Human Behavior In The Social Environment example essay topic

1. Chapter 1: Briefly define the multidimensional approach to studying human behavior. Include all and define all of the dimensions found in this approach. A multidimensional approach means that you see human behavior change depending on the person, the environment around the person and in a time aspect. Even though it is difficult at times to separate one dimension from another, and all are interdependent, these three dimensions of human behavior can not be understood fully separately, one has to look at all three combined, if one wants to use the approach in the daily social work.

The study employed a naturalistic approach and focused on several dimensions, rather than on isolated factors or variables. It pointed to a variety of factors that influenced the information behavior of the users involved. The Personal Dimension; the psychological approach focuses primarily on the study of psychological states and processes in relation to information behavior. For every story a client tells you, you have to think about the various dimensions of the people who are involved in that story, and that have affected the client. For many years where there used a psychosocial approach, like in Freud's theory with ego, superego and id. Emotions, feelings, personality and cognition where important features.

But currently social workers have taken on a different approach, a bio psychosocial approach. Human behavior is here seen as a result of interactions between biological, psychological and social systems. It means that emotions and feeling affects the body's health and well being, that additional factors that are't psychological such as the physical environment, cultural background, and goals of a search affect information behavior. The Environmental Dimension; has always been thought of as multidimensional, from as early as 1901 by Mary Richmond. Anderson and Carter developed ed a classification of environmental dimensions which has had an impact on the way that social workers think about the environment today. They divide it in to 5 dimensions; culture and society, communities, organizations, groups and families.

An other famous social work scientist, Bronfenbrenner, who is huge in social work in Norway too, developed an ecological perspective which identifies four levels of systems; Micro, Meso, Exo and Macro-systems. The Time Dimension; the interaction between person and environment are always changing and ongoing. Nancy Yat taw has written about four ways to think about time in changing, which is; Constants - you move in one direction, no moving back, like aging. Trends - also moves in one direction, but not as constant as the one above. It can be explained as if you are member of a group which lifestyle that's drifting towards a more understanding among the general population, like the gays or the Hispanics. Cycles - as the names says, a behavior which recur repeatedly in different patterns, like weekly or monthly, such as the cycle from spring to summer and so on.

This is a stabile direction, yet it's never exactly the same pattern that is repeated. Shifts - is the last one and are sudden changes is direction, which can make us change patterns long-termed in the long run. 2. Chapter 2: Many theories or perspectives are needed to understand human behavior in the social environment. Select four of the theories / perspectives discussed in this chapter. Briefly summarize them and state why you think these theories would be helpful for social workers.

The Conflict perspective has become a popular theory again and again through history, drawing our attention to conflict, dominance and oppression in social life. This theory looks after sources of conflict and why people behave like they do based on the economic and political arenas. The textbook lists 6 ideas of the conflict perspective which I would like to write here because I think they describe the theory so well. 1. Groups and individuals try to advance their own interests over the interests of others.

2. Power is unequally divided, and some social groups dominate others. 3. Social order is based on the manipulation and control of nondominant groups by dominant groups. 4. Lack of open conflict is a sign of exploitation.

5. Members of nondominant groups become alienated from society. 6. Social change is driven by conflict, with periods of change interrupting long periods of stability. (E. Hutchinson, "Dimensions of Human Behavior", page 56) I think conflict theory would be helpful to social worker because of the world we live in today. Its chaos and conflicts everywhere, and we as social workers need to handle that. Let me take an example; there are a lot of race conflicts, and that will not go away with the first, so we need to know how to cope with different races and their experiences with race conflicts.

There will always be groups with more power that will dominate other groups, and we need to know that this exist and then we can help our clients from there. Human beings are a selfish race, so individuals in general will try to advance their own interests over the interests of others. The term Humanistic perspective is used to include humanistic psychology and existential psychology because both of them teach about the individuals' right to choose and the search for meaning. This perspective is richly influenced by great philosophers like Soren Kierkegaard, Jean Paul Sartre and Abraham Maslow. This perspective has some values which I think is important, at least to me, that's why I choose this one. These values are; Each person is unique and has value.

This it's so important to be live in this, no one has more or less value then others, and at least I would like it to be that way in theory. I don't think anyone would agree that Hitler was valuable to humanity... People always have the capacity to change themselves, even to make radical change. I think this statement is important for social workers. If we don't be live that people can change, then why do we do re-has and managing classes?

