How Theories Obstruct Or Assist Practice Social Work Essays

How Theories Obstruct Or Assist Practice Social Work Essays How Theories Obstruct Or Assist Practice Social Work Essay How Theories Obstruct Or Assist Practice Social Work Essay A demand for Social Work Training is to guarantee that the instruction of theoretical cognition, accomplishments and values is based on [ pupils ] application to pattern ( NHS, 2002 p.3 ) . In response to the decease of babe Peter, the Social Work Taskforce published 15 recommendations including societal work grades necessitating a greater focal point on associating theory to pattern ( DCSF, 2009 p.18 ) . This increased accent between theory and pattern, will be considered in this essay, by discoursing if theories of human growing and development obstruct or help societal workers pattern. It is of import to recognize that there are a huge sum of human growing and development theories, which cover the life span, although one premise is that they merely relate to childhood. This essay, in sing how theories obstruct or assist pattern, will pull on those associating to working with older people. To clear up, this essay will utilize the word theory to intend both grand theories ( those borrowed from other subjects such as psychological science, sociology etc ) and middle scope theories ( those which combine the expansive theories with pattern experience ) ( Wilson et al, 2008 pp.106-107 ) . The history of societal work is helpful in understanding how theory became relevant for pattern. The 19th century industrial revolution impacted on the community constructions, which led to concerns over societal agitation and upset. These concerns influenced the growing of the societal scientific disciplines with the thought being to understand and alter society. Howe provinces, as new theories and accounts of human behavior were generated by psychologists, so new societal work theories and patterns arose ( Howe, 2009 p.17 ) . The Charity Organisation Society ( COS ) , founded in 1869, embraced the psychological theories in their charitable work. COS ab initio resisted any formal instruction for charity workers preferring supervising in the occupation. However, concerns over the criterion of staff and the impact of the occupation on them, together with the desire to be recognised as professionals in the societal field initiated them to put up formal societal work instruction ( Howe, 2009 ; Payne, 2005b ; Jones, 1996 p.191 ) . The value of learning human growing and development theories to societal work pupils is still recognised today in university classs. Teaching on theory is included in the instruction as it is seen to legalize societal work, giving the societal worker confidence, significance and understanding in their work without any contamination of tampering ( Jones, 1996 p.193 ) . The usage of theory helps the practician to experience that their positions are knowing and grounded ( Milner and OByrne, 2002 ) . Secker s research on societal workers pupils found that those who had a comprehendible apprehension of theory were more likely to be accessible and antiphonal with their service users, sharing their theoretical suggestions with the individual ( Howe, 2009 ; Payne, 2005a ) . Aboard this, is the professionalism a theoretical cognition gives to societal work ( Howe, 2009 ) . Thompson ( 2010 ) argues that other professionals and service users will be more confident in a societal worker who is able to show that their work is based on a theoretical model, therefore demoing accomplishments to grok and do sense of the service users state of affairs, instead than one who conjectures. Walker states, it is of import that societal workers have an apprehension of human development to work efficaciously with other subjects and to show a professional literacy commensurate with their position ( 2010, pp.xiv-xv ) . An illustration of this is a societal worker working within a Community Mental Health Team alongside Psychiatrists and Community Psychiatric Nurses who advocate the medical theoretical account and its accent on nosologies and remedies ( Parrish, 2010 p.10 ) . Working in this scene does non intend that the societal worker demands to disregard a psychosocia l position. To recommend for service users efficaciously, the societal worker demands to understand both the medical and psychosocial positions, as Parrish provinces it necessitate [ s ] the professional equivalent of being bilingual in being able to understand both positions at the same time ( Parrish, 2010 p.10 ) . In 1992, Hindmarsh s research on societal work alumnuss, showed that an apprehension of theory did supply the alumnuss with assurance. However, Hindmarsh argued that this assurance did non go on in pattern as alumnuss viewed the usage of theory as merely a tool to warrant their actions or supply answerability to their direction ( Payne, 2005a ) . Thompson argues that the professionalism of the societal worker is being impacted on by what