Social Work and Modernism Theory - Essay Example

SOCIAL WORK AND MODERNISM THEORY NAME INSTITUTION Introduction Theory is an explanation that helps individuals understands other people and the circumstances they face. Theories help one explain things in the world and why they happen. Every theory is a statement of different ideas about the world. The theory is used to describe the relationship between several phenomena and the reason why things happen. Through theories, social workers can explain, predict and assess behaviors and situations which provide a rationale of how a social worker should interview and react with customers having some problems, histories or goals. Social workers have a professional and responsibility to attain knowledge of research and established theories which are grounded in values of social work and draw upon these methods in the social work practice. Social work requires a practitioner to embrace the evolving and complex knowledge that arises from practice theories and evidence bases. Social work is a practical action in a complicated world which should offer exceptional guidance (Chenoweth & McAuliffe 2008). Theory plays an important part in social work. Theories guide people and offer different ideas on the objectives focus and processes of social work practices. Theory in social service assists one to understand the complications in their job. The theory provides accountability to the service users, funding agencies and employees. There is a need for one to be clear on what they are doing and the reason why they are doing it and it is important to determine where they are headed and how to get there. Theories in social work improve the service quality and enable one to examine ways of doing and seeing things. Theory creates a responsibility in providing the basis of social work. Due to accountability and ethical issues, people need to have their decisions and interpretations informed by knowledge-guided and evidence-based practices which oppose personal values, assumptions, and opinions. The theory is publicly evaluated and using this approach is the intelligent and conscientious use of evidence to inform practices. Theories are applicable in different practices. In application, several proposals should be selected. Selection is also done on a group of related theories and applied to all situations that are dealt with. Eclecticism is a practice technique that suggests how workers should select different aspects of theories which are used together, and workers use the theories in several cases depending on the most appropriate. Another technique is a critical engagement that involves using theories which conflict each other. Theories use different views that critique one another. The application of social work theories enables one to look at different social work methods and know that that knowledge is required in the practical world. The knowledge of these theories also encourages one to consider approaches which offer an appropriate identity as an emerging professional of social work which challenges one to think about their professional and personal values. The theories also assist individuals to examine their positions in social work and know how some ideas affect their development professionally. The social work process aims at making connections that build customer relationships in a meaningful manner to have an assessment which determines their course of action. After reaching a conclusion, an action is taken, and the individual or group process is finalized. Practitioners, therefore, can think about what they could do differently and what improvements they should make. Modernism and postmodernism are a social work theory that is applied to the field of practice. Social work was engaged with medical sciences and psychology which see the problem adoption and approaches to their jobs which were referred to as professionalized social work (Healy 2005). Later there were influences on the critical theories by searching the freedom of oppressed groups and the society structures. The influence of postmodernism questions claims, narratives, focuses on complexities and local details by the use of social construction, discourses and language. Modernity and postmodernity have shaped the social work and professions. Modernity is concerned with truth and for every question there is only one true response, and the answers are principle understandable. The answers do not clash with one another ad they are harmonious. The main features of modernity are that it is a belief that the human society will be organized on rational lines and not tradition or emotions. Modernity also attempts to develop international experience categories. Modernity is a belief in science and science’s power to solve a community’s problem. The theory also believes in progress whereby the human society is evolving to a perfected state where poverty, inequality and injustice will be eliminated. Through modernity, the nation is seen as a principle form of the political organization and the bureaucracy development and intrusion of a state into the daily lives of their citizens. The theory is also a guiding principle to establish reliable knowledge foundations, and it aims at identifying truths of the world. The modernity concept captures many ideas in political forms, cultural patterns and economic structures which have dominated the Western societies. Modernism theory states that it is rational thought, neutrality, reason, systematic inquiry, and objectivity that enables humanity to make sense of society and nature. The world is founded on universal principles which are discoverable. The modernist social work processes include examining an area of practice, Identifying problems, categorizing the individuals involved and targeting those people to provide a service. The client and the worker are separate, and there are attempts to structure it rationalize Software knowledge with guidelines, rules and standards of practice to create professionalism. How people view social work is limited due to the dominant culture influences. Some forms of knowledge for social work are privileged over other knowledge forms. Modernism promises to deliver creativity, order and security which has been unfulfilled and it is assumed that there are no universal truth criteria of judgment and aesthetics. In postmodernism, there is a cynicism on the possibilities for human equality and liberty. Inequality is an inevitable part of the postmodern society, and people do not believe that humans can be perfect and that political changes result to production of a better society. In postmodernism, an idea may be rejected which captures some essential elements which are related to postmodernity. The main objective of modernism