discussion

Week 2 SOCW 6060

Theories as Lenses for Social Workers and General Systems Theory 

Resources 

Readings 

• Turner, F. J. (Ed.). (2017). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (6th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  o Chapter 14: General Systems Theory (pp. 240–247)
   
• Turner, K., & Lehning, A. J. (2007). Psychological theories of poverty. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 16(1/2), 57–72. doi:10.1300/J137v16n01-05
   
• Turner, F. J. (2011). Theory and social work treatment. In Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (5th ed., pp. 3–13). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  Social Work Treatment: Interlocking Theoretical Approaches, 5th Edition by Turner, F. Copyright 2011 by Oxford University Press - Books (US & UK). Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press - Books (US & UK) via the Copyright Clearance Center.
   
• Comparing Individual-Related and Structural/Cultural-Related Theories (Word document)
   
• Worksheet: Dissecting a Theory and Its Application to a Case Study (Word document)
   
• Theory Into Practice: Four Social Work Case Studies Media
   
• Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2014). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.psychotherapy.net.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/stream/w aldenu/video?vid=277
  This week, watch the “Family Systems Therapy” segment by clicking the applicable link under the “Chapters” tab.
   

Discussion 

Individual vs. Structural-Cultural Theories  

Theories as Lenses for Social Workers and General Systems Theory 

• Describe how a social worker would conceptualize a presenting problem of poverty from the two theories you selected.
   
• Explain how this conceptualization differs from an individual- related versus a structural/cultural-related theoretical lens.
   
• Compare how the two theoretical lenses differ in terms of how the social worker would approach the client and the problem and how the social worker would intervene.