Theory

Logically interrelated set of concepts and propositions, organized into a deductive system, which explains relationships among aspects of our world.

Proposition

A statement or assertion that expresses a judgment or opinion.

Model

Visual representation of the relationships between concepts.

Paradigm

A way of seeing the world.

Four Faces of Therapuetic Intervention

-Psychodynamic

-Behavioral

Humanistic

-Transedental/Spiritual

Perspective

An emphasis or a view

"The overarching umbrella of theory".

Eclectic Approach

Approach that draws from many theories, including complementary, compteting, or even contradictory theories, depending on the situation and client need.

Dimension

A feature that can be focused on separately but that cannot be understood without aso considering its embeddedness other features.

3 Dimensions of the Multidimensional Approach

-Dimension of Person

-Dimension of Enviornment

-Dimension of Time

Biopsychoocial-Cultural Spiritual Approach

Human behavior is considered to be the result of interactions of integrated biological, psychological, and social systems.

*Essentially the Multidimensional Approach*

Personal Dimensions

-The Biological Person

-The Psychological Person

-The Spiritual Person

Enviornmental Dimensions

-The Physical Enviornment

-Culture

-Social Structure

-Social Institutions

-Formal Organizations

-Communities

-Social Movements

-Small Groups

-Families

-Dyads

Time Dimensions

-Linear Time

-Historic Era

-Chronological Age

The Biological Person

The body's chemical, cell, organ, and physiological systems.

*Within Dimension of Person

Ex: Nervous System, Immune System, Cardiovascular System, Reproductive System

The Psychological Person

The mind and mental processes.

*Within Dimension of Person

Ex: Cognitions, Emotion, Self

The Spiritual Person

The aspect of a person hat searches for meaning and purpose in life.

*Within Dimension of Person

Ex: Themes of Morality, Ethics, Creativity, Mystical States, Meditation, Interconnectedness, Justice, and Contemplation

The Physical Enviornment

The ntural and human-built material aspects the world around us.

*Within Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Water, Sun, Trees, Buildings

Culture

A set of common understandings, evident in both behavior and material artificats.

*Within Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Beliefs, Customs, Traditions, Values

Social Structure

A set of interrelated social institutions developed by humans to impose constraints on human interaction for the purpose of the survival and well being of the collective.

*Within the Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Social Class

Social Institutions

Patterned ways of organizing social relations in a particular sector of social life.

*Within the Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Government, Economy, Education, Healthcare, Social Welfare, Religion, Mass Media, and Family

Formal Organizaitons

Collectivities of people with a high degree of formality of structure, working together to meet a goal/goals

*Within the Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Civic and Social Service Organizations, Business Organizations, Professional Associations

Communities

People bound together by geography or by network links sharing common ties and interacting.

*Within the Dimension of Enviornment

Ex:

Territorial: Neighborhoods

Relational: Soccer League, Faith, Disability

Social Movements

Large scale collective actions to make change or resist change in specific social institutions.

*Within the Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Civil Rights, Poor People Disability, Gay Rights

Small Groups

Collections of people who interac with each other, perceive themselves as belonging to a group, are interdependent, join together to accomplish a goal, fulfill a need through joint association, or are influenced by a set of rules and norms.

*With the Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Friends, Self-Help Groups, Therapy Groups, Committees

Families

A social group of two or more persons, characterized by ongoing interdependence with long-term commitments that stem from blood, law, or affection.

*Within the Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Nuclear Structure, Extended Structure, Chosen Structure

Dyads

Two persons bound together in some way.

*Within the Dimension of Enviornment

Ex: Parent and Child, Romantic Couple, Social Worker and Client

Linear Time

Time in a straight line

*Within the Dimension of Time

Ex: Past, Present, Future

Historic Era

A discrete block of time in human history.

*Within the Dimension of Time

Ex: Progressive Era, Great Depression

Chronological Age

Age of a person measured in years, months, and days from birth; May also be described in terms of a stage of the human life course.

*Within the Dimension of Time

Ex: Six Months Old (Infancy), 15 Years Old (Adolescence), 80 Years Old (Late Adulthood)

3 Areas of Human Problems

-Life Transitions

-Unresponsiveness of Social/Physical Enviornment

-Communication and relationship difficulties

Ecological Perspective

Conceptual framework that examines how people interact with their enviornments.

-Urie Branfenbrenner

Urie Branfenbrenner's Five Interdependent Categories of the Ecological Perspective

-Microsystems

-Mesosystems

-Exosystems

-Macrosystems

-Chronosystems

Microsystems

Systems that value direct face-to-face contact between members in his/her immediate surroundings.

