Contemporary Human Behavior Theory: A Critical Perspective for Social Work Practice

Encourage students to think critically about social work practice with a multidisciplinary, theoretical approach
Contemporary Human Behavior Theory: A Critical Perspective for Social Work Practice takes a multidisciplinary, theoretical approach to HBSE and provides a consistent analytical framework for readers to examine both traditional and contemporary theories. Students are encouraged to develop their critical-thinking skills as they explore each theory and analyze the social, ideological, and economic structures of society that impact individual problems. Each chapter includes coverage of the research that supports a particular theory, an analysis of the validity of that research, and a discussion of contemporary issues.    

Updated with material that is critical to social work practice today, the 4th Edition includes new cases with practice application exercises, and expanded content on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons’ development and empowerment.

Susan P. Robbins, Ph.D., LCSW, is an Associate Professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She received her MSW from the University of Minnesota and her Ph.D. from Tulane University. She is the lead author of two monographs on drug abuse prevention and has published several book chapters on drugs and drug abuse. She has been a contributing author to the Encyclopedia of Social Work and the Social Workers' Desk Reference on the topics of cults, satanic ritual abuse and recovered memory of abuse and has published numerous articles in professional journals.
 
Pranab Chatterjee received his undergraduate education from Viswa-Bharati University in West Bengal, India. Subsequent to that, he received a master’s degree in social work from The University of Tennessee, another master’s degree in sociology from The University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in sociology from The University of Chicago. He is currently Grace Longwell Coyle Professor Emeritus at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, he has published many papers and books in social work and social welfare. His latest book is A Story of Ambivalent Modernization in Bangladesh and West Bengal (2010). His other books include Repackaging the Welfare State (1999), and Approaches to the Welfare State (1996).
 
Edward R. Canda, M.A., MSW, Ph.D., is Professor and Coordinator of the Spiritual Diversity Initiative at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Dr. Canda’s work addresses connections between cultural diversity, spirituality, and resilience in relation to health, mental health, and disabilities. For more than 40 years, Professor Canda has been exploring insights from Eastern philosophy for social welfare. He has about 200 publications and has conducted about 230 presentations in the United States and in many other countries, especially in East Asia and Central Europe. His widely cited co-authored book, Spiritual Diversity in Social Work Practice,1999/2010, was published by Oxford University Press. In 2013, he received the Council on Social Work Education’s Significant Lifetime Achievement Award for innovations on spirituality through scholarship and education.

Brief Table of Contents

1. The Nature of Theories  
2. Systems Theory
3. Conflict Theories  
4. Theories of Empowerment and Social Capital    
5. Feminist Theory  
6. Theories of Assimilation, Acculturation, Bicultural Socialization, and Ethnic Minority Identity  
7. Psychodynamic Theory  
8. Theories of Life Span Development  
9. Theories of Cognitive, Moral, and Faith Development  
10. Symbolic Interaction  
11. Phenomenology, Social Constructionism, and Hermeneutics  
12. Behaviorism, Social Learning, and Exchange Theory  
13. Transpersonal Theory  
14. Application of Theories
 
Detailed Table of Contents
                           
1. The Nature of Theories
Organization of the Book and Rationale for Selection of Theories
Why Study Theories of Human Behavior? 
Theories: What Are They? 
The Social Construction of Theories 
Ideology, Scientific Theory, and Social Work Practice
Determinism and Reductionism: A Problem of Social Construction
Theories: Application to Practice
Critical Analysis of Theory: The Missing Dimension
An Afterthought: Paths to Human Knowledge
 
2. Systems Theory
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Structural Functionalism
The Ecological Perspective 
Dynamic Systems Theory
Deep Ecology
Ecofeminism
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
3. Conflict Theories
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Class Conflict
Roads from Marx
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
Chapter 4: Theories of Empowerment and Social Capital
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Stratification, Oppression, and Inequality: The Sociopolitical Context of Empowerment Theories
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex Empowerment Theories
Social Work Empowerment Theories
Social Capital Theory
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
5.  Feminist Theory
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Feminist Theories
Contemporary Thought in Feminist Theory
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
6. Theories of Assimilation, Acculturation, and Bicultural Socialization and Ethnic Minority Identity
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Deficiency Theory
The Dual Perspective
Bicultural Socialization
Ethnic, Racial/Cultural and Minority Identity
A Multidimensional Transactional Model of Bicultural Identity
Transculturality
Cultural Competence
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
7. Psychodynamic Theory
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Sigmund Freud: Psychoanalysis
Roads from Freud
The Freudian Mainstream
The Freudian Left
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
8. Theories of Life Span Development
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Theoretical Knowledge about Physical Development
Theoretical Knowledge about Sexual Development
Theoretical Knowledge about Neurobiology and Neurotransmission
Theories of Psychosocial Development: The Life Span Approach
Roads from Erikson
Theories of Midlife Development
Life Span Development and Late Adulthood
Life Span Development of Women
Shame Resilience Theory
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Intersex Identity Development
Stage Theories: Popularity versus Validity
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
9. Theories of Cognitive, Moral, and Faith Development
Historical Context
Cognitive Development
Moral Development
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
10. Symbolic Interaction
Historical Context
Key Concepts
The Chicago School and Early Interactionism
Roads from Mead
Role Theory, Reference Groups, and Socialization through the Life Cycle
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
11. Phenomenology, Social Constructionism, and Hermeneutics
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Roads from Schutz
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
12. Behaviorism, Social Learning, and Exchange Theory
Behaviorism
Social Learning Theory
Exchange Theory
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
13. Transpersonal Theory
Historical Context
Key Concepts
Transpersonal and Integral Theories
Contemporary Issues
Application to Social Work Practice
Critical Analysis
Consistency with Social Work Values and Ethics
Philosophical Underpinnings
Methodological Issues and Empirical Support
 
14. Application of Theories
Alternative Approaches to Theory Selection
“Measuring Up” to the Themes for Critical Reflection on Theories
Person-Focused Theories
Environment-Focused Theories
Twelve Great Ideas
An Example of Integrating Theories for a Practice Issue
Roads from Here: Future Possibilities and Challenges for Innovation in Human Behavior Theory
 

References
Discography
Name Index
Subject Index