Social science knowledge is an empirical study of social causes of human behavior and how individuals relate towards one another. Social and behavioral sciences seek to explain and describe our acts in a given environment. This branch of science deals with all human-made institutions and the functioning of the human society as a whole and the interpersonal relationships among individuals. Categories of social sciences include sociology, human geography, political theory and science, history, psychology, anthropology, management, and jurisprudence. Hence, social science theory is a set of ideas that seek to explain a situation or phenomena systematically. It is a generalized set of concepts that describe people and how they can be best understood (Payne, 2015).
Social work, when guided by theory, has proved to be most effective because of the recognition of the importance of the knowledge developed from empirical tests (Bowlby, 1998). In their effort to promote community development, social work professionals claim to possess knowledge that relies on humanistic and altruistic values. In the study of social science, the ultimate plan is not only to understand it but also to bring positive change and apply the knowledge gained to solve problems facing the society. Social scientific knowledge such as social psychology, sociology, and political theory should help in promoting progress and ensuring community development (Payne, 2015). While considering whether social knowledge has passed empirical testing, it is best to reflect on whether it’s practical in the social work context (Sheppard, 1998). After familiarization with a situation, social workers apply their knowledge to come up with the theory that best suits a particular client or condition. The theories should be in line with the ethos of the institutions and the community at large (Sheppard, 1998).
In every profession, the defining characteristic is the development of a systematic and specialized knowledge that enables professionals in the field better serve the public. Modern social workplaces utilize social work theories and practices to promote cohesion and productivity (Coulshed and Orme. 2006).The psychosocial approach is the most prevalent theory in the social workplace. The theory stems from the psychodynamic and psychoanalytic facets. Both approaches stress on understanding individuals at both the sociological and psychological level (Payne, 2015). Thus, psychosocial theories seek to acknowledge the environment of the individual and his interpersonal relationships. Fields such as cognitive behavioral therapy, feminist theory, empowerment and crisis intervention utilize psychosocial approaches (Coulshed and Orme, 2006).
Social Theories that Guide Practice
Psychosocial Theory
This theory examines the way different individuals are shaped and react based on their social environment (Sheppard, 1998). The individual grows and adapts as they respond to various crisis throughout their lives. Social crisis comments in infancy due to trust or mistrust issues that later shape how an individual trusts people in adult life. Work ethics and self-worth get shaped by the individual’s perception during childhood. Intimacy and isolation also modify their love life. Thus, these varying types of crisis should inform how social workers treat their clients since different individuals react differently to the world and people around them (Sheppard, 1998).
Psychodynamic Theory
This theory entails understanding how personalities develop and how to manage various life challenges. It helps us understand our relationship with other people around us and the demands from our surroundings (Payne, 2015). Thus, the theory offers solutions to relationship and interaction challenges while focusing on different personalities and individual characteristics. In its classical concept, the works of Sigmund Freud are the most prominent. His model describes personalities as having three primary structures; the id, the ego and the superego (Mcleod, 2013).
The id involves the primal need always to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The superego comprises of social norms, conscience and what is expected from the individual by the broader community while the ego aims to have a compromise between the two by seeking pleasure and realistically avoiding pain. The conscious mind is the ego while the unconscious mind consists of the superego and the id. These two states are ever in conflict, so the individual over time seeks a mechanism to deal with their inner conflicts. Since conflict always exists for all troubled persons, the work of the social worker should be to explore the reason for the client’s behavior (Mcleod, 2013).
Transpersonal Behavior Theory
A theory by Carl Jung, this method comprises of healing and aspiration. This model uses prominent personalities who have made tremendous achievement within society to motivate other persons or clients. The client is encouraged to emulate these figures as they have strong ego identities (Coulshed and Orme, 2006). The goal of this model is to help people to develop strong super egos and develop good habits.
Social Learning Theory
An element of behavioral psychology, this theory proposes that individuals learn through observation. A child might learn how to display emotion and how to fix things around the home from their father figure. These behaviors become reinforced if they come with rewards. The same case applies for problematic behavior.A child might observe that its parent gets their way if they are rude and the child picks up the habit (Payne, 2015). Social workers may use social learning theory to help identify destructive behaviors among their clients and seek ways to correct them.