Ex: Parents, Friends, Teachers, Roommate, Rabi

Mesosystems

Networks of microsystems of a given person (connections)

Ex:Relationships

Parents ---> School System

Parents ---> Work

Family ---> Church

Exosystems

The linkages between microsystems and larger institutions that affect the system. (Indirect Enviornment)

Ex: Healthcare Industry, Child Welfare System Employment Market, School Board

Macrosystems

The broader influences of culture, subculture, and social structure. (Social/Cultural Values)

Ex: Race, Gender, Class

Chronosystems

Importance of time in person-enviornment transactions (Changes over time)

Ex:

-When you become a parent

-When you get married

-When you grew up

6th Potential System Level (Bronfenbrenner)

Physical Enviornment

Ecological Thinking

Focuses on the reciprocity of person-enviornment exchanges, in which each shapes and influences the other over time.

3 Types of Person-Enviornment Exchanges

-Positive (Adaptive) Support Groups

-Negative (Maladaptive) Crime Neighborhoods

-Nuetral

Dysfunctional Exchanges

Person-Enviornment exchanges thatm ake it harder for a client to adapt to their enviornement.

Systems Perspective

Sees human ehavior as the outcome of reciprocal interactions of persons operating within linked social systems.

Eco-Map Tool

Tool used to gather information, develop rapport, and give client a visual of their situation.

Key:

Solid Line= Strong Relationship

Dashed Line= Tenous Relationship (Neutral)

Slashed Line= Stressful Relationship

No Line= No relationship (yet)

Arrows = Shows direction of energy

Dynamical Systems Theory (Nonlinear Dynamics)

Collective Theory consisting of Chaos Theory and Complexity Theory

Chaos Theory

Emphasizes the dynamic interactions within, between, and among systems that produce change, sometimes even rapid, dramatic change.

Butterfly Effect

Small differences in initial conditions can yield widely diverging outcomes for such dynamical ystems, rendering long-term prediction impossible

Deep Ecology

An enviornmental movement and philosphy that regards human life as just one of many equal components of a global ecosystem

Arne Noess

Ecocentric

Concerned with Earth

Anthropocentric

Concerned with Humans

Biodynamic Agriculture

Treats farms as unified organisms and emphasizes the relationship of soil, plants, and animals.

Social Exchange Theory

Sees interaction in which resources are exchanged as the core process in social life.

George Homans

Comparison Level

A standard for evaluating the rewards and costs of a given relationship based on what the evaluator expects from the relationship.

*One's values, standards, expectations, and alternatives influence the assessment of rewards and costs.

Comparison Level Alternative

The lowest level of otcomes a person will accept in light of alternative opportunities.

Global Perspective

To have a growing awareness of the diversity of ideas and cultural practices found in human societies around the world.

Cultural Context

Provides another layer of understanding of an individuals behaviors and perceptions.

Globalization

A process by which the world's people are becoming more interconnected economically, politically, enviornmentally, and culturally.

Social Pollution

An attempt to subjugate voices and make certain populations powerless.

(German and Gitterman)

The abuse o economic nad political power creates and maintains social pollution. Which leads to...

-Poor schools

-Chronic uneployment

-Lack of affordable housing

-Homelessness

-Inadequate Health Care

-Inadequate Wages

Physical Pollution

When dominant groups create technological pollution endangering health and well being. Refers to private corporations and governmental agencies polluting our air, food, and soil.

The Conflict Perspective

Draws attention to conflict, dominance, and oppression in a social life.

Pluralistic Approach

Recognizes that more than one social conflict is going on at all times.

Social Locations

Where we fit in a system of social identites.

Ex:

-Ethnicity

-Religion

-Race

-Age

-Social Class

-Gender

-Sexual Orientation

-Ability/Disability

-Geographical Location

-Language

2 Practice-Oriented Empowerment Theories

-Strengths Perspective

-Feminist Theories

*These theories empower individuals to create change within themselves and in the broader society to improve their situation and well being.

Strengths Perspective

Discourages "Pathlogizing" and focuses on fostering strengths. Helps individuals gain a different perspective about their situation, and develop a new story to enhance their wellbeing.

Feminist Theories

Focus on a vision of a just world based on gender equity. Emphasizes that people are socialized to see themselves through the eyes of powerful actors.

Core Competency 1

Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

Core Competency 2

Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

Core Competency 3

Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Enviornmental Justice

Core Competency 4

Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice

Core Competency 5

Engage in Policy Practice

Core Competency 6

Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Core Competency 7

Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Core Competency 8

Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Core Competency 9

Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.