Theories, models and perspectives - Cheat sheet for field instructors
Major Theories – Used in Social Work Practice
• Systems Theory
• Psychodynamic
• Social Learning
• Conflict
Developmental Theories
• Theories of moral reasoning (Kohlberg, Gilligan)
• Theories of cognition (Piaget)
• Transpersonal theories of human development (Transpersonal – means beyond or through the persona
or mask. Going beyond identity rooted in the individual body or ego to include spiritual experience or
higher levels of consciousness.)
• Stage theories – Erikson
Primary Perspectives
• Strengths
• Feminist
• Eco-Systems
Current Social Work Practice Models
• Problem Solving
• Task-Centered
• Solution – Focused
• Narrative
• Cognitive-Behavioral
• Crisis
In brief, social work practice models are like recipes. They are step-by-step guides for client sessions.
Perspectives represent what aspects of the session are emphasized or highlighted in a session (i.e. questions
asked or time spent). Theories are overall explanations of the person-in-environment configuration. Theories
help explain why the problem is occurring and where the most efficient intervention should take place.
Definitions:
Theory –A general statement about the real world whose essential truth can be supported by evidence
obtained through the scientific method. – Must explain in a provable way why something happens. Ex:
Learning theory explains behavior on the basis of what organisms have learned from the environment.
Model – Is a blueprint for action. It describes what happens in practice in a general way. Ex: The
behavioral model (based on learning theory) gives specific guidelines
for how to effect change. If a parent complains that his child is having difficulty staying in his own bed at
night and the parent has been allowing the child to sleep in his/her bed( thereby reinforcing the child’s
difficulty) the practitioner would help the parent to extinguish the behavior by removing the
reinforcement.
Perspective – A way of perceiving the world flows from a value position. Note: The perspective will
influence choice of theory and model.
Note: Payne ( 1997) argues that social work theory succeeds best when it contains all three elements of
perspective, theory and model.
Example: Men who batter their partners
Theory: Social learning theory – men learn their violent behavior in their family of origin, and from a
culture that rewards anger and violence in men; cognitive theory – what men say to themselves in
situations of stress increases their anger and their propensity to be violent.
