Psychodynamic theory provides great insight into the inner ...



Theory PaperRaelle PlanteWayne State UniversitySW7500Aloha VanCamp PhDIntroductionHuman behavior has been described and understood from a multitude of perspectives, which have been furthered developed into many theories over time. These theories provide the framework for social work practice. Social workers must have a firm understanding of human behavior in order to fully understand a client and the various challenges they may experience. The following paper discusses several of these theories and how they relate to the field of social work. Systems TheoryPeople aren’t one-dimensional; they form in-depth, complex relationships in a multitude of environments, and interact within these environments which we call systems. These systems are interrelated and form the unique experience of each individual, and therefore, can be helpful or hurtful in the change process. Systems theory is not only a singular construct, but rather an underlying component for many theories that vary greatly in their application (Robbins, Chatterjee, Canda, 2012). However, there are key concepts of systems theory that are represented in the many theories that incorporate a systems perspective. These key elements are understood in the following terms: “dynamic, interact, input, output, homeostasis, and equifinality” (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2012, p. 9). Systems are fluid, and constantly changing. Therefore, social workers must understand the dynamic nature of problems that arise for their clients and remain malleable as new challenges arise. Our clients’ systems are interdependent, and they interact with them constantly, whether they are interactions with their families, communities, friendships, intimate relationships, workplace, or many others. This requires a directional flow of energy, and communication received from the clients’ systems as input and expended by the client as output. When this input and output is at an equilibrium, the client often experiences a stable homeostasis of energy. Finally, the term equifinality asserts that clients’ problems can be viewed as multidimensional and, therefore, can have a vast array of solutions (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2012).Strengths and Weaknesses Systems theory, and the theories that stem from systems theory, have a variety of strengths and weaknesses. One of the great strengths is that it incorporates an individual’s social and physical environment in order to understand human behavior from a comprehensive point of view. This allows the social worker to understand areas of strength and support that could be utilized by the individual. For example, these theories address the importance of culture and religion as positive supports. Weaknesses are also evident. The presumption is that problems arise when there is an imbalance between an individual’s systems. However, this doesn’t allow for a dramatic change of the individual’s life, but rather encourages the individual to repair homeostasis. Because of this, these theories bolster institutional power by encouraging slow, incremental change that doesn’t disrupt the social system. Also, these theories view problems as being external and fail to account for an individual’s biology or past experiences (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012). The Ecological PerspectiveThe ecological perspective relates to systems theory in many ways. For example, the ecological perspective approaches an understanding of people in a person-in-environment construct. This approach, like systems theory, assumes that people influence and are also influenced by their systems, or in other words, their environment. The different human interactions experienced by a client make up the client’s social environment. These interactions, according to ecological perspective, are termed transactions. Each transaction then, just like systems theory, requires communication and energy input, as well as energy output from the client. In addition, ecological perspective accepts that environments are dynamic, and therefore it focuses on adaptation, the ability of an individual to change and cope with their environment (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2012). Systems Theory and Social Work ValuesSystems theory aligns with social work values in several ways. For example, as previously mentioned, systems theories note the importance of culture, race, and gender as experiences that affect an individual’s social environment. This coincides with the NASW code of ethics 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversity “(a) Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures” (NASW, 2008). It also aligns with the NASW value, the importance of human relationships, “Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change” (NASW, 2008).?For example, systems theory is helpful particularly when working with families. By identifying familial norms, as expressions of the family’s individual culture, a social worker can better understand the family’s strengths and weaknesses and, when applicable, utilize culturally appropriate resources. Psychodynamic TheoryPsychodynamic theory has several key concepts. The first is its focus on childhood experiences. Sigmund Freud believed that the development of the psyche depended on the way children navigated through various phases of development: The oral stage, the anal stage, the phallic stage, the latency stage and the genital stage. In addition, their experiences in childhood drive their behavior as adults (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012). A second key concept is based on the unconscious and preconscious, and how it motivates an individual’s behavior. According to Robbins et al. (2012), “The unconscious is the part of the mind that holds ideas, thoughts, and memories that we cannot access and bring into our conscious awareness…the preconscious holds ideas, thoughts, and memories that we are not currently thinking of, but if we concentrate, we