Theories: Basic tenets to guide further study

(Source: Malcolm Payne, 2005, 2014)

Theory/Perspective/ Theory for Knowledge Theory for Intervention/ Practice Issues and Con
Model
Psychodynamic theory Psychic determinism. Uncover levels of consciousness.

Instincts – Life and death. Help individual meet anxiety, extreme/disturbed

emotions.
Early experiences impact future life
stages (Eg. Bowlby's attachment Facilitate healthy use of defense mechanisms.
theory – focus on early child
relationships and how loss of Helper operates as a therapist (blank screen,
attachment impacts future facilitating transference and counter-transferenc
relationships).
Therapist requires special training for practice.
Three levels of consciousness:
Unconscious, Subconscious and
Conscious.

Three components of personality:

Id, Ego and Superego.

Conflict between components of

personality lead to anxiety.

Defense mechanisms help to deal

with anxiety
Cognitive Behaviour Behaviour is learnt through: Correct cognitions/beliefs.
Theory Rewards and punishments, imitation
and modelling. Explore (new) role models.

Cognitions influence behaviour. Use rewards and punishments / token economy

condition behaviour.
Faulty cognitions influence affect
and behaviour.
Social Psychological Individuals hold personal constructs Correct/
and Communications (internal pictures about the world develop personal constructs.
Model people build through their own
perception) about how to behave, Clarify roles and address role conflict.
developed from past experience.
Facilitate healthy communication.
Roles – ascribed or attained.

Role conflict and ambiguity lead to

stress.
Task-Centered and Crisis occurs when response TC: Establish collaborative relationship between
Crisis Intervention mechanisms fail/are inadequate. social worker and client.
Models
Persons need guidance to pursue Mutually agree on goals.
Theory/Perspective/ Theory for Knowledge Theory for Intervention/ Practice Issues and Con
Model
goals.
Process short- term or truncated long- term.

Perform/pursue a series of tasks to meet goals.

CI: Crisis intervention helps people cope with cr

Development of enhanced coping skills may arr

escalation of problem situation.

Sometimes, crises offer helpers an entry point to

with individuals.
Systems and Ecological Social problems get aggravated due Help individuals to access systems/ learn about
Perspectives to: systems/use systems.
Absence of systems, lack of
knowledge about systems, inability Work with individuals in systems, to facilitate ac
to access systems. to systems/modify systems/create new systems.

Systems- Informal, formal, societal.

Systems may conflict with each

other.
Critical Perspectives Central argument: Social problems Integrate structural explanations into practice ra
are created more by structure of than focussing on individual psychology and soc
society, and cultural assumptions networks as basis for explanation.
generated by dominant groups that
oppress subordinate groups. Aim- Social transformation and giving direction
individual and local change.
Concern for inequality and
oppression. Practice in ways that emphasize social change ra
than problem-solving and empowerment.

Focus on structural rather than Dialogic practice- that is working with people in
individual, psychological equal relationship in which views of social situa
explanations of social problems. are exchanged and discussed.

Draws on transformational political Conscientisation – working to help people to

philosophy and rejects social work understand and be able to criticise how social
practice that accepts conservative structures are implicated in their oppression, and
liberal, neo-liberal or soc identify and take action about practical conseque

Transformational, proposing that Animation- engaging people's involvement in

social work should seek to change collective activity for community and cultural
the way societies create social objectives.
problems.
Discourses- facilitate language and practice thro
Concerned with freeing people from which people exercise power in cultural and soc
restrictions imposed by social order. relations.
Theory/Perspective/ Theory for Knowledge Theory for Intervention/ Practice Issues and Con
Model
Empowerment and Powerlessness leads to Give power/empower through mobilising
Advocacy vulnerabilities. information, knowledge and other resources.

Personal and social blocks influence Example: Facilitate self-help.

control and decision-making.
Advocacy- Case advocacy or cause advocacy.
Feminist Perspectives Raises concern about the how Seeks commonalities between female practitione
women and their social relations are and the women they work with.
dominated by scial relations based
on men's assumptions. Stresses on dialogic, egalitarian relationships.

Looks at how oppression may affect Consciousness-raising (connected with critical

women. practice' conscientisation) is a strategy for stimu
awareness and change.
Focusses on women's distinctive
voice and identity. Celebrates Reflexivity, first used as a research tool, was
women's diversity. subsequently adopted as an element of practice.

Concern over women's experiences Dialogue is a vehicle of a practice that values an

and roles. empowers women and all clients. It is a process
through which different perceptions are describe
opposed against each other.

Social and personal identity (and social processe

the basis of which it is formed and by which it
changes) are an important aspect of creating and
intervening in diverse relationships.

Anti-oppressive and Anti-oppressive approaches focus on Discrimination and oppression are important asp
Multicultural structural explanations of of people's experience of social relations and sho
Sensitivity Approaches discrimination, while multicultural therefore be a focus of social work practice.
approaches focus on role of cultural
(Anti-oppressive and ethnic differences in stimulating Focus on people's personal identity and the way
practice distinguished discrimination. which ethnicity and cultural experience construc
from anti- identity is relevant to social work practice.
discriminatory practice) Focusses on combatting oppressive
as it concentrates on effects of discrimination, in which Encourages cultural and ethnic diversity. Sensit
processes of oppression powerful groups in society maintain and competence in dealing with social and cultu
and exclusion rather power by creating negative differences can be an important part of practice.
than the discrimination stereotypes.
itself , but the two Taking oppressed people's perspective guides
terms are often used Personal, cultural and social factors practice.
interchangeably) are all relevant to discrimination.