Human Behavior Theory for Social Work Practice

Terry L. Koenig, PhD, LSCSW, professor, School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas, teaches human behavior theory, ethics, social work philosophy, and qualitative research methods. Sparked by relationships with her Kazakh daughter-in-law and grandchildren, she pursued a Fulbright scholarship to Kazakhstan in 2011 where she taught social policy with social work students on the Siberian steppe. Dr. Koenig’s scholarship examines ethical decision-making and cross-cultural aspects of social work practice. In addition, she has developed and supported a cross-cultural social work course between the School of Social Welfare and social work faculty at the Universitá del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy.Rick Spano, PhD, LSCSW, Professor Emeritus, School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas, has taught social work policy, practice, ethics, and social work history and philosophy for nearly five decades. He developed and supported bilingual and comparative studies social work courses between the School of Social Welfare and Escuela de Trabajo Social, University of Costa Rica. In addition, Dr. Spano’s practice experience includes extensive work in foster care, and he maintains a private practice where he uses a family systems approach to treat sexual abuse of children and adults. He remains active in developing and presenting materials on social work ethics. John B. Thompson, PhD, MSW, MA, MATS, is associate professor at the School of Social Work, St. Ambrose University. Dr. Thompson’s interests, scholarship, and teaching are interdisciplinary, bringing together wisdom from Christian theology, philosophy, and the social sciences. His courses focus on understanding human behavior and addressing multiple social issues such as mental illness, the opioid crisis, environmental degradation and mass homicide. Publications include work on the intersection of theology and psychiatry, pragmatism and social work, and a book on Christian theology and social justice (in process).

• PrefaceAbout the AuthorsAcknowledgmentsChapter 1 • Introduction to Theory and Its Application to Social Work PracticeHow This Book Is OrganizedChapter SummariesWhat Is Theory?Theory and ScienceDoes Theory Really Matter? Theory Myth BustersThe Interactive Abstract/Concrete ContinuumMeta-Theories as Overarching Theories: Their Contributions to PracticeReferencesChapter 2 • Critique of Theory for Use in Social Work PracticeWhat Does This Theory Say About Human Behavior?How Does This Theory Address Growth and Change?How Holistic Is This Theory?How Consistent Is This Theory With Social Work Values and Ethics?What Are the Sources of Knowledge That Support This Theory?Chapter SummaryReferencesChapter 3 • Contextualizing Human Behavior TheoryRationale for the ChapterAssumptions Regarding Our Discussion of HBSE Theories and Their Connection to PracticeDefining Historical ContextApplication of Historical Context FrameworkHistorical Context Questions Applied to the Late 1800s to 1920Chapter SummaryClassroom Exercise: Analyzing Current EventsReferencesChapter 4 • Critical TheoriesCritical Theories and Their Roots in MarxismBroad and Narrow Definitions of Critical TheoryKey Themes in Critical Theory and Its DevelopmentCritical Theory in the 20th Century: Feminist Criticism and Critical Race TheoryIn-Depth Paulo Freire (1921–1997)Theory CritiqueApplication of Critical Theories to Social WorkEnvironmental ConditionsClassroom Exercises: The Application of Critical Theory to Social Work Practice ExamplesChapter SummaryReferencesChapter 5 • Psychodynamic TheoryBrief Introduction to Freudian IdeasKey Conceptual Elements of FreudPsychodynamic Theories’ Early Influences on Social Work PracticeExtensions of Psychodynamic TheoryEgo PsychologyMore Current DevelopmentsIn-Depth: Otto RankTheory CritiqueApplication of Psychodynamic TheoryThe Application of Psychodynamic Theory to Case ExamplesConnections to Usefulness in PracticeChapter SummaryClassroom ExercisesReferencesChapter 6 • Systems TheoriesIntroduction to Systems TheoriesIn-Depth Exploration of Systems Theories as Applied to Social Work PracticeSocial Work Frame of Reference Based on Systems TheoryCurrent Conceptualization of the Life ModelTheory CritiqueApplication of the Life Model to Social Work Practice: Eco-Maps, Genograms, and BeyondChapter SummaryClassroom ExercisesReferencesChapter 7 • Environmental and Ecological Theory in Social WorkConnecting Social Work With the Natural EnvironmentIs Environmental Thought New?Environmental EthicsIn-Depth: Arne Naess and Deep EcologyCritique of Environmental and Ecological TheorySocial Work’s Historical Relationship With the Natural EnvironmentSocial Work and the Natural Environment: Current DevelopmentsSummary of Social Work and the Natural EnvironmentChapter SummaryClassroom ExercisesReferencesChapter 8 • Life Span Theories, Family Life Course Perspectives, and Historical TraumaOverview of Life Span TheoriesAdvances Beyond EriksonIn-Depth: Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart and Venida S. ChenaultCritique of Life Span Theories and BeyondIntroduction to Social Work’s Understanding of Life Span TheoryChapter SummaryReferencesChapter 9 • Symbolic InteractionismOverview and In-Depth Examination of George H. MeadCritique of Symbolic InteractionismApplication of Symbolic Interactionism Theory to Social Work PracticeChapter SummaryReferencesChapter 10 • Behavior Theory, the Cognitive Turn, and the Influence of MindfulnessIntroduction and History of BehaviorismBehavior Theory and Three Generations of Behavior TherapyThe Cognitive Turn and the First Generation of Behavior TherapiesCognition and Second-Generation Behavior TherapiesThird-Generation Behavior TherapiesIn-Depth: Mindfulness East and WestCritique of Behavior Theory and Behavior TherapiesApplication of Behaviorism to Social Work PracticeChapter SummaryReferencesChapter 11 • Theories of Culture and White PrivilegeCritical Consciousness for Ourselves and Our ClientsWhite Privilege and White Identity DevelopmentHelms’s White Identity Development ModelPraxis as Action-Awareness-Reflection-DialogueIn-Depth Theorist: Kimberlé Crenshaw and IntersectionalityCritique of Theories of Culture, White Privilege, Diversity, and IntersectionalityApplication and Development of Diversity in Social Work PracticeExercisesChapter SummaryReferencesChapter 12 • Empowerment Theory and the Strengths PerspectiveHistorical Context for Empowerment TheoryKey Themes in Empowerment TheoryPositive PsychologyApplied Positive PsychologyConcerns About Positive PsychologyIn-Depth Theorists for the Strengths PerspectiveCritique of Empowerment Theory and the Strengths PerspectiveApplication of the Strengths PerspectiveClassroom ExerciseChapter SummaryReferencesChapter 13 • Cognitive and Moral Development TheoriesPiaget and Cognitive DevelopmentFrom Cognitive to Moral Development TheoryThe Emergence of Kohlberg’s Moral Development TheoryPublic Education as the Just CommunityExtensions From Piaget and KohlbergCurrent Trends in Moral DevelopmentIn-Depth: Carol Gilligan and Women’s Moral DevelopmentThe First PerspectiveThe Second PerspectiveThe Third PerspectiveAdolescent Girls and AuthenticityCritique of Cognitive and Moral Development TheoriesApplication of Cognitive and Moral Development Theories to Social Work PracticeChapter SummaryReferencesGlossaryIndex