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Human Behavior Theory for Social Work Practice
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Human Behavior Theory for Social Work Practice



March 2019 | 456 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Human Behavior Theory for Social Work Practice provides an in-depth examination of human behavior theories and helps students apply each theory to social work practice. Authors Terry Koenig, Rick Spano, and John Thompson cover a broad spectrum of theories—including ecological, psychological, and sociopolitical—before applying them to a wide range of case examples that represent different stages across the human lifespan. Drawing from their extensive knowledge and experience in social work practice and teaching, the authors also feature scholarly research and writing to support the understanding of the theoretical overview in each chapter.

 

 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
Acknowledgments
 
Chapter 1 • Introduction to Theory and Its Application to Social Work Practice
How This Book Is Organized

 
Chapter Summaries

 
What Is Theory?

 
Theory and Science

 
Does Theory Really Matter? Theory Myth Busters

 
The Interactive Abstract/Concrete Continuum

 
Meta-Theories as Overarching Theories: Their Contributions to Practice

 
References

 
 
Chapter 2 • Critique of Theory for Use in Social Work Practice
What Does This Theory Say About Human Behavior?

 
How Does This Theory Address Growth and Change?

 
How Holistic Is This Theory?

 
How Consistent Is This Theory With Social Work Values and Ethics?

 
What Are the Sources of Knowledge That Support This Theory?

 
Chapter Summary

 
References

 
 
Chapter 3 • Contextualizing Human Behavior Theory
Rationale for the Chapter

 
Assumptions Regarding Our Discussion of HBSE Theories and Their Connection to Practice

 
Defining Historical Context

 
Application of Historical Context Framework

 
Historical Context Questions Applied to the Late 1800s to 1920

 
Chapter Summary

 
Classroom Exercise: Analyzing Current Events

 
References

 
 
Chapter 4 • Critical Theories
Critical Theories and Their Roots in Marxism

 
Broad and Narrow Definitions of Critical Theory

 
Key Themes in Critical Theory and Its Development

 
Critical Theory in the 20th Century: Feminist Criticism and Critical Race Theory

 
In-Depth Paulo Freire (1921–1997)

 
Theory Critique

 
Application of Critical Theories to Social Work

 
Environmental Conditions

 
Classroom Exercises: The Application of Critical Theory to Social Work Practice Examples

 
Chapter Summary

 
References

 
 
Chapter 5 • Psychodynamic Theory
Brief Introduction to Freudian Ideas

 
Key Conceptual Elements of Freud

 
Psychodynamic Theories’ Early Influences on Social Work Practice

 
Extensions of Psychodynamic Theory

 
Ego Psychology

 
More Current Developments

 
In-Depth: Otto Rank

 
Theory Critique

 
Application of Psychodynamic Theory

 
The Application of Psychodynamic Theory to Case Examples

 
Connections to Usefulness in Practice

 
Chapter Summary

 
Classroom Exercises

 
References

 
 
Chapter 6 • Systems Theories
Introduction to Systems Theories

 
In-Depth Exploration of Systems Theories as Applied to Social Work Practice

 
Social Work Frame of Reference Based on Systems Theory

 
Current Conceptualization of the Life Model

 
Theory Critique

 
Application of the Life Model to Social Work Practice: Eco-Maps, Genograms, and Beyond

 
Chapter Summary

 
Classroom Exercises

 
References

 
 
Chapter 7 • Environmental and Ecological Theory in Social Work
Connecting Social Work With the Natural Environment

 
Is Environmental Thought New?

