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Describe how a social worker would conceptualize a presenting problem of poverty from the two theories you selected.
After reading Turner and Lehning (2007) Psychological theories of poverty, I selected two theories to represent the idea of individual-related theories and structural/cultural-related theories to address the issue of poverty. The first theory, the medicalizing perspective, suggests the behavior of poor people is caused by psychological disturbance, such as hereditary psychosis, mood disorders, etc. (Rainwater, 1970; Turner & Lehning, 2007). The second theory, the social causation hypothesis, suggests a person’s economic situation causes psychopathologies, rather than the other way around (Goldstein, 1973; Turner & Lehning, 2007).
Explain how this conceptualization differs from an individual-related versus a structural/cultural-related theoretical lens.
The medicalizing perspective blames a person’s mental illness being the cause of the impoverished environment, whereas, the social causation hypothesis blames the impoverished environment on a person’s mental illness. The medicalizing perspective serves as an individual-related theory, which implies a person’s mental illness is the cause of poverty. The social causation hypothesis serves as a structural-related theory, which implies poverty is the cause of a person’s mental illness.
Compare how the two theoretical lenses differ in terms of how the social worker would approach the client and the problem and how the social worker would intervene.
How a social worker would approach the problem of poverty and intervene differs from both theories. Both theories require a warm, empathetic approach to build rapport and trust. When using an individual-related theory, such as the medicalizing perspective to treat a client, a social worker would most likely intervene with psychiatric services to enable medication management. When using a structural-related theory, such as the social causation hypothesis to treat a client, a social worker would most likely intervene with structured assessment tools to indicate mental illness and poverty levels to determine an accurate intervention.
Reference
Goldstein, A. (1973). Structured learning therapy: Toward a psychotherapy for the poor. New York: Academic Press.
Rainwater, L. (1970). Neutralizing the disinherited: Some psychological aspects of understanding the poor. In V. Allen (Ed.), Psychological factors in poverty (pp. 9-28). Chicago: Markham Publishing Company.
Turner, K., & Lehning, A. J. (2007). Psychological theories of poverty. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 16(1/2), 57–72. doi:10.1300/J137v16n01-058
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Alecia Brown
RE: Discussion – Week 2
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Describe how a social worker would conceptualize a presenting problem of poverty from the two theories you selected.
Conceptualization is used to make sense of related observations. It also involves writing out clear, concise definitions in more simple terms about what’s going on and what are I’m going to do about it. The two theories that I have selected is Empowerment theory and Conflict theory. The role as a social worker involves me making tough judgments about risk to individuals and at times I may have to use my ability and influence to protect the victims of poverty from themselves or from others. One of the core ethical principles of being a social work requires that all people have the right to be treated with respect and dignity, and by doing this, I must ensure that every individual’s human rights are upheld and help empower them to change their situations. I have a responsibility to ensure that social conditions that contribute to economic inequalities and unjust policies and practices are challenged and abolished. Some intervention when it come to the conflict theory is to pay attention to the role of conflict that lead to client vulnerability. Which includes making sure that those clients that are most in need receive resources first, and that the resources offered are distributed fairly.
Explain how this conceptualization differs from an individual-related versus a structural/cultural-related theoretical lens.
The conceptualization difference from individual related versus structural and cultural related is complex at times. Culture tends to be the descriptive variable that social workers view from a theoretical lens when attempting to explain social dysfunction, particularly due to the sometimes-visible connection between culture and race (Glazer, 2000). Due to the persistency of poverty in certain areas, the behavioral perspective is reinforced by the culture theoretical lens from an individual related versus a structural cultural theoretical lens. This suggests that individuals create, sustain, and transmit to future generations a culture that reinforces the various social and behavioral deficiencies. One of the potential impacts of poverty is the prevalence and incidence of disorders that as a social worker may have to be addressed (Turner & Lehning, 2007).
Compare how the two theoretical lenses differ in terms of how the social worker would approach the client and the problem and how the social worker would intervene.
I would approach the client that is in a situation of poverty in a caring manner. Letting the client know that I am there for them and have their best interest. The empowerment theory values orientation of empowerment suggests goals, aims, and strategies for implementing change in the client life. This may mean that I advocate for services that will help the client achieve these obtainable goals. Empowerment is both a value orientation for working in the community and a theoretical model for understanding the process and consequences of efforts to exert control and influence over decisions that affect one’s life, organizational functioning, and the quality of community life (Perkins & Zimmerman, 1995). The theoretical lenses differ in terms that the conflict theories draw attention to power differentials, such as class conflict, and generally contrast historically dominant ideologies. It is therefore a macro level analysis of society. Both the conflict theory and the empowerment theory has the best interest of the client.
References
Glazer, N. (2000). Disaggregating Culture. In L.E. Harrison and S.P. Huntington (Eds.). Culture Matters. (pp. 219-230).
Perkins, D. D., & Zimmerman, M. A. (1995). Empowerment theory, research, and application. An introduction to a special issue. American Journal of Community Psychology,23, 569–579
Turner, K., & Lehning, A. J. (2007). Psychological theories of poverty. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 16(1/2), 57–72. doi:10.1300/J137v16n01-05
Must have two peer reviewed reference. APA format for each question.
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