he describes as managerialism ( 2010, p.51 ) . Thompson explains that authorities s budgeting tactics through performance indexs is forcing local authorities to run into marks. This is filtered down the direction construction, so that center directors are ordering what is required and should be implemented by societal workers, in order to accomplish the marks. Although societal workers are dedicated to the usage of theory in their pattern, managerialism has led to them missing professional assurance ( 2010 p.51 ) . It is argued that theory is excessively complicated and restricts spontaneousness, therefore it is unpointed for pattern. Alternatively a more realistic theoretical account of utilizing facts about the individual, an apprehension of the jurisprudence and practical accomplishments ( common sense ) is more effectual for societal work pattern ( Parrish, 2010 ; Walker and Crawford, 2010 ) . This position has been strongly argued against, as Coulshed provinces, theoryless pattern does non be ; we can non avoid looking for accounts to steer our actions, while research has shown that those bureaus which profess non to utilize theory offer a non job resolution, woolly and adrift service ( 1991, p.8 ) . Some theories become so familiar and accepted that they become incorporated into mundane life and linguistic communication, for illustration, Anna Freud s defense mechanism mechanisms and Daniel Levinson s mid-life crisis. By the fact that these theories become so socially recognized and em bedded into mundane linguistic communication ( described as informal theory ) , it is hard for a societal worker to avoid utilizing it in their pattern. Thompson argues, some kind of conceptual model ( and hence theory ) is therefore inevitable ( 2010, p.7 ) . Our ain life experience does non supply us with sufficient cognition to be able to assist others. It can do us to filtrate appraisals through our ain experience, which may be damaging but we could be incognizant of this. An advantage of holding a theoretical apprehension of human growing and development is that it gives us a broader position than our single life experience and balances decision-making ( Walker and Crawford, 2010 ) . Research has shown that societal workers have found it hard or are incognizant of how they apply theory to pattern ( Tanner and Harris, 2008 ; Smid and Van Krieken, 1984 ) . Therefore, work is a everyday procedure for societal workers if they do non hold an apprehension of theory ( Parton, 1996, p.92 ) . Social worker instruction is blamed for this trouble with universities either being excessively theoretical, or excessively practical, whichever accent taken, it consequences in doing theory and pattern appear as separate entities ( Smid and Van Krieken, 1984 ) . The different theoretical attacks to human growing and development can look confounding to the societal worker, as each emphasis different countries as a ground for the individual s state of affairs. An illustration of this is the procedure of ageing : a biological position is to concentrate on the physical impact of a individual turning older ; a psychological position nevertheless, will concentrate on the impairment of cognitive operation ; and eventually a sociological perceptual experience will look at the societal constructions and the older individual s topographic point in that construction. As Hughes provinces, The images created by the assorted theoretical positions biological, psychological, sociological, political-economic are per se different and create rather distinguishable images of the experience and societal status of older people ( Hughes, 1995 p.18 ) . Although each attack emphasises different countries, they all potentially provide something helpful and equal ly true ( Milner and OByrne, 2002 p.81 ) . With each attack supplying something utile in understanding the individual s state of affairs the societal worker needs to back up the service user in happening which 1 with be most helpful to utilize ( Milner and OByrne, 2002 ) . However, instead than seeing this confusion as a hinderance to societal work pattern, this is what is cardinal to societal work. It is what gives it its value and importance because it specialises in state of affairss where there are no known solutions ( Statham and Kearney cited in Howe, 2009 p.190 ) . It is the ability of the societal worker to pull together the assorted theoretical positions in order to fix a realistic and balanced attention program. There are development theories that are in direct struggle and/or dismiss each other such as Disengagement and Activity theories ( Hughes, 1995 ; Howe, 2009 ) . Disengagement Theory proposes that as person ages they of course disengage from certain societal functions and maps, which ensures continuity of the system and equilibrium between different societal groups ( Hughes, 1995 pp.25-26 ) . Disengagement was viewed as fulfilling for the older individual and supplying well-being, as it freed them from