We need to be live that it works. Developmental perspective defines age stages as human development. They be live that every stage in life is a special one and different from the other stages. Erikson is the most famous developmental theorist; his model includes child and adults in the stages of development, not just children as with Freud. Human development is a complex interaction between our biological systems, psychological and social factors, and in this perspective they occur in defined stages. The focus is on how our behavior changes and stays the same across our life cycle.

Each new stage we develop in to we also change our social status and roles, like from teenager to an adult. I think it's useful to know about that perspective; we have had a lot teaching about Freud and Erikson back in Norway. It's an interesting way to see human developing and it's useful to know, especially in working with children, where you can follow the child's development or how it should have developed. That can help us to detect developments which are unusual or directly dangerous for the child if it doesn't get changed.

Social Behavioral perspective is based on that human behavior is learned when individuals interact with their environment and that even dough our learning processes takes place in different environments, we do have similar learning processes. Every child in the world will learn how to eat, to dress one self and to understand its culture. The theory is also sometimes called social learning perspective. The perspective also teaches that all human behavior can be defined and changed, Changes and behavior comes with association of environmental stimuli, or by reinforcement, by imitation of others or by personal expectations and meanings.

But behaviorist discuss among themselves about the process by which behavior is learned. There are today three different versions of behavioral theory, and that is; classical conditioning theory, operant conditioning and cognitive social learning theory. The reason why I picked this one is because social workers have used social behavioral methods to modify undesirable behavior of individuals for decades. They point at the person also, not just the system around the person for causing problems. Growing up is a big point here, you learn from others as you observe and imitate and get reactions to your actions. 3.

Chapter 3: There is a strong relationship among physical health, psychological health and social functioning. Select one of the biological systems that you feel would be important for you to be familiar with. Briefly describe the system and then state why this system is important to you at this particular time in your life cycle. I will write about the reproductive system because I think that this is the biological system that I feel are important as a social worker to know about and to myself. The organs of the female reproductive system produce and sustain the female egg cells (or ova), transport these cells to a site where they may be fertilized by sperm, provide a favorable environment for the developing fetus, move the fetus to the outside at the end of the development period, and produce the female sex hormones. The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina and external genital organs.

The male reproductive system, like that of the female, consists of those organs whose function is to produce a new individual, as to accomplish a reproduction. This system consists of a pair of testes and a network of excretory ducts (epididymis, duct us deferens (vas deferens), and ejaculatory ducts), seminal vesicles, the prostate, the glands, and the penis. The four functions of the reproductive system are: to produce egg and sperm cells, to transport and sustain these cells, to nurture the developing fetus, and to produce hormones. The major function of the reproductive system is to ensure survival of the species.

Other systems in the body, such as the endocrine and urinary systems, work continuously to maintain homeostasis for survival of the individual. An individual may live a long, healthy, and happy life without producing offspring. Social workers must have of information like this, so that we can in light people and offer education. There are following information in the textbook; 1 million teenager girls get pregnant each year, and 3 million get an STD.

That is way to many in a western country like the USA! I chose this system because I am now in my life cycle where I begin to think about having children in a couple of years. I would like to be a young mother, though I will be finishing sh cool and work for a couple of years first. I always pictured myself as a mother around the age of 25, it seems like a nice age for me and with all the other things I've got in my life... 4. Chapter 4: Define morality and then describe Kohlberg's and Gilligan's stages of moral development.

Place yourself in one of these stages and explain why you think you are in this particular stage. Also this chapter describes Gardner's seven intelligences pg. 159. List the types of intelligence that you feel you are blessed with. Morality is our knowledge about what's right and what's wrong, and comes from principles of justice and ways of caring for one another. The best known theories of moral reasoning are those of Kohlberg and Gilligan, which I will write about now. Kohlberg has formulated 3 stages of moral development; Stage 1 represents pre conventional morality, where the child's motivation is just to avoid punishment and to receive rewards.

Stage 2 is conventional morality - where you seek consistency in moral action with significant others and what the opinions of the larger community perceives. Many people never move to the next level, stage 3, which is post conventional morality - characterized by a concern with moral principles in ones own society and seeking to apply the universal principles of wrong and right. Gilligan has shown that Kohlberg's (and Freud's, and Erickson's) systems are based on a male-centered view. Kohlberg built his theory based on interviews with males only. Gilligan produces her own stage theory of moral development for women. 1.

Survival orientation - egocentric concerns are the primary for the human being, emotional and physical survival. 2. Conventional care - we define our actions after what actions which pleases our significant others. 3.

