1. Dimensions of Human Behavior: Person and Environment
Chapter 1
Aspects of Human Behavior: Person, Environment, Time

2. KEY POINTS ADDRESSED The Complexity of Human Behavior
A Multidimensional Approach
Diversity, Inequality, and the Pursuit of Social Justice
The General and the Unique
General Knowledge: Theory and Research
Theory and Research in a Multidimensional Approach
Implications for Social Work Practice
Organization of the Book
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

3. The Complexity of Human Behavior: Consider Sina’s Story
Focus on the person: What is it about Sina’s physical, emotional, and spiritual self that helps us to understand her behavior?
Focus on the environment: How did/do the geography, culture, political events, social organizations, and family relationships in Sina’s world influence her?
Focus on time: What has changed in Sina’s life? How have past experiences and events impacted Sina’s current situation?
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

4. A Multidimensional Approach
Dimension: A feature that can be focused on separately but that cannot be understood without also considering other features
In a multidimensional approach to human behavior, the dimensions are connected to each other in several ways and interact dynamically.
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

5. A Multidimensional Approach: The Time Dimension
In a multidimensional approach to human behavior, the dimensions not only interact dynamically, but also change over time.
Long-term changes: constants and trends
Short-term changes: cycles and shifts
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

6. A Multidimensional Approach: Some Examples of Dimensions
What are the major personal dimensions covered in the text?
What are some examples?
What are the major environmental dimensions?
What are the major time dimensions?
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

7. A Multidimensional Approach: A Graphic Illustration
Consider the figure as representing the multidimensional approach to person and environment. *
The light blue lines might represent the different dimensions of the person --biological, psychological, spiritual, etc.
The darker blue lines might represent different dimensions of the environment --the family, culture, social organizations, etc.
Note how the dimensions relate to each other. *
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

8. A Multidimensional Approach: A Graphic Illustration
How can you change this graphic to make it more illustrative of the multidimensional approach?
Is there another graphic that you can think of that provides better illustration? * *
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

9. Diversity, Inequality, and the Pursuit of Social Justice
What is Heterogeneity? What is Diversity?
What is meant by “naming of identity groups” and why is it important to understand?
What is meant by “mechanisms of oppression” and what are they?
What is meant by “privilege” and “disadvantage” and how are they multidimensional?
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

10. Diversity, Inequality, and the Pursuit of Social Justice
Why is Diversity, Inequality, and the Pursuit of Social Justice discussed in this text?
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

11. The General and the Unique
Effective social work practice balances:
The individual, unique assessment of the specific person in a specific situation
WITH general knowledge about human behavior 1
Individual’s unique
story 2
Needed general
knowledge 4
Interactions with
the person 3
Hypotheses
(tentative statements)
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

12. General Knowledge: Theory and Research from the THEORY side
Provides a framework for understanding person/environment transactions
Guides interventions
Focuses our attention on particular aspects of the person-environment-time configuration
Is based on assumptions, or beliefs held to be true without testing or proof, about the nature of human social life
Is composed of concepts which are put together to form propositions and statements of relationship
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

13. General Knowledge: Theory and Research from the THEORY side
Criteria for Evaluating Theory
Coherence and conceptual clarity
Testability and evidence of empirical support
Comprehensiveness
Consistency with social work’s emphasis on diversity and power arrangements
Usefulness for social work practice
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

14. General Knowledge: Theory and Research from the RESEARCH side
Is a problem-solving process
Is a systematic method of seeking answers to questions
Is empirical -- something that we experience through our senses, as opposed to something that we experience purely in our minds
Is a way of observing events with the intent to look for patterns in those events
Is a way to test the assumptions of theories
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

15. General Knowledge: Theory and Research from the RESEARCH side
Criteria for Evaluating Research
Corroboration
Multidimensionality
Definition of terms
Limitation of sample
Influence of setting
Influence of the researcher
Social distance
Specification of inferences
Suitability of measures
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

16. Theory and Research in a Multidimensional Approach: Questions to Ponder
Do the dimensions of human behavior have an objective reality that exists outside a person’s consciousness OR is all reality based on personal perception (subjective reality)?
Belief in objective reality is congruent with positivist perspective that uses quantitative research methods to test theory.
Belief in subjective reality is congruent with an interpretist perspective that uses qualitative research methods to understand how people experience their lives.
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

17. Theory and Research in a Multidimensional Approach: More Questions to Ponder
Is human behavior determined by forces beyond the control of the person (determinism) or are persons free and proactive agents in the creation of their behavior (voluntarism)?
Are the patterned interactions among people characterized by harmony, unity, and social cohesion or by conflict, domination, coercion, and exploitation?
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

18. Implications for Social Work Practice
Describe some of the principles for social work practice derived from the multidimensional approach.
Which principles are associated with:
assessment and intervention
prevention and remediation services
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

19. Organization of the Book
Part I: A Multidimensional Approach for Multifaceted Social Work
Introduces the framework for the book
Provides a foundation for critical thinking about
theory and research
Part II: Analysis of The Multiple Dimensions of Persons
Biological person
Psychological person
Psychosocial person
Spiritual person
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

20. Organization of the Book (cont)
Part III: Discussion of The Environmental
Dimensions:
Physical environment
Culture
Social institutions and social structure
Families
Small groups
Formal organizations
Communities
Social movements
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior

21. Questions to ask as you read the material
What is the evidence for this statement?
Is this true for all people (for me, for my client, for other people I know)?
How can I use this information in my practice?
Is there anything left out of this argument?
What is the main point of this section?
Can I summarize the argument?
How does this relate to other evidence about this topic?
Chapter 1: Aspects of Human Behavior