certain functions and maps that they no longer were able to carry through, such as retiring from work, thereby, assisting people to age good ( Hughes, 1995 ; Bond et Al, 2007 ) . Activity theory wholly opposes this thought and proposes that staying actively involved in the community, both physically and mentally, provided wellbeing and satisfaction for the individual ( Walker and Crawford, 2010 ) . Both theories provide definite account for the troubles in acquiring old. The activity / detachment argument has led to a figure of farther theories either seeking to decide the struggle, such as Gubrium s socio-environmental attack, or dispute one theory to back up the other, such as Cowgill s modernization attack ( Lynott and Lynott, 1996 ) . The practician s quandary is similar, should they aline themselves with one or ignore both theories. A danger for the societal worker is that s/he utilizations theory as a manner to detect the truth or ultimate solution for the individual ( Thompson, 2010, pp.11-12 ) . Lee argues against this, theoretical statements are the general rules that give rise to hypotheses, or bad facts ( 1985, p.22 ) . No individual or state of affairs is precisely the same which means neither can at that place be a cosmopolitan solution or theory to suit all ( Lees and Lees, 1975 ) . A postmodern position is that truth can non be found in one lone theory, alternatively a overplus of truths for a peculiar state of affairs can be found in utilizing multiple theories ( Milner and OByrne, 2002 ) . As Pease and Fook cited in Howe province, There are many positions and voices and it is now recognised that they all need to be heard if the complex nature of truth is to be established ( 2009, p.191 ) . Walker ( 2010 ) argues that a individual s growing and development can non be clarified by one theory. Parrish takes this farther by saying that if a societal worker s pattern were based on one theory it would turn out deplorably unequal ( 2010, p.6 ) . An alliance to one specific theoretical point of view can be unsafe, as the societal worker is unable to recognize of import issues that do non match with that peculiar point of view. For illustration Erikson s eight phases of development although helpful in understanding age related activities, has been criticised for its male, patriarchal stance in missing consciousness of other factors that can impact on development, such as gender, race, societal category etc. ( Thompson, 2010 ; Parrish, 2010 ) . This highlights the value of recognizing and critically analyzing a figure of theories in a state of affairs, instead than believing one is more superior to another. As Thompson illustrates, the brooding practician being a seamster cu tting the fabric of the cognition base to bring forth a closely trim solution to the pattern challenges being faced, instead than looking for a ready-made, off-the-rack solution ( 2010, p.16 ) . A societal worker may see mixing a figure of theories so to supply one combined theory, which Payne describes as eclecticism ( Thompson, 2010 and Payne, 2005a p.31 ) . Eclecticism has been criticised as an inexperient manner to utilize theory ( Payne, 2005a ) . Alternatively the current position is to take a critical, brooding attack, utilizing the individual s history, behavior and fortunes. Theories should be considered and weighed up as to their utility for each individual ( Adams et al, 2009 ; Thompson, 2010 ) . Using a scope of theories allows a multi-dimensional apprehension of state of affairss to develop and enables the restrictions of one position to be offset by the advantages of another ( Tanner and Harris, 2008 p.37 ) . By taking a critical and brooding attack to theory and pattern this can assist the societal worker make sense of the differences and dissensions between the assorted human growing and development theories ( Payne, 2005a ) . A critical and brooding attack, allows the societal worker to value and accept the assortment of theories applicable for a peculiar state of affairs ( Adams, 2009 ) . As Fook argues, critical and postmodern pattern hence involves a acknowledgment of different ways of knowing, in peculiar a automatic ability to prosecute with altering state of affairss ( 2002, p.44 ) . Harmonizing to Thompson ( 2010 ) , the chief important intent for using theory to pattern is that it defines our pattern. Misca provinces, cognition of human growing and development dramas an indispensable portion in measuring, planning and intervening in a successful, positive manner in people s lives ( 2009 p.116 ) . Fook describes utilizing theories, as our rational tools, instead than as regulation books as they assist and direct pattern ( 2002, p.69 ; Walker and Crawford, 2010 ) . This means that a theoretical cognition can supply a practician with the apprehension and account of a individual s behavior and state of affairs. Consideration of Bowlby s Attachment theory with aging and dementedness will be used to exemplify this. Bowlby stated that