Socio-Psychological Aspects of Social Work - Case Study Example

(Please write an appropriate The insight that I gathered from the theoretical foundation es on socio-psychological dimensions of social work has been personally fulfilling, while it also equipped me to gain the proper perspective on the practice of social work. I was particularly attracted by the working of the concepts of power and powerlessness, social exclusion, labeling and deviance in the society. Indeed, I came into the course with somewhat nave and fragmented view of sociology and psychology, but now that I have read, reflected and shared my new gained fund of knowledge, I am confident as a person. I am sure that the insight will go a long way in my career. The understanding of the present society as a world of various power centers spread over a range of locations and the role of sociology to investigate the centers of power, which make some people empowered, and others helpless. Our lives' realities today are structured by class, gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexuality and disability and the power relation that result from these (Bauman 1990 and1992). The traditional understanding of society and its conflict was that it is the product of unequal distribution of authority. Those in power have a vested interest to stick to their privileges. Those who are ruled do like to change the distribution of power. This is the reason for the formation of classes (Daharendorf, 1957). The Marxist conflict theory, I felt is somewhat inadequate, and looking at distribution power in a wide areas of our society has been a valuable insight to me. The radical feminist theory criticizes the patriarchal structure of the society for the powerlessness of women. The conditioning to patriarchal habits makes most husbands sensitive to their authority and the institution of marriage instead of consummating a relation of equality turns out to be a dreaded experience of servitude. From the functional point of view a family should have been a unified interest group. Instead family relations are characterized by an unequal distribution of power, responsibilities and resources (Abbott and Wallace 1990). I came into the course with a vague understanding of the term social exclusion. To me it meant only exclusion from work in a community. I had always thought that social exclusion could be addressed by merely providing work to people. The reading in this module made a drastic correction in my approach to quality of life. I was naturally inclined to think that by focusing on poverty I would be able to ensure quality of life. Now I realize that social exclusion by contrast is more related to social relations. It is only by correcting the social relations that people will be empowered to participate in the social affairs and attain adequate power to control the choices that affect them. (Pierson, 2002) Though I was familiar with the term labeling, I never knew that labeling had such adverse effect in the development of a person. The insight on the negative impact of labeling is of unique value in the education of the children. Labeling results in placing people in slots based on prejudices. Labeling is not based on scientific evidence; it is based on opinions resulting from subjective perceptions of individuals. When the label is given people work their way to fulfil the label that they have received. This is a kind of self-fulfilling procphecy. Many significant studies suggest that official labels from a significant person impact on delinquent and deviant behavior response. Those who are not prone to antisocial behavior are often prompted to assume anti-social attitudes as a result of labeling (Cree 184). Case Study Analysis The Peter-Maureen case is fine example of how power and powerlessness operates in a family environment. A mortgage on the house means the need to have regular income to own the house. Why is it in the first place Maureen did not go for any job that will bring her regular income She was not averse to work. She could easily get a job when it was absolutely needed her to work, after her husband lost her job. In the present condition of Peter, it would have been natural that he appreciated the attempts of his wife to support him, by assuming the role of the breadwinner. Perhaps, the reaction of Peter and the violence he showed to her might have sprung from patterns of thought which conditioned him not to brook his wife assuming the role of the bread winner which wounded his sense of selfhood. The conflict in the Maureen-Peter situation can be seen as the problem in a typical patriarchal and Euro-centric family norm accepted by Peter. It is the task of the social worker to intervene in the attitude of Peter by adequate counseling. His reaction probably springs from his fear of the loss of his role in the family. Instead of marriage blossoming into an endearing relation, becomes a place of bondage for women. It is argued that, because by far the greatest amount of domestic violence is perpetrated by men, and because a large part of all criminal violence is violence within the home by men against women, violence should be understood as a means through which men seek to control women; it is typical of a patriarchal society (Dobash and Dobash 1979). Black British student Paul 22. Maureen is in touch with him, while Peter is not in touch with his child. This situation shows the different patterns of family system followed by the black and the white. The fact that Maureen's son born in the first marriage is in contact with her indicates a source of strength for her. In the case of Peter he has successfully severed his ties with the first marriage. Peter is more alienated from social living than Maureen is. As observed by Bhavani and Coulson, "Whatever inequalities exist in such [black] households, they are clearly sites of support for their members."