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Essentials of Human Behavior
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Essentials of Human Behavior
Integrating Person, Environment, and the Life Course

Fourth Edition
July 2025 | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Essentials of Human Behavior by Elizabeth D. Hutchison and Leanne Wood integrates the key framework of time, person and environment into a single streamlined text for single or double semester courses. Drawn from Hutchison's best-selling Dimensions of Human Behavior texts, this Fourth Edition is updated to address equity and inclusion, trauma and resilience, environmental justice, and gender identity and expression. With a multidimensional approach, it helps students connect human behavior theories and research to their applications in social work engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation across all levels of practice.
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Editors
 
About the Case Study Contributors
 
Part I: A Multidimensional Approach for Multifaceted Social Work
 
Chapter 1: Human Behavior: A Multidimensional Approach
A Case Study About Person and Environment

 
Human Behavior: Individual and Collective

 
A Multidimensional Approach

 
Advancing Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice: A Global Perspective

 
Knowing and Doing

 
Scientific Knowledge: Theory and Research

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 2: Theoretical Perspectives on Human Behavior
A Case Study About Human Behavior Theory

 
Multiple Theoretical Perspectives for a Multidimensional Approach

 
Psychodynamic Perspective

 
The Merits of Multiple Perspectives

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 3: The Biological Person
Six Case Studies of The Biological Person

 
An Integrative Approach for Understanding the Intersection of Interior (Proximal) Biological Health and Illness and Exterior (Distal) Environmental Factors

 
Systems Taxonomy: Six Interior (Proximal) Environment Systems

 
Interactions of Exterior (Distal) Environments and Interior (Proximal) Health Environment

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 4: The Psychological Person
A Case Study About the Psychosocial Person

 
Cognition, Emotion, Personality, and Self: An Introduction

 
Theories of Cognition

 
Theories of Emotion

 
Theories of Personality

 
Theories of the Self

 
Understanding Stress and Coping

 
Cognitions, Emotions, Personality, Self, and Evidence-Supported Interventions (ESIS)

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 5: The Spiritual Person
Eight Case Studies of Spirituality and Religion

 
The Spiritual Dimension

 
Theories of Spiritual Development

 
The Role of Spirituality in Social Work

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Part II: The Multiple Dimensions of Environment
 
Chapter 6: The Physical Environment and Culture
Case Studies About the Physical Environment and Cultures

 
Human Behavior Theories: Physical Environment and Spatial Behavior

 
The Natural Environment

 
The Built Environment

 
What is Culture?

 
Major Concepts in the Study of Culture

 
Culture and Power

 
Genes, Culture, and Cultural Change

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 7: Families
A Case Study About Family

 
What is a Family?

 
Theoretical Perspectives for Understanding Families

 
Diversity in Family Formation and Structure

 
Challenges to Family Life

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 8: Small Groups, Formal Organizations, and Communities
Case Studies About Small Groups, Formal Organizations, and Communities

 
Small Groups in Social Work

 
Dimensions of Group Structure and Group Composition

 
Basic Group Processes

 
Organizations

 
Impact of Organizations on Society

 
Communities

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 9: Social Structure, Social Institutions, and Social Movements
Case Studies About Social Structure, Social Institutions, and Social Movements

 
Social Life

 
Contemporary Trends in Global and U.S. Social Institutions

 
Social Movements: An Introduction

 
Theoretical Perspectives on Social Movements

 
Social Movement Trajectories and Outcomes

 
Social Work and Social Movements

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 10: A Life Course Perspective
Three Case Studies About the Life Course

 
The Life Course Perspective

 
Basic Concepts of the Life Course Perspective

 
Major Themes of the Life Course Perspective

 
The Life Course Perspective and Social Work Practice

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 11: The Journey Begins: Conception, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Infancy
Five Case Studies About Pregnancy, Conception, Childbirth, and Infancy

 
Sociocultural Organization of Childbearing

 
Reproductive Genetics and Genetic Mechanisms

 
Fetal Development

 
Pregnancy and the Life Course

 
Typical Infant Development

 
Caring for Infants

 
Infant Development: Risk and Protective Factors

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 12: Toddlerhood and Early Childhood
Case Studies About Toddlerhood and Early Childhood

 
Typical Development in Toddlerhood and Early Childhood

 
The Role of Play

 
Developmental Delays and Disabilities

 
Early Childhood Education

 
Risk and Protective Factors to Healthy Development in Early Childhood

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 13: Middle Childhood
Three Case Studies About Middle Childhood

 
Historical Perspective on Middle Childhood

 
Middle Childhood in the Multigenerational Family

 
Development in Middle Childhood

 
Middle Childhood and Formal Schooling

 
Special Challenges in Middle Childhood

 
Risk Factors and Protective Factors in Middle Childhood

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 14: Adolescence
Three Case Studies About Adolescence

 
The Social Construction of Adolescence Across Time and Space

 
Biological Aspects of Adolescence

 
Psychological Aspects of Adolescence

 
Social Aspects of Adolescence

 
Adolescent Spirituality/Religiosity

 
Adolescent Sexuality

 
Potential Challenges to Adolescent Development

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 15: Young and Middle Adulthood
Six Case Studies of Young and Middle Adulthood

 
A Life Course Perspective on Young and Middle Adulthood

 
Theoretical Approaches to Young and Middle Adulthood

 
Biological Changes in Young and Middle Adulthood

 
Psychological Changes in Young and Middle Adulthood

 
Spiritual Changes in Young and Middle Adulthood

 
Social Changes in Young and Middle Adulthood

 
Risk and Protection in Young and Middle Adulthood

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
Chapter 16: Late and Very Late Adulthood
Six Case Studies About Late and Very Late Adulthoodq

 
Cultural Construction of Age and Aging

 
Demographics of the Older Population

 
Psychosocial Theoretical Perspectives on Social Gerontology

 
Biological, Psychological, Social and Spiritual Changes in Adulthood

 
The Dying Process

 
Risk Factors and Protective Factors in Late Adulthood

 
Implications for Social Work Practice

 
Key Terms

 
Active Learning

 
 
References
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • Flashcards and note-taking tools help students better prepare for class.
    • NEW! Audiobook Player allows students to listen to text content, boosting comprehension and retention. It offers flexible, on-the-go access, engaging both reluctant readers and auditory learners, improving the overall reading experience.
    • The Offline Reading option in the Student Dashboard offers greater accessibility to Vantage’s reading content, regardless of where students are or how strong their internet connection may be.
  • 26 new case studies have been added to reflect contemporary issues.
  • Consistency with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) curriculum guidelines is explained where appropriate.
  • New, expanded, and thorough updates to discussions cover topics such as gender identity and expression; neuroscience; trauma and traumatic stress; the global context of human behavior; and the impact of the new information, communication, and medical technologies on human behavior.
  • New content on environmental and ecological justice has been added to the discussions of the physical environment and social movements and woven into other chapters as well.
  • Content on cultures has been updated, with greater emphasis on how the dynamics of power are embedded in culture.
KEY FEATURES:
  • 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standard (EPAS) competencies are linked to chapter content. A mapping of the competencies to the chapter content can be found in the appendix.
  • Powerful chapter-opening case studies help readers apply theory and concepts to unique practice situations.
  • Implications for social work practice are included throughout chapters to guide the reader’s use of general social work knowledge in assessment and intervention.
  • Active learning exercises suggest classroom activities that encourage critical analysis of theory and research and assist the reader in recognizing and managing personal values and biases.
  • Critical thinking questions assist student comprehension of theory and research to further critical analysis.
  • Chapter-opening outlines and learning objectives help readers anticipate the knowledge, values, and skills they should be able to exhibit following the reading of each chapter.
  • Robust chapter pedagogy includes bolded key terms, photographs, tables and figures, and a list of web resources to drive a deeper understanding of text content.

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