typically within the first 9 months of a individual s life, they develop an fond regard to their primary health professional . Ainsworth, working aboard Bowlby, extended fond regard theory. Through the Strange Situation tests, she proposed three types of fond regard behaviors: Anxious/Avoidant, Anxious/Resistant and Securely Attached ( Parrish, 2010 ) . Although Bowlby did non transport out any surveies on older people, he did reason that, attachment behavior continues to play a necessary function into maturity ( Browne and Shlosberg, 2006 p.135 ) . It has merely been since the late twentieth century, that Bowlby s fond regard theory has been applied throughout the human lifetime and in peculiar to dementia ( Bond et al, 2007 ) . Bowlby suggested that when grownups are ailing or under emphasis so attachment behavior is likely ( Browne and Shlosberg, 2006 ) . Miesen, an advocate for fond regard theory, researched the general behavior of people with dementedness. He likened a brainsick province of crying, cleaving and naming as being in Ainsworth s unusual state of affairs ( Bond et al, 2007 ) . Miesen researched parent arrested development which is when a individual with dementedness believes that his/her deceased parent is still alive. His survey concluded that dementedness triggers attachment behaviors ( Browne and Shlosberg, 2006 ) . De Vries and McChrystal province, Bowlby s fond regard theory has provided a conceptual and empirical model for analyzing some behaviors of people with dementedness and provided a agency of con struing them in footings of responses to loss ( 2010, p288 ) . A theoretical cognition besides provides solutions for attacks of intercession, to help the service user and enables the practician to expect future issues ( Parrish, 2010 ) . Continuing to utilize the above illustration, two new ways of working within an attachment theory model have late been developed to help working with people with dementedness: simulated presence therapy ( SPT ) and doll therapy ( Browne and Shlosberg, 2006 ) . The trouble for the societal worker is that separate theories can take to different attacks to pattern, so that the societal worker has to take which is the right 1 ( Walker and Crawford, 2010 ) . Milner and OBryne ( 2002 ) argue that the theory, which provides the greatest penetration and leads to an attack that meets the service user s aims, is the 1 to utilize. The job with this is who decides which is the theory that gives the greatest penetration, is it the societal worker or managerial/government determination. If it is the latter so it disempowers the societal worker. However, if it is the former it is dependent on the cognition base of the societal worker. Beckett and Taylor explain, Fortunately or unluckily, no theory about human life can of all time be wholly nonsubjective or value free ( 2010 p.4 ) . Human growing and development theories have been criticised for reflecting the dominant beliefs of the theoretician s society. As Thompson provinces, Theorising is by no means a pure activity, detached from the world of the societal and political universe ( 1995, p.32 ) . For illustration, Erikson, Levinson and Havighurst s theories on grownup phases of development have all been criticised This essay has noted some theories of human growing and development in aging. However, it is besides of import for a Social Worker in his/her pattern to admit that service users will hold their ain thoughts to explicate their fortunes and behavior. As Gubrium and Wallace explain, We find that theory is non something entirely engaged in by scientists. Rather, there seem to be two bing universes of theory in human experience, one engaged by those who live the experiences under consideration, and one organised by those who make it their professional concern consistently to analyze experience ( cited in Tanner and Harris, 2008 p.36 ) . Erickson emphasised the demand to look at a individual as an individual and hence, a societal worker in his/her pattern needs to take this into consideration, instead than seeking to acquire a theory to suit the individual s state of affairs ( Milner and OByrne, 2002 ) . It is of import for the societal worker to be cognizant of anti-oppressive pattern in sing a theoretical model by non taking into history the service user s positions. S/he needs to be cognizant of his/her professional power and besides the demand to authorise the service user in doing determinations and alterations ( McDonald, 2010 ; Thompson, 2010 ) . As shown, holding a theoretical apprehension of human growing and development can help societal work pattern by legalizing the work done, giving the societal worker assurance and supplying a model for the work. However, it is non the theoretical apprehension itself that hinders pattern but alternatively the application of the theory. Theory in pattern is hindered by managerialism, the danger of anti-oppressive pattern and restrictions of societal workers knowledge and experience.