Human Ecology Theory And Community Theory

Abstract The roles of a social worker are many and although it may be seen to most as a simple profession, it is of great value. A social worker has to broaden his or her horizon to see things in a new perspective. One must be able to understand, empower and help individuals, families or groups to overcome some of lives most difficult obstacles. As a social worker you are supposed to be able to appreciate the perspectives of all parties involved.

In the professional field of Social Work, there are many terminologies that individuals outside of this group may not understand. During the process of assessing a problem in a family, there are different theoretical perspectives that helps social workers understand different aspects of family situations. There are eight theoretical perspectives that helps social workers understand family’s dynamic and situations. These theoretical perspectives are; system perspective, conflict perspective, exchange and choice perspective, social constructionist perspective, psychodynamic perspective, developmental perspective, social behavior perspective and humanistic perspective.

Social work has long recognized the relationship between the behavior of an individual and the environment in which the individual interacts (Hutchison, 2008). Human behavior theories offer a framework to organize, interpret and understand this relationship (Hutchison, 2008). For this case study, the following three theories will be examined for relevancy: Life cycle theory, role theory and resiliency theory.

Dale, O. S. (2009). Human behavior and the social environment: Social systems theory (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Person.

According to Stanhope and Lancaster (2008) defines a community as: “A social group determined by geographic boundaries and/or common values and interests. Its members know and interact with one another. It functions within a particular social structure and exhibits and creates norms, values, and social institutions” (World Health Organization [WHO], 1974, pg. 7).

Communities play an essential role in the development of the self and learning about the stranger. Through communities, individuals are able to socialize and create a greater understanding of each other. In The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls describes the community of which she felt most part of during her childhood. Walls says, “. . .

-A person’s behavior can be influenced by observing others within the context of social interactions, experiences, and outside media influence.

This section of the paper will discuss the definition of social work, values associated with social work and arguments for and against the use of systems theory in social work practice. Social work can be described as a field of study that encompasses individuals and their environment. Social work can be defined as work trained professionals do to elevate stressors of individuals so they may become more self-sufficient and empowered to live to their fullest potential.

Both clinical social workers and caseworkers use this model to aid their clients. This model is often used, since it focuses on the boundaries of the systems as it seeks to focus on each individual client (Schatz, Jenkins, & Sheafor, 1990). Beginning in the 1960s, the generalist perspective was created from the Milford conference, which stated that a generic approach to social work was necessary (Schatz et al., 1990). The generalist perspective continued to develop throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and it quickly became the base for all social work (Schatz et al., 1990). What occurred with the foundation of the generalist perspective was the interlacing of casework, group work, and community organization with the emphasis on understanding the interaction between individuals and their unique environments (Miller, Tice, & Hall, 2008). With the emmeshing of these crucial concepts, the generalist perspective uses the person-in-environment perspective as its foundation and attempts to include policy, practice, and research (Miller et al., 2008). Moreover, with the combination of these levels and perspectives, the generalist perspective seeks to

A central part of being a social worker is to have familiarity and awareness of different communities. In fact, one of the ten core competencies of the Council on Social Work Education is the ability of social workers to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels (Jansson, 2015, p.108). Mezzo policy advocacy was defined as taking place in agencies and communities to address unresolved problems (Jansson, 2015, p.108). Being familiar with the community is a vital aspect of social work as a result of needing knowledge about the community to see what the individuals that belong to the community require, as well as desire. Without data, it is impossible for a social worker to advocate and attempt to change, as well as create policies to ensure the people belonging to the community, are having their needs met.

In the generalist social work practice, a social worker is a change agent due to the expansive and complex umbrella of social and human services and roles. A change agent works to promote positive changes for the well-being of an individual, family, group, organization or community. In order to fulfill the tasks of a social worker, one should be trained and equipped with a wide variety of skills: such as setting appropriate boundaries, possessing and utilizing self-awareness and the ability to counsel or advocate for clients. In addition to many skills, the generalist social work practice includes a surplus of methods to either prevent or intervene when necessary. A method often utilized by social workers is the person-in-environment conceptualization. The person-in-environment perspective considers factors, such as familial or economic, beyond the individual to better understand the client’s behaviors or situation. Another method is the strengths perspective. The strength-based perspective focuses on the client’s or client system’s positive qualities to build upon those capabilities. And the recognition of strengths helps to achieve goals in a more client-led approach. Generalist practitioners are professionals with a wide range of knowledge and a repertoire of diverse skills in order to enhance the social functioning of all within society.

The definition provided in The American College Dictionary from 1964 says “a group of men or women leading a common life according to a rule.” I never really viewed community in this manner. Many of us think of the word “community” as a group of people who live near each other. We forget that a community is actually just a group of people with common interests or characteristics who often happen to live near each other. Communities can be bound by race, religion, economic standings, political standings, and most commonly, location. Frequently, communities fall into more than one of these categories.

As a social work it is important to understand the communities you are working in, from a professional perspective because it is crucial to know if there are any other resources your patient can potentially access for assistance. Getting to know your community can help you build a strong relationship with individuals to achieve the common goal, to help families in the community. Being aware of what is going on in the community can demonstrate to others that you are there in their best interest. The environment where people live often shape individuals. Learning the environment where someone is from can help you learned about a person. What goes on in the community often have an effect on how people are and often shape families. Being able to be the person individuals from the community trust and greet every day can make the job easier.

Human ecology is an interdisciplinary field, and it includes the interactions among humans and their natural, social, and built environments. In order to understand fields such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, home economics, etc., one must understand the different facets of human ecology. Eco-psychiatry, for example, attempts to integrate ecology and psychiatry and explores the effects of one’s environment on mental health. The environment can be biological, social, or cultural in nature. Several facets of human ecology can be linked to mental health including microbial, social, and urban ecology. The diversity of microbiota is important for mental well-being in that microbes directly influence aspects of mental health such as anxiety and stress, and the social environment is important in that adequate and quality resources are necessary for the physical and mental health of an individual.

Social ecology is defined as the relationship of human beings to their environment. The social ecological approach analyzes the social, behavioral, and physical characteristics that influence community crime rates. This approach was developed in the early 1900s. Social scientists, Robert E. Park and Ernest W. Burgess, of the University of Chicago, developed this ecological analysis. This paper provides an overview of the studies and findings conducted by Robert E. Park and Ernest W. Burgess and their doctoral students. These studies are based on the analyzation of the everyday lives, communities, and symbolic interactions of Chicago neighborhoods. This paper will discuss ways in which social ecology correlates with crime. The different social ecological theories including social disorganization and deviant places will also be discussed.