Identify one strength and one limitation your colleague may encounter when employing an individual-related theory
Respond to at least two colleagues:
Identify one strength and one limitation your colleague may encounter when employing an individual-related theory and a structural/cultural-related theory to formulating interventions for structural issues or barriers that contribute to a client’s marginalization.
1.Shontelle Ramsay
RE: Discussion – Week 2
COLLAPSE
Top of Form
Describe how a social worker would conceptualize a presenting problem related to structural issues or barriers that contribute to a client’s marginalization using the two theories you selected.
Theories help us to better understand the problems and world around us. Marginalization is a social problem that has had been examined through a variety of lenses or theories. McClelland’s Need for Achievement Theory suggests that there are barriers to achievement, and it is necessary for an individual to overcome these barriers. Further, McClelland theorized that individuals who have a need for achievement take calculated risks, often work alone, like to receive feedback, and have a strong need to set and accomplish goals (Turner & Lehning, 2007). The theory also suggests that poor and marginalized communities have not developed the need to achieve. When looking at poverty through this lens, one would conclude that if an individual is living in poverty, then they lack these common characteristics needed to overcome barriers.
Sen’s Empowerment Theory proposes that poverty is more than just someone’s socioeconomic status, it is essentially an imbalance of political and psychological power (Turner & Lehnig, 2007). By looking at marginalization through this lens social workers would see the barriers that society produces for some individuals entrapping them in a cycle of poverty. For marginalization of communities to be eradicated according to this perspective the balance of power would need to shift. Social workers utilizing this theory would want to work at the macro level to advocate for policy change and more representation of specific groups in various policies.
Explain how this conceptualization differs from an individual-related versus a structural/cultural-related theoretical lens.
Conceptualization differs from an individual-related versus a structural/cultural-related theoretical lens. Individual-related conceptualization emphasizes personal failings and internal deficiencies, whereby individuals bring poverty (Turner & Lehning, 2007). Structural/cultural-related conceptualization emphasizes on society’s limitations regarding the lack of appropriate living-wage jobs, lack of power in marginalized commuities, lack of security, lack of opportunities for certain groups, and discrimination by the upper class toward the lower classes (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.
The social worker can approach the client’s problem and intervene using different lenses. (Turner, K., & Lehning, 2007). The social worker can use Sen’s Empowerment theory to intervene for the client in locating resources like housing, employment, job training and continuing education to help address poverty. When applying empowerment, this theory encourages the psychologist to work with the poor and not for them (Turner, K., & Lehning, 2007). The empowerment theory can allow the client access to resources to meet their basic needs. When using need for achievement theory, a social worker would need to help the client identify barriers as well as use a strengths-based approach to set and achieve identified goals. Utilizing solutions focused therapy or a similar approach could also be beneficial.
References
Turner, F. (2011). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Turner, K., & Lehning, A. J. (2007). Psychological theories of poverty. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 16(1–2), 57–72.
2. Katrina Nelson
RE: Discussion – Week 2
COLLAPSE
Individual vs. Structural-Cultural Theories
Conceptualize a presenting problem
The Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision making and conduct when ethical issues arise (National Association of Social Work, n.d.). The social worker would approach the client to assess what their needs, barriers, and strengths are so that they can determine a plan of action towards making the client’s situation better. In taking this approach the social worker recognizes the obstacles that the client may be facing and they will help them to set personal goals and give them the tools to achieve them. For example, by helping clients enroll in college, assisting with job searches, transporting them to food pantries, offering bus passes to assist with transportation, or by helping them apply for medical insurance.
How conceptualization differs
The social worker would take the structural/cultural related approach recognizing that their client may have a variety of disadvantages that are no fault of their own. If a social worker does not push aside their own personal biases this will be a major hindrance to the success of the clients that they serve. This type of practice and belief system would fall under individual related theories. This category of theories place blame on the individual without taking into consideration other factors that contribute to their circumstances.
Two theoretical lenses
Theory aids in anticipating outcomes and speculating about unanticipated relationships between variables-that is, theory helps us to recognize, understand, and explain new situations (Turner, 2011). The role of the social worker is to leave a family or group in a better situation than when they met them. The social worker should do their due diligence in making the client’s life better. A social worker should not place blame on someone for being born into circumstances that are not ideal. Individuals have to be encouraged and reminded that the power to make a positive shift is attainable.
Although classism is considered to be an impact of poverty, Lott also states that, “Barriers erected by classist bias maintain inequities and impede access to the resources necessary for optimal health and welfare” (Lott, 2002, p. 100). In other words, Lott sees class-based discrimination as both a cause and effect of poverty. Lott (2002) bases her views on Williams’ 1993 theory (Turner & Lehning, 2007).
References
National Association of Social Work. (n.d.). Read the Code of Ethics. Retrieved October 4, 2021, from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Turner, F. (2011). Theory and social work treatment. In Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (5th ed., pp. 3-13). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
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