In the past social worker focused on the use of psychodynamic theory in social work practice, but now it is said that this theory is no longer relevant to social work practice. Sigmund Freud psychodynamic theory looks at how human behavior and relationships are shaped by conscious and unconscious influences. For Freud, psychodynamic theory included psychoanalysis that was used a treatment to reveal the unconscious activity of an individual by making them consciously aware of it. Further, he believed that he could help people release bottled up emotions and negative experiences that could be the cause of anxiety and depression. Social construction that occurs because of a revolt effectively alters society as a whole is social worker relevancy …show more content…
The psychodynamic approach in social work is still relevant and is important for its humanizing qualities, for understanding and working with people with severe problems and for, perhaps, helping us to locate the position of social work as it relates to the mental health professions. According to Deal (2007), “Current trends in psychodynamic theory include a vibrant interest in theory development, including cultural considerations, an emphasis on a relational paradigm, and increasing support for research, all of which have implications for social work"(pg 192). Social workers employ the theory of psychodynamic when dealing with a client who has suffered past trauma or abuse and are better able to facilitate healing by placing attention on a client’s ego defense mechanisms to protect individuals from becoming overwhelmed by impulses and threats. Social work practice primary focus in psychodynamic theory are utilized to analyze emotions that play a key role in human behavior and concerned with how these internal needs, drives, and emotions motivate human behavior. It assumes that both conscious and unconscious mental activity motivate human behavior, and that internalized experiences. Social work theories are general explanations that are supported by evidence obtained through the scientific method. A psychodynamic theory may explain human behavior, by describing how humans interact or how humans react to certain stimuli. Social work practice models describe how social workers can implement psychodynamic theories. While a psychodynamic theory explains the conscious and unconscious thoughts of human beings behaviors, a social worker can use the theory to create change. Psychodynamic theory can be relevancy to social workers to assist in identifying concepts, such as the role of drives in human motivation, stages of psychosexual development, and ego defense mechanisms
The key concepts of sociology and psychology can influence social care values. People are affected by their childhood experiences, or they learn behaviour from their parents, peers and environment. This can assist a worker in understanding their behaviour. The key concepts of sociology and psychology can influence social care values, “modern psychoanalytic developments link with sociological ideas especially the idea that people are part of social systems and play a social role (1). For example in Maslows heirachy of needs once peoples psychological and safety needs are met, to reach their social needs they need to be treated with respect and not be judged. Other theories such as behaviourist can help to explain service users with addiction issues, they may have learned this from addicted parents. For many psychology theories they believe that people are affected by their childhood experiences or they learn behaviour from their parents, peers and environment. This can affect their role in society and help workers understand their behaviour.
While practicing social work it is important to understand how an individual’s system and environment can
Psychodynamic Theory. This theory is what social workers implement when working with a client who has suffered prior abuse or past trauma. By concentrating on how the ego works as a facilitator of the individual and their environment. Social workers can implement healing by helping the client halting their use of defense mechanisms. This intervention is used to protect clients from experiencing a crisis.
Social work professions need to understand the importance of how individuals interact both with other people and their environment, to have an understanding how individuals are affected by these interactions (Rogers, p. 2). According to Rogers (2016), “Social workers are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course; the range of social systems in which people live; and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Social workers apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to understand biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development (p. 2). Their work with clients begins with assessments to evaluations of intervention and is based in and supports of the core value system of the profession.
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.
Social work is basically a helping profession with the main role of social workers being to help various clients in their varying needs and to enhance their general wellbeing. Therefore, to understand and effectively respond to different client’s needs and demands professional social workers will, therefore, must be well equipped with diverse knowledge on social work practice. According to Gordon, Cooper, B, and Dumbleton, (2009), theoretical knowledge is thus of great importance to social work practice as theories serve as anchoring frames for causal explanation, case assessment, planning of interventions and outcome evaluation.
Psychodynamic therapy “is concerned with unconscious processes and how they influence present behavior. The hope of the practitioner is to bring the client to self-awareness about the unconscious elements of one’s past influence present behaviors” (Cummins et al., 2012, p.249). In addition, this therapy uses free association that allows the client to address unconscious issues and address them and this looks at one problem and helps the client to experience change in a brief period of time. Furthermore, the social worker needs to be focused on the client’s issue and the quality of the service delivery of the treatment so that the treatment works appropriately for the
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.
Reading about the different theories, I believe that the psychodynamic theory and the systems theory would both work well with my future profession. Collectively, as Social Worker, I would be working with children dealing with their own unique situation. The psychodynamic Theory talks about the repression and anxiety cause of conflicts. Children who have been removed from their homes or dealing with and still living in their homes may suffer from anxiety or repression of feelings often. This Theory will help me guide the children in understanding how important it is to express those feelings they may be having, and how to do so appropriately. Lastly, the Systems Theory will aid a great deal in my profession, because it helps to understand dynamics
The psychodynamic theory has its own perspective, thus ranging us with numerous experimental findings and studies. According to Freud, the psychodynamic theory has developed from the psychosexual stages of an individual; in terms of normal development, at which, is a start at birth and throughout his adulthood. There are multiple factors structuring of human personality; and therefore, Freud had introduced us his theory in achieving it from the state of the unawareness. Ermann also focused on the same idea, indeed he presented his psychoanalytical research in an article titled, "You touched my heart": Modes of memory and psychoanalytic technique. His concentration was upon the procedural state of the mind as well as referring back to the
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), was an influential Austrian psychologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. Freud went on to produce several theories, such as his theory on psychosexual development, which will be the focus of this assignment. Using the case study of a six-year-old patient, I will discuss the key principles of Freud’s theory on psychosexual development. Including, comprehensive definitions of the concepts used, and the stages of Freud’s psychosexual development. Lastly using Freud’s theory, I will explain how the patient’s current behaviour, could impact her behaviour in adulthood.
Personality is the enduring and unique cluster of characteristics that may change in response to different situations. It can be asses via different approaches such as Self-report or objective inventories, projective techniques, clinical interviews, behavioural assessment procedures and thought and experience-sampling procedures. In the study of personality ideographic research and nomothetic research are used and the major methods that the clinical method, the experimental method and the correlational method.
The client was in distress when arriving at the social workers session. The first step with the client was to build rapport and create a safe environment to share information. The social worker used psychodynamic theory and the practice of exploration, description, and ventilation (Walsh, 2013, p. 68) to help the
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, is predominantly recognized as one of the most influential and authoritative thinkers of the twentieth century. Freud gave a broad perspective on things involving dreams, religion, and cultural artifacts while still focusing on different states of the mind, such as unconsciousness. Freud also relied on a local sexual repression issue to create theories about human behavior. His theories and ideas of psychoanalysis still have a strong impact on psychology and early childhood education today. Freud’s most important claim is that with psychoanalysis he had invented a new science of the mind, however, remains the subject of copious critical debate and controversy.
Both the social constructionist and the psychodynamic views adopt a hermeneutic epistemology, which centers on the analysis of a person's actions, their fundamental influences and how the external social world can be internalised and represented symbolically within an individual (Stevens, 1996). However, there are key differences between the two views. The social constructionist applies a societal study approach which converge the external society and the social relationships within it. This implying that the self is built-up and continually developed through multiple social networks (Sapsford, 1996). On the other hand, psychodynamic theories applies psychoanalytical