Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Shifting Paradigms in Essential Knowledge for Social Work Practice

This is a revision of a book that was the first to thoroughly integrate new perspectives into the traditional Human Behavior and Social Environment field. Researchers are constantly looking for new information on topics like feminism, creativity, religion, multiple intelligences, violence, technology, etc.

This book meets all new Council on Social Work Education standards for providing content on diversity, social justice, and oppressed groups. It also includes information on traditional and alternative paradigms, cultural competence, development, intelligence, and more.

Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Shifting Paradigms in Essential Knowledge for Social Work Practice, Fourth Edition
Joe M. Schriver, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

This comprehensive text explores, compares, and contrasts both traditional and alternative paradigms in examining human behavior and the social environment. The text focuses at each system level on the need for multiple perspectives that respect the vast diversity of persons and environments with whom social workers work. It examines new paradigms that include diversity, feminism, client empowerment, individual development, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Highlights of the Fourth Edition:

• Includes a new chapter focusing on traditional and alternative perspectives on social work knowledge for global practice, including theories of the state and international development theory.
• Offers new content on spirituality as a major influence on HBSE across system levels and on the impact of the environment and environmental hazards on human behavior.
• New pedagogical tools include discussion questions designed to more fully integrate illustrative readings with chapter content, and streamlined topic listings at the beginning of each chapter.
• Includes major revisions to reflect the spirit and intent of the new CSWE Educational Policies and Standards (EPAS).