 
Environmental Ethics

 
In-Depth: Arne Naess and Deep Ecology

 
Critique of Environmental and Ecological Theory

 
Social Work’s Historical Relationship With the Natural Environment

 
Social Work and the Natural Environment: Current Developments

 
Summary of Social Work and the Natural Environment

 
Chapter Summary

 
Classroom Exercises

 
References

 
 
Chapter 8 • Life Span Theories, Family Life Course Perspectives, and Historical Trauma
Overview of Life Span Theories

 
Advances Beyond Erikson

 
In-Depth: Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart and Venida S. Chenault

 
Critique of Life Span Theories and Beyond

 
Introduction to Social Work’s Understanding of Life Span Theory

 
Chapter Summary

 
References

 
 
Chapter 9 • Symbolic Interactionism
Overview and In-Depth Examination of George H. Mead

 
Critique of Symbolic Interactionism

 
Application of Symbolic Interactionism Theory to Social Work Practice

 
Chapter Summary

 
References

 
 
Chapter 10 • Behavior Theory, the Cognitive Turn, and the Influence of Mindfulness
Introduction and History of Behaviorism

 
Behavior Theory and Three Generations of Behavior Therapy

 
The Cognitive Turn and the First Generation of Behavior Therapies

 
Cognition and Second-Generation Behavior Therapies

 
Third-Generation Behavior Therapies

 
In-Depth: Mindfulness East and West

 
Critique of Behavior Theory and Behavior Therapies

 
Application of Behaviorism to Social Work Practice

 
Chapter Summary

 
References

 
 
Chapter 11 • Theories of Culture and White Privilege
Critical Consciousness for Ourselves and Our Clients

 
White Privilege and White Identity Development

 
Helms’s White Identity Development Model

 
Praxis as Action-Awareness-Reflection-Dialogue

 
In-Depth Theorist: Kimberlé Crenshaw and Intersectionality

 
Critique of Theories of Culture, White Privilege, Diversity, and Intersectionality

 
Application and Development of Diversity in Social Work Practice

 
Exercises

 
Chapter Summary

 
References

 
 
Chapter 12 • Empowerment Theory and the Strengths Perspective
Historical Context for Empowerment Theory

 
Key Themes in Empowerment Theory

 
Positive Psychology

 
Applied Positive Psychology

 
Concerns About Positive Psychology

 
In-Depth Theorists for the Strengths Perspective

 
Critique of Empowerment Theory and the Strengths Perspective

 
Application of the Strengths Perspective

 
Classroom Exercise

 
Chapter Summary

 
References

 
 
Chapter 13 • Cognitive and Moral Development Theories
Piaget and Cognitive Development

 
From Cognitive to Moral Development Theory

 
The Emergence of Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory

 
Public Education as the Just Community

 
Extensions From Piaget and Kohlberg

 
Current Trends in Moral Development

 
In-Depth: Carol Gilligan and Women’s Moral Development

 
The First Perspective

 
The Second Perspective

 
The Third Perspective

 
Adolescent Girls and Authenticity

 
Critique of Cognitive and Moral Development Theories

 
Application of Cognitive and Moral Development Theories to Social Work Practice

 
Chapter Summary

 
References

 
 
Glossary
 
Index

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site

study.sagepub.com/koenig  

Free online resources for instructors accompany this text on a password-protected Instructor Resource Site.        

  • Test banks provide a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity to edit any question and/or insert personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding.         
  • Editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides offer complete flexibility for creating a multimedia presentation.

I like the way the Authors tie theory to practice. I believe students should be thinking about how the environment is structured and how it affects human behavior. 

Donald Cooney
School Of Social Work, Western Michigan University
August 11, 2020

This text was a really good fit for the course we adopted it for.

Dr Travis Wade Cronin
Social Work Education Dept, California State Univ-Fresno
April 9, 2021
Key features
KEY FEATURES: 

  • Case examples from social work practice help theory come alive for students.
  • Ethics spotlights provide brief case examples for students to reflect on before answering accompanying discussion questions.
  • Chapter summaries allow students to review and reinforce the material at the conclusion of chapters.
  • Chapter-ending boxes of key terms provide page numbers where terms appear for students to easily look up definitions.
  • Class exercises prompt students to put chapter content into practice and answer questions to discuss in groups.

For instructors

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