(1986:88) Sarah has a label on her, not because she deserves one, but because she is the sister of Aiden. Sarah wants to be a vet or a model or a TV presenter when she grows up and is disappointed that she is known as Aiden's sister. The fact that teachers have commented on this is a sign of greater malaise in the teaching community. The tendency on the part of teachers to label Sarah on the basis of her brother's behavior is an area, which definitely calls for the intervention of the social worker. In practice, several studies, both qualitative and quantitative, suggest that official labels do have an impact on delinquent identities and behavior. Most especially, official labels affect those who are less committed to antisocial behavior at the time the label is applied, particularly young people (Cree 184). Aiden and Sarah both live at home and attend a Catholic school some 5 miles away as Peter and Maureen felt they would receive a better education there than at the local school. The question that should spring into the mind of the social worker is whether the ideal school considers the reality of the family from which they come from. Aiden has been excluded from school three times for talking back to the teachers and is developing a reputation as a troublemaker. Aiden smokes cannabis with his friends but does not spend too much time with them in the evenings because he goes training a lot. Does the school possess any mechanism to cope with the deviant behavior of the boy Of course, to build a strong home -- school mesosystem, it is essential for schools to meet families halfway. An essential first step is for classroom teachers and school administrators to identify the ways that the curriculum, along with school policies and practices, reinforce stereotypical notions about the "ideal" or "typical" family at the expense of the flesh and blood families they are supposed to serve. (Benn et al167) Peter (49) and Maureen (42) are divorced or separated. But they were separated or divorced some 18 years ago. The fact that their second marriage lasted all these years is ample proof that they do have a level of success in the present marriage. It will be too nave for the social worker to conclude that the trauma of the old broken marriage is spoiling their present relation. Empirical evidence shows that second marriages are not exceptional in British society, hence the reason for the present crisis in their relation is to be sought elsewhere. Although we know that very many marriages end in divorce, many divorced people do go on to form new relationships and remarry Remarriages accounted for two-fifths of all marriages in the UK in 1995 (Social Trends 28, 1998:50). In 1991, there were found to be half-a-million stepfamilies, containing around 1 million dependent children (Social Trends 28, 1998:51). (Cree 54) Maureen-Peter case study shows the necessity of timely intervention by a social worker with proper foundation in Psychology and Sociology and an empathetic mind. ========= Works Cited Abbott, P. and Wallace, C. (1990) An Introduction to Sociology: Feminist Perspectives, London: Routledge Austin, D. 1984, Australian Sociologies, Allen & Unwin, Sydney Bauman, Z. (1990) Thinking Sociologically, Oxford: Basil Blackwell --(1992) Intimations of Modernity, London: Routledge Bhavnani, K. and Coulson, M. (1986) 'Transforming socialist-feminism: The challenge of racism', Feminist Review 23:81-92. Dahrendorf, R. (1957) Class and Class Conflict in an Industrial Society, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. Children and Families in the Social Environment. (1992) Benn L - Mario Thomas Gaboury - Nancy L. Galambos - Anne C. Garbarino - James Garbarino - Kathleen Kostelny FlorenceN. Long - Margaret C. Plantz -. Aldine De Gruyter. New York. . Page Number: 167 Dobash, R.E. and Dobash, R.P. (1979) Violence against Wives: a Case Against Patriarchy, New York: Free Press. John T. Pardeck, Francis K. O. Yuen - Family Health: A Holistic Approach to Social Work Practice (1999) Auburn House. Westport, CT. Page Number: 101 Pierson John. Tackling Social Exclusion.(2002).Routledge:London.(P 13) Robinson L. Psychology for Social Workers: Black Perspectives. (1995) Routledge. New York. Page Number: 7. Sullivan, M. (1987) Sociology and Social Welfare, London: Unwin Hyman Viviene E. Cree. Sociology for Social Workers and Probation Officers. (2000). Routledge: London. Page Number: 8. Wood K. M. (1971). The contribution to psychoanalysis and ego psychology =========== Read More