System Theory
This theory states that behavior gets influenced by a lot of varying factors that work holistically as a system. A person’s schools environment, home environment, their friends, and family all contribute how an individual behaves and thinks. Finding to correct problematic parts of the system often leads to positive behavior. In this theory, the social worker must analyze all systems to help identify ineffective elements and work to strengthen them to improve the individual’s behavior (Bowlby, 1998).
Types of Discrimination
Direct and Indirect Discrimination
Indirect or indirect discrimination, one is treated unfavorably based on the fact that they have protected characteristics (Bowlby, 1998). The attributes may be perceived, or the individual gets associated with someone with such protected characteristics. For example, denying particular user services because they are too old or denying a gay couple health care. Indirect discrimination arises from laws and policies that put specific individuals with protected characteristics at a disadvantage (Mcleod, 2013). For instance, gender-based discrimination at workplaces leads to the marginalization of employees.
Harassment
These are acts of intimidation and humiliation towards an individual because of their gender, creed, race, age or their sexual orientation. They often leave the victim humiliated and degraded and lower their dignity (Coulshed and Orme, 2006). Harassment may be perpetrated using jokes, written words or even gestures. For example, a black person might be the subject of off-color jokes in an all-white school.
Victimization
Victimization is causing a person to be treated unfairly or unfavorably. It is an action of singling a person out for unjust or cruel treatment hence leading to discrimination (Payne, 2015). It may occur when a victim seeks legal redress according to the Equality Act. It may also happen when one tries to help victims of discrimination. It is a reactionary move by the perpetrators to punish the victim and their helper. An example is when an employer denies a worker promotion after they report them to authorities for sexual harassment.
Discrimination at the Workplace Based on Gender
Such bias occurs when the victim is treated differently because of their gender, and it mostly affects women (Bowlby, 1998). Discrimination against women has no basis, and often the perpetrators pick up the habit based on experience and observation over a period. Social conditioning, prejudice roles, and workplace encourage men to discriminate against women in the workplace. For instance discrimination of qualified women during job promotions (Payne, 2015).The glass ceiling is a term that describes this phenomenon in which women cannot get upper-level management or executive posts due to their gender (Mcleod, 2013).
Social workers should engage in counseling and training services for all genders in various institutions. In schools, girls should be encouraged to pick their vocations of choice without fear of discrimination. They should also get psychological training to be able to assert their rights. Transpersonal theory should come in handy at this stage to encourage women to emulate the personality traits of whoever they choose. Males should also get psychological to rid themselves of gender bias through social learning.
Ethical Standards and Frameworks for Professional Social Work Practice
Social workers are expected to show their professionalism by taking full responsibility for their conduct and practice (Payne, 2015). They are guardians of their social work profession and should always safeguard its reputation with supervision from their professional regulator. Social workers are obliged to conduct their work ethically (Sheppard, 1998). Social workers are expected to be knowledgeable about the relevant laws and the value base of their work.
A social worker recognizes how their attitude and values impact their relationships with others. They also understand the importance of asking the views and opinions of their colleagues. They also acknowledge that they might have to deal with spontaneous conflict situations and at such times they should use the authority vested in them by their superiors. When a social worker is dealing with a victim of workplace discrimination, they are expected to appreciate their client’s rights to self-determination and autonomy. Social workers should not discriminate elderly persons with dementia. The privacy of their clients should be put into consideration to prevent them from prejudice while seeking employment opportunities in future (Bowlby, 1998). While working to protect the privacy of their clients, social workers should be able to justify when the right to privacy is prevailed by legal requirements or by the worker's professional obligation.
Conclusion
Social and behavioral sciences seek to explain and describe our acts in a given environment. Social work theory should provide guidance towards making social workers more efficient in their practice while giving them confidence. Some of the social work theories that guide practice include, psychodynamic approaches, transpersonal behavior theory, social learning theory and system theory. Discrimination, whether direct or indirect should be eliminated in the society as it makes other persons feel unappreciated. There is a need to sustain knowledge base and apply ethical standards so that new entrants to the profession engage in best practices so that there is no disconnect between theory and workplace practices.
References
Bowlby, J. (1998). A Secure Base: Clinical Application of Attachment Theory. London: Routledge.
Coulshed, V. and Orme, J. (2006). Social Work Practice: An introduction (4th edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Payne, M. (2015). Modern Social Work Theory (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sheppard, M. (. (1998). Practice Validity, Reflexivity, and Knowledge of Social Work. British Journal of Social Work, 28(81), 763-81.
