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

This book compares and contrasts both traditional (dominant) and alternative paradigms or worldviews in examining human behavior and the social environment. Professor Schriver's book is innovative in its examination of new paradigms that include diversity, feminism, client empowerment, and other perspectives that are mandated by CSWE. As the book examines human development within the context of the social environment, both traditional and alternative perspectives on individual development, families, groups, organizations, and communities are explored in the Human Behavior and the Social Environment. At each system level, attention is focused on the need for multiple perspectives that respect the vast diversity of persons and environments with whom social workers work. For example, in addition to traditional perspectives on individual development, such as those of Freud, Kohlberg, Erikson, and Piaget, alternative perspectives on development are provided from feminist, multicultural, and gay-lesbian/bisexual perspectives such as Gilligan, Parham, Helms, and Cass. In each chapter, human diversity, oppression, social and economic justice, social work values and ethics, and populations-at-risk are an integral part of the content presented. For psychologists and social workers.

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).