idea of this societal conformity is shown in “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie, a short story author. Society's pressure to improve an individual living differently is hurting more than it is helping.
Liddle, H A., Rowe, C L., Dakof, G A., Henderson, C E., Greenbaum, P E.; (Feb, 2009). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology; Vol 77(1); 12-25. Doi: 10.1177/0306624X10366960
The person-in-environment approach views a client’s problems by how they react to the environmental contexts within their environment and how they occur. According to Gordon and Richmond, it has been stated that the person-in-environment approach is the “cornerstone” of social work practice. (as cited in Rogers, 2016, p.24). A clients’ systems are the interrelated aspects of a clients’ lives where all parts come together to function. Social workers utilize and focus on a clients’ systems when applying the person-in-environment. A clients’ system is anything that they interact with and hold roles in their lives. These systems can be on a micro level which is the individual and their biology, personality, and genetics. The individuals’ mezzo level would include their immediate environment, family, school, friends, or work. A macro level would include the larger social aspects of a clients’ life such as government policies, discrimination, oppression, or social class. Social workers incorporate these interactions and how they impact clients’ and their presenting problems. This theory and approach are beneficial as it allows a social worker to find out what resources are available to the client during their time with the worker (Rodgers,
Toseland & Rivas (2009) expressed how the psychodynamic theory focuses primarily on the individual, group members act out in the group unresolved conflicts from early life experiences (p.59). The group focused on past life experiences while exploring the cognitive moral reasoning behind their actions and how to cope positively from the injustices that occurred. As we divulged into heavy topics some group members enforced defense mechanisms that had formed earlier in their lives. Thus, the Social Worker and I had to link group members past behaviors to their current ones to help them solve conflict and hinderances in their behavior and positive way of thinking. Overall, the members of the group progressed tremendously from their negative coping behaviors. The treatment group has increased their self-confidence on their ability to persevere after enduring trauma and substance abuse issues. They have also gained a deeper respect for one another, and created a positive social support group outside of the treatment group
...ace or courage to help those who may be trapped in the same darkness of anger, pain and helplessness. They want to stop the abuse and end the cycle of torment and the hurt that it carries to be able to move on and turn the dark into light. “As part of her contribution to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Lori, 50, a domestic violence survivor, agreed to tell The Daily Republic her story.” Something as simple as telling yours story can help someone who is being abused. Standing up for what you believe is wrong and can make a large impact that can help so many others.
Messerschmidt argues, gender intersects with race and class to create different masculinities. Explaining how masculinity varies by structural location and crime can be a way to “do gender” or show masculinity. Hegemonic masculinity is the ruling or dominance in a political or social context. For example a middle class white boy accomplishes dominance by conforming to school rules and by dominating in student organizations and sports. Boys who are not successful in school work, and do not participate in sports, they typically seek out other resources to prove masculinity. When it comes to hegemonic masculinity outside of school many boys show masculinities’ by pranks, vandalism, drugs sales and petty theft.This theory examines white working class boys may participate in theft to get extra cash, In order to participate in youth culture like wearing nice clothing and going to popular events. On the other hand lower working class, racial minority boys, often do not have access to paid labor, and their parents are unable to provide their youth culture needs. The street group is a collective solution to their prohibitions and a lifestyle that incorporates to the form of street activities. Our social
Theory has been defined as, “an organized set of assumptions, beliefs, or ideas about particular phenomena in the world (Teater, 2015).” Theory is used to understand and explain possible and perceived instances, behaviors and outcomes (Teater, 2015). Social workers use theory in order to understand, as well as, introduce interventions and solutions to their client’s individual situation. It is important for students entering into the social work profession to have a base knowledge of theories, with basic understanding of their similarities and differences to appropriately apply theory in practice. The theories which will be focused on in this paper include Systems Theory and Cognitive Behavioral Theory.
For my final paper I choose to sociologically analyze the book Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh. Newsweek describes Gang Leader for a Day as being “Compelling…dramatic…Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand.” (Newsweek) Gang Leader for a Day tells the story of a young sociologist named Sudir Venkatesh and his search for answers to poverty problems in the urban projects. After being constantly warned of which areas not to visit, Venkatesh decided to ignore all the forewarnings and goes and walks into Lake Park Projects, to conduct surveys for his professor. On his trip into the projects Venkatesh ends up meeting a gang leader named J.T. After spending the night in the projects Venkatesh is allowed to leave after J.T. states “You shouldn’t go around asking them silly-a** questions —- With people like us, you should hang out, get to know what they do, how they do it. No one is going to answer questions like that .You need to understand how young people live on the streets.” (2008 : 21) From that day on Venkatesh would come to end up befriending J.T and spending almost all of his time in the projects. It isn’t until J.T gets relocated to the notorious Robert Taylor Housing that the real study begins. Over the next seven years Venkatesh would not only gather information from J.T but, also befriend everyone from the other neighborhood dealers, crackheads, squatters, prostitutes, pimps, activists, cops, organizers, and officials. Through his time spent with the residents and officials of the Robert Taylor Homes Venkatesh not only was able to gain insight on the day to day life of...
In this assignment I am going to introduce and unpack cognitive behavioural theory and psychodynamic theory. This will include the history of each theory and the theorists that discovered and developed both. I am going to link each theory to where they fit in Payne’s Triangle of Social Work as well as compare and contrast each theory. Both Cognitive behavioural theory and psychodynamic theory both support the purposes of social work in which I will cover beneath. This assignment will also include criticisms of both theories as well.
The therapist must be aware of individual values and beliefs in order to develop an understanding of why the client responds to certain life-stressors. For e...
One thing I have learned in my practicum is that many systems affect a patient / client recovery. As a social work student, we learn about theories however, we really do not get a chance to see it in action or how it affects our clients in many different ways. The one theory that I can see plays a big part in a person
According to Cialdini (2010), people evaluate the correctness of their beliefs by comparing their beliefs to others. Cialdini cited Festinger’s (1954) social comparison theory, which theorizes people to evaluate their beliefs’ appropriateness based on how those beliefs compare to their peers’ beliefs. Asch (1955) gave examples of early research studies in social psychology where it had been found that participants would change their opinions to be more aligned with the majority based on being given information that a group of their peers or an authority held contradictory opinions.