can bring these to our conscious” (p. 171). It is in the unconscious mind, the id, where the drives and instincts of the individual originate (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012). A third key concept is the ego. This part of the mind encompasses our conscious as well as our preconscious, and it is able to rationally act and behave in the world. It is the portion of the mind that can control the irrational id. The fourth key concept is the use of defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms are related to the ego. When the ego experiences danger, it deploys defense mechanisms to protect the individual’s psyche. Finally, a fifth key concept is ambivalence. This is a state of feeling opposite emotions, like love and hate, simultaneously (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012). Strengths and WeaknessesThere are both strengths and weaknesses to psychodynamic theory. Unlike systems theory, where problems are understood to arise as a result of conflicts or imbalances within an individual’s various systems, psychodynamic theory incorporates past experience as the root of an individual’s poor functioning. In addition, psychodynamic theory seeks to understand the internal world of that individual. When combining an understanding of the external and the internal experience of an individual, a more complete understanding of that individual is formed. As a result of psychodynamic theory, many therapies have been developed to understand the unconscious feelings that may be affecting the individual’s behavior (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012).There are weaknesses as well. The psychodynamic theory focuses on a person’s deficiency rather than their capacity to grow and change. It does not incorporate a holistic view of individuals, but rather, reduces complex human behavior to internal processes rooted in biology and childhood experiences (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012).Psychodynamic Theory and Social WorkPsychodynamic theory provides great insight into the inner workings of clients, their development, and defense mechanisms (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012). This theory, particularly when in conjunction with other theories, reflects the NASW code of ethics 1.01 Commitment to Clients “(a) Social workers’ primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients. In general, clients’ interests are primary...” (NASW, 2008). As it stated, social workers are interested promoting the well-being of clients. Psychodynamic theory plays a large role in this by contributing a large body of knowledge regarding psychological functioning which, for example, a social worker uses when conducting biopsychosocial assessments.Transpersonal TheoryTranspersonal theories focus on development that surpasses that of an individual’s body and ego. It emphasizes that people can experience themselves beyond understanding their autonomy, and how they, as autonomous individuals, interact with their world. The main concept, as one might expect, is spirituality and spiritual health, and it is a process of seeking greater meaning and purpose of life. Another key concept of transpersonal theory is the altered state of consciousness. There are many states of consciousness that an individual can experience, such as those experienced with meditation, and each conveys a unique perception of reality (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012).Strengths and WeaknessesTranspersonal theory has several strengths. It emphasizes the spiritual as another mode for personal development and growth, and values diversity. It is a positive response to crisis by posing life crisis is a means for personal growth. Also, it adds legitimacy to certain experiences, like visions, that may be normative but that could have otherwise been perceived as a psychotic episode (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012).As a weakness, transpersonal theory is based off of many different theories, which may then lead to a tendency to oversimplify multiple theories, and the complexity of spiritual perspectives. Also, transpersonal theories claim spiritual growth is a superior level of development which is more of a philosophical supposition rather than scientific evidence (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012).Transpersonal Theory and Social WorkSocial workers understand that spirituality is a great internal strength for many people and can promote healthy growth. Therefore, it is important to note that there are many avenues a social worker can take to support the religious or spiritual needs of the client. For example, utilizing faith-based community resources and supports, or Buddhist mindfulness meditation for mental health treatment. This aligns with the NASW code of ethics 1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversity, “(a) Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures” (NASW, 2008). Theories of Moral DevelopmentThe key concept of theories of moral development is the process by which children internalize societal norms and rules. This process is most often linked directly to the cognitive development of the child as a parallel progression (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012). According to Robbins et al. (2012), some theorists then study other areas including: “how people reason or think: how they actually behave; and how they feel about moral issues” (p. 276). However, a majority of theories simply focus on how morality develops (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012).Strengths and WeaknessesA strength of moral development is its description of morality as a growth process. It allows the social worker to gain insight as to the client’s ability to make decisions, how they perceive the world, and subsequently respond to that world. Also, it encourages the social worker to look at clients’ abilities individually in order to capitalize on their strengths (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012).Moral development theories have weaknesses as well. These theories are rooted in biology and fail to consider the effect of the environment, social experiences, socioeconomic forces, demographics, and the innate emotional intelligence of the individual on moral development. Also, there is only one moral development theory that addresses the spiritual development as a factor in the development of morality (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2012). Theories of Moral Development and Social WorkTheories of moral development are consistent with some of the values of social work. For example the NASW ethical principle:?“Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.?Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients’ socially responsible self-determination. Social workers seek to enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs” (NASW, 2008). Theories of moral development emphasize development throughout life. Therefore, moral development theories enhance a social worker’s ability to “enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change and address their own needs” (NASW, 2008). Understanding moral development can help a social worker identify appropriate interventions for their clients. For example, when working with children it is imperative to select a developmentally appropriate intervention to achieve positive results. Also, when working with clients it is important to remember that each individual possesses different capabilities from which to draw from. Family as a SystemFamilies, as systems, can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. In order to fully understand the family’s dynamics it is important to look at the family as a whole rather than a sum of its members. For example, a family may be of a particular culture, yet how they experience that culture is unique from other families of the same culture. This could be due to socioeconomic differences, geographic location, demographics, and even perceived stigma to name a few. Understanding a family’s shared, unique perspective of the world is important to understanding that family’s norms. This, in turn, allows a worker to understand the individual members (“Family Systems Theory”, 2003). Family members are interdependent. This means that they are all connected; they are both dependent on each other and influenced by each other. Because of this, when something happens to one member it affects every other member (“Family Systems Theory”, 2003). For example, a father (or mother) loses his job and regains employment with a greatly reduced salary. Subsequently, the other parent, who had previously been a homemaker, goes back to work in order to meet the financial needs of the family. The older children are now required to look after the younger children until the parents return home from work. The youngest children are sad and anxious at the reduced time with their primary caregiving parent. In this example the father’s job loss effected the lives of each of the family members, although in differing aspects. A family’s structure can affect the family as a system. A family’s structure is formed, in part, by family norms, which are the rules for governing behavior within the family. Also, individual member’s roles within the family, particularly those with differential status, and the family’s behavioral expectations regarding each of those roles. Finally, the balance of power within the family dictates family structure (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2008). For example, in many homes where the father is the ultimate head of the household, there is an imbalance of power. This may contribute to isolation of the other family members if the father severely limits interactions outside of the family unit. A family’s adaptability is their ability to change their family roles, power balance, and rules in response to situations and development. This flexibility allows the family, as a system, to navigate challenges that arise from both within the system and outside of the family system. A family that is able to negotiate, communicate, and change rules/discipline is likely to have a greater level of adaptability (Sussman, Steinmetz & Peterson, 1999). For example, a challenge within the system is children growing up. The family may adapt by changing rules and means of discipline. They may allow the older child more freedom, and responsibility. In addition, they may allow him/her more power by increasing the weight of their opinions and thoughts in regards to family matters. As a system, families develop various themes to help identify and differentiate themselves. These themes become a deep part of the family experience. Themes may be related to race, but they may be related to how the family experiences the world (“Defining Families”, n.d.) An example would be a family identifying as ‘the fun family’. This adds to the family as a system experience because it is experienced as a whole rather than individually. ConclusionThe previous theories have all contributed to the knowledge base of human behavior, and its application to social work practice. Understanding this knowledge base is a foundation for social workers to practice competently and effectively. This student gained a greater understanding of these theories and, subsequently, will apply these concepts to future social work practice.References“Defining Families.” (n.d.). Retrieved August 21, 2015, from "Family Systems Theory."?(2003) International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. Retrieved August 21, 2015 from :? BIBLIOGRAPHY Kirst-Ashman, K., & Hull, G. (2012). Understanding Generalist Practice. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.Robbins, S., Chatterjee, P., & Canda, E. (2012). Contemporary human behavior theory: A critical perspective for social work. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Allyn & Bacon.Sussman, M., Steinmetz, S., & Peterson, G. (1999). Handbook of Marriage and the Family (2nd ed.). New York: Plenum Press. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download