Integrated care - the highest level where we think we have the right to take actions into account the needs of oneself as well as others. I don't exactly know where to place myself in these stages. I will say that I'm in between stage 2 and 3 of Gilligan's moral development stages. In some settings I will act like stage 2 and in others like stage 3. I think it's different based on the people I'm with, I think I dare to think of myself also when I'm with my significant other and my best friend because I know where I have them and I can trust them. Following Gardner's seven intelligences you want me to list the ones I feel that I'm blessed with.

I think I'm blessed with especially two kinds of intelligence; Intrapersonal Intelligence and Interpersonal Intelligence. Intrapersonal intelligence is the ability to gain access to understand one's inner feelings, dreams and ideas. Intrapersonal Intelligence is personal knowledge turned inward to the self. This form of intellect entails the ability to understand one's own emotions, goals and intentions and i really feel that I know myself like that. I relay on myself, I know what I can do and can't do, I'm aware of strengths and weaknesses and I know where my boundaries go. Interpersonal intelligence, (people smart) is understanding other people.

This ability to interact with others, understand them, and interpret their behavior known as interpersonal intelligence. According to Gardner, interpersonal intelligence is seen in how we notice distinction among others; in particular, contrasts in their moods, temperaments motivations and intentions. It's an ability we all need, and I feel that anybody who deals with other people has to be skilled in the interpersonal sphere. All my friends comes to me if there is something on their minds, so I think I have a good understanding and have the ability to set myself in their situation and their feelings. 5. Chapter 5: We all experience stress in our lives.

Define stress. Describe the three categories of psychological stress then describe aspects of coping as found in your text. Briefly describe a stressful situation you have experienced and what coping method you have used. Stress is what our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and a new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, and high blood pressure.

With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it. We have three different categories of psychological stress; 1. Harm which is about a damaging event that has happened to you before that you can learn from and try to do act different in the future. 2. Threat is a form of stress where you are afraid that something will happened, a potential harm.

This is the most common form of stress. 3. Challenge is an event we look upon as an opportunity rather than a threat. The challenge might be an exciting and positive experience for us. The stress I have experienced in the past has only been a challenge kind of stress, like to much school work at once, especially since I came to this school!

I've been lucky because I take life as it comes and don't worry to much, come what may. But the stress I experience with the school work pressure me to well, so I don't think it's any kind of a threat. My coping is always emotional support - people who are there for me and that I count on, especially my boyfriend, he is the one person in the world I trust a 100%. Relationships are important to a person's mental health, I personally be live. If you have a person you can count on and that you can talk to, it's a big buffer to stress because you get what you are thinking about off you chest. I can talk to him about everything, and I also do.

When I'm here I talk to my friends and get the frustration of my chest. 6. Chapter 6: Define religion and spirituality. Your text describes spirituality as being involved in all areas of the human experience. Describe these areas. Do you agree with the author's selection?

Did they omit any area? What aspect of spirituality should be included in spirituality competent social work practice? Spirituality is often mixed up with religion. Edward Cand a came up with the following definitions: Spirituality is about a persons search for something meaningful, a fulfilling relationship with oneself, others and the universe, no matter if the person belongs to any kind of religion or lifestyle choice. Religion is about the pattern of spirituality which you take with you into a social institution, like a church, where there a more people who follow that community's traditions and rules.

Religion is also about moral / ethical rules and various rituals, rituals that the dedicated aspirant can choose to follow. Of course, throughout history there has been much violence in the name of religion (and much non-sense in the name of spirituality). To many this has given 'religion' a bad connotation. However given that religion is nothing without those who follow that particular path. As fallible human beings, we do good and bad. As social workers we deal with every aspect of our clients lives.

We focus on solving problems in living while supporting optimal human functioning and optimal quality of life. The areas of spirituality in the human experience are; Problems in living; there has been influences between spirituality and physical health, and also proven effect on biological health like the immune system. There is almost no area in human life which is without spirituality. It has been proven that higher levels of social support through spiritual or religious networks do play a significant role in positive coping with health related problems or mental issues like traumas. Individual and community well being; spirituality is important in supporting and enhancing optimal human functioning and quality of life. There has been an explosion the resent years in self help books, managing groups and alternative medicine.

More and more Eastern techniques have been approved, such as meditation and yoga. People has more and more needs for something more, something to take them to the next level in spirituality. The meaning of life has become more an issue in general over the past decades. We seem to approve it in various areas of our lives as well.

I myself don't think the author omitted any specific area I can think of, but then again, I would not know so much about it. I thought this was a very difficult chapter to read and to write about, I think I misunderstood a lot... I think this chapter was well written, but I miss a little more diversity in aspects of religion. I feel there should have been written about other religions beside Christianity, like the Muslims and the Buddhists. That is maybe this chapter's weakest point.