1. CHAPTER FOUR THEORY IN ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING
The Practice of Generalist Social Work (2nd ed.)

2. Key Ideas
Assessment and planning in practice is guided by theoretical conceptualizations.
Social workers use many classic and contemporary theories and perspectives to conceptualize their work with clients.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

3. Common Classic Theories
Psychoanalytic Theory
Based in the work of Sigmund Freud
The unconscious is at the root of behavior
Important concepts:
Id/pleasure principle, ego/reality principle, superego
Consciousness, preconsciousness, unconsciousness
Defense mechanisms
Five stages of development from birth to puberty and beyond: oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

4. Common Classic Theories
Attachment Theory
Based in the work of Bowlby and others
Early bonding between infants and caregivers impacts the quality of children’s attachments and future relationships
Styles of attachment (Ainsworth):
Secure
Insecure avoidant
Insecure resistant
Insecure disorganized
Proximity Maintenance
Safe Haven
Attachment
Secure Base
Separation Distress
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

5. Common Classic Theories
Cognitive Theory
Based in the work of Beck, Ellis, and others
Thoughts and cognitions shape behavior
Important concepts:
Schema
Cognitive processes and content
Rationality and irrationality
Antecedents, behavior, consequences
Thinking errors (e.g., dichotomous thinking, overgeneralization, minimization, personalization)
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

6. Common Contemporary Perspectives
Strengths Perspective
People have the capacity for growth, change, and adaptation
Two key concepts in strengths-based assessment:
The social worker meets the client in the struggle—the harbingers and hints of strength.
The social worker stimulates the discourse and narratives of resilience and strength.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

7. Common Contemporary Perspectives
Narrative Theory
Based in the work of White, Epston, and others
Knowledge and reality are socially constructed
Key concepts in narrative theory and therapy:
Discovering, re-authoring, and broadening personal stories
Re-examining and deconstructing truth
Challenging problematic stories
Challenging the hierarchy of power and knowledge
Social workers and clients are co-travelers and conversational partners
© 2011 Taylor & Francis

8. Common Contemporary Perspectives
Solution-Focused Approach
Based in the work of deShazer and others
Clients are the experts on their situations and solutions to problems
Important concepts:
Language is the mechanism for clients and social workers to understand the meanings of clients’ lives and actions.
Clients function as the “knowers” in the intervention process and are best suited to find solutions to problems.
Social workers help identify clients’ strengths and amplify them.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis