Theoretical Perspectives on Human Behavior

1. Theoretical
Perspectives on
Human Behavior
Florida Atlantic University
School of Social Work
Module #2
Dr. Whiteman

2. Agenda
• Quiz
• Knowledge Ingredients for Helping
Professionals
• Theories in general
• Big Ideas and Applications
• Theories compared

3. Knowledge Ingredients Necessary
“TO DO” Social Work
• Specifics of the case or situation
– Quality of relationship between social worker
and client
How can you improve quality of relationship?

4. Knowledge Ingredients Necessary
“TO DO” Social Work
• Thinking processes, emotions, and social
location of self

5. Knowledge Ingredients Necessary
“TO DO” Social Work
• Social work values and ethics.
– Service
– Social Justice
– Dignity and Worth of the Person
– Importance of Human Relationships
– Integrity
– Competence

6. Knowledge Ingredients Necessary
“TO DO” Social Work
• Scientific knowledge of theory and
research
– http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/

7. Scientific Knowledge: Theory and
Research from the THEORY side
THEORY
– Provides a framework for understanding
person/environment transactions
– Guides interventions
– Focuses our attention on particular aspects of the
person-environment-time configuration
– Is based on assumptions, or beliefs held to be true
without testing or proof, about the nature of human
social life
– Is composed of concepts which are put together to form
propositions and statements of relationship

8. Scientific Knowledge: Theory and Research
from the THEORY side
THEORY DEFINED
– A logically related set of concepts and
propositions, organized into a deductive
system, that explains some aspects of our
world.
– Concepts are the building blocks of theory
(i.e., acculturation, loss, self-reliance).
– Example: Risk & Resiliency theory

9. Scientific Knowledge: Theory and Research
from the RESEARCH side
RESEARCH:
• Is a problem-solving process
• Is a systematic method of seeking answers to questions
• Is empirical -- something that we experience through our senses,
as opposed to something that we experience purely in our minds
• Is a way of observing events with the intent to look for patterns in
those events
• Is a way to test the assumptions of theories

10. Scientific Knowledge: Theory and Research from
the RESEARCH side
Criteria for Evaluating Research
• Corroboration
• Multidimensionality
• Definition of terms
• Limitation of sample
• Influence of setting
• Influence of the researcher
• Social distance
• Specification of inferences
• Suitability of measures

11. Florida Atlantic University
School of Social Work
Module #2
Theories

12. Theories
• Are useful for thinking about changing
configurations of persons and environments
• Are not mutually exclusive but overlapping and
intersecting
• Differ by focus and perspective
• Evolve as world views expand and change to
accommodate diversity and inequality
• Are used to guide practice interventions

13. • Break into groups
– Summarize the assigned theoretical
perspective
– Explain group’s interpretation of the
perspectives usefulness when applied to
McKinley Family

14. Big Ideas of the Systems
Perspective
• Systems are made up of interrelated members
(parts) that constitute an ordered whole.
• Each part of the system impacts all other parts and
the system as a whole.
• All systems are subsystems of other larger systems.
• Systems maintain boundaries that give them their
identities.
• The dynamic interactions within, between, and
among systems produce both stability and change,
sometimes even rapid, dramatic change.

15. Big Ideas of the Conflict
Perspective
• Groups and individuals try to advance their own interests over
the interests of others.
• Power is unequally divided, and some social groups dominate
others.
• Social order is based on the manipulation and control of non-dominant
groups by dominant groups.
• Lack of open conflict is a sign of exploitation.
• Members of non-dominant groups become alienated from
society.
• Social change is driven by conflict, with periods of change
interrupting long periods of stability.

16. Big Ideas of the Rational Choice
Perspective
• People are rational and goal-directed.
• Social exchange based on self-interest as actors try
maximize rewards / minimize costs.
• Values, standards, expectations, and alternatives
influence the assessment of rewards and costs.
• Reciprocity of exchange is essential to social life.
• Power comes from unequal resources in an
exchange.

17. Big Ideas of the Social
Constructionist Perspective
• Human consciousness, and the sense of self, is shaped by
continual social interaction.
• Social reality is created when people, in social interaction,
develop a common understanding of their world.
• People perform for their social audiences, but they are also free,
active, and creative.
• Social interaction is grounded in language customs, as well as
cultural and historical contexts.
• People can modify meanings in the process of interaction.
• Society consists of social processes, not social structures.

18. Big Ideas of the Psychodynamic
Perspective
• Emotions have a central place in human behavior.
• Unconscious, as well as conscious, mental activity serves as the
motivating force in human behavior.
• Early childhood experiences are central in the patterning of an
individual’s emotions and, therefore, central to problems of living
throughout life.
• Individuals may become overwhelmed by internal and/or external
demands.
• Individuals frequently use ego defense mechanisms to avoid
becoming overwhelmed by internal and/or external demands.

19. Big Ideas of the Developmental
Perspective
• Human development occurs in clearly defined age-graded
stages.
• Each stage of life is qualitatively different from all
other stages.
• Each stage builds on earlier stages.
• Human development is a complex interaction of
biological, psychological, and social factors.
• Moving from one stage to the next involves new
tasks and changes in statuses and roles.

20. Big Ideas of the Social Behavioral
Perspective
• Human behavior is learned when individuals interact with the
environment.
• Similar learning processes taking place in different environments
produce differences in human behavior.
• All human problems can be formulated as undesirable behavior.
• All behavior can be defined and changed.
• Human behavior is learned by association of environmental
stimuli, by reinforcement, by imitation, and by personal
expectations and meanings.

21. Big Ideas of the Humanistic
Perspective
• Each person is unique and valuable.
• Each person is responsible for the choices
he or she makes within the limits of
freedom.
• People always have the capacity to
change themselves, even to make radical
change.

22. Big Ideas of the Humanistic
Perspective (cont.)
• Human behavior can be understood only from the
vantage point of the phenomenal self—from the
internal frame of reference of the individual.
• People make psychologically destructive demands
on each other, and attempts to meet those demands
produce anxiety.
• Human behavior is driven by a desire for growth,
personal meaning, and competence, and by a need
to experience a bond with others.

23. Theories Comparatively
• What criteria should social workers use to
evaluate theories?
– Coherence and conceptual clarity
– Testability and empirical support
– Comprehensiveness
– Diversity and power
– Usefulness for practice

24. What two important things did we discuss
today?

25. Homework
• Chart amount of sleep, exercise, and
eating habits for five days.
• Bring the chart to class next Thursday to
discuss their findings in small groups.
– Document physical health, psychological
health, and exterior environmental conditions.

26. Homework
• Interview, by phone, in person, or through
e-mail, a medical social worker at a local
or state medical facility to find out the
following:
– How the social worker uses information about
the different biological systems to work
effectively with their client population.
– How other medical professionals view the role
of social work in that particular medical facility.

27. Homework
• What perspective/theory best explains
HBSE?
• Why?
• Given what you have read, what two
interventions would be most successful
working with your group/population of
interest?