is not to change individual’s consciousness but the economic, political, and truth production aspects. Postmodernists argue that truth is in becoming and not in knowing systems. Truth standards are dynamic and context dependent. Therefore, postmodernism is based on the strain to unshackle meaning concepts and experience of objectivity. Postmodernism views that truth and knowledge are embedded in power relations. Language is one of its features, and it involves an understanding of the language part that plays a role in the formation of human selves. Different languages output different values, meaning, and experience. Power involves noting the formation of a discourse and creates centers of power that define knowledge areas, understanding frameworks and truths. Those in power can control discourse, and they influence what the world depicts. The social world is composed of representations of subjective experiences, and the human knowledge is relative making it hard to determine the truth. According to postmodernists’ people are not based on any characteristic of an individual, but it is an engagement with expressions and discourses of social constructions. Deconstruction is the discovery and understanding of assumptions, frameworks, and ideas that form the belief and thought foundation. The society is neither a mechanism, a system but it is a construction composed of meanings and ideas which change from time to time and imposes possibilities and constraints across human beings. According to postmodernism, social workers do not cure, constitute or control according to universal standards but to understand and interpret the world and present it. The postmodern mood in social work is captured by being self-reflexive and critical. Postmodernism influences pluralism through suspicion of narratives and is comfortable with multiplicity and conflict. Postmodernism also has an influence on how people interact with clients and the knowledge included in their understanding of different situations (Lynch 1997). For power, postmodernists request people to examine with relation to authority and power. Postmodernism is not concerned with what is a phenomenon but about responding to performance. Postmodernism in social work shows consumer responsiveness that provides services to individuals and not as a society (Payne 2005). Social work and postmodernism are related to the effects of deconstructing social institutions, practices, and beliefs. The postmodernism theory is used to make sense out of some domestic violence cases. Domestic violence occurs due to power inequality between women and men. In the face of violence, women are powerless, and they do not participate in violence. Postmodernists’ claim that scientists have moved to a flattened world and the only that is known with certainty is that they do not understand what drives them. A Violent culture is incorporated into a family’s way of conflict resolving. Domestic violence has described a phenomenon that is attributed to the moral structure breakdown of a family. Post-modern theories contribute many ideas to critique ways of knowing about domestic violence. Power is the major cause of domestic violence, and it is a characteristic of the postmodernism theory. Discourse is a collection of practices and meanings that exist, and it is characterized by struggle. Through domestic violence, women struggle a lot; some struggle for their lives. Domestic violence is the effect of different kinds of discursive practices and particular technique kinds deployed by social groups and the government (Howe 1994). Postmodernism is based on truth and domestic violence cases are dependent on the fact which is used to make a judgment. Domestic violence is a result of relationships and especially adult relationships. Investigations reduce the study process and in domestic violence cases many investigations take place. There is a lack of investigation in experiencing domestic violence in a postmodern framework. The fight against domestic violence aims at giving a voice to participants so as to share their stories experienced through violence. This approach falls within the postmodern framework. For domestic violence cases, research is done using a qualitative research approach that embraces linear methods in the experience of participants. This approach is consistent with the postmodern theory and tradition. Postmodernism is referred to as ecological, systemic, circular or cybernetic. The value placed on the relationships of people is important. Language and observation play a primary role in relationships and insufficiency in any of them may cause home violence. Understanding the domestic violence strategy in families involves focusing on an individual and determines how they make sense of realities. A person is part of ecology where one interacts with the community, culture and family members. Postmodernism has an extensive acceptance of awareness. Conclusion The reality is not objective within a postmodern tradition. The social constructionist and Ecosystemic perspectives are under the postmodern approach. People do not live in isolation, and they can never know the objective truth. Women are likely to be domestically violated in their homes and some family’s violence is more common compared to love. Domestic violence focuses mostly on power. In a family, individuals organize themselves into a hierarchy, and the main issue is how much power each has. Men assume to have the most power, and they punish their spouse through domestic violence. Postmodernism theory through domestic violence highlights the several meanings people attach to experiences. Domestic violence involves analysis of different cases and different individual experiences. People belong to a system, and they cannot be in isolation. Domestic violence includes family’s member’s experiences; an aspect of the postmodernism theory. Modernization should result to minimal cases of domestic violence through promoting equality of men and women. REFERENCES Chenoweth, L. & McAuliffe, D. (2008) The Road To Social Work & Human Service Practice, 2nd ed, Cengage Learning, South Melbourne. Lynch, G. (1997). The role of Community and Narrative in the work of the Therapist: A postmodern theory of the therapist engagement in the therapeutic process. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, Healy, K. (2005), Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, Houndsmill. Chapter 5: Theories for Social Work Practice & Chapter 10: Postmodern Approaches in Practice. Payne, M. (2005), Modern Social Work Theory, Palgrave Macmillan, Houndsmill. Chapter 1: The Construction of Social Work Theory Howe D (1994) ‘Modernity, Post Modernity and Social Work’, British Journal of Social Work, 24, 513-532. Read More