Opening Address-Social Work Conference

Opening Address-Social Work Conference

[Name of the Writer]

[Name of the Institution]

Opening Address-Social Work Conference

Theories In Guiding and Promoting Social Work Practice

Today, I would like to describe you that how theories can promote and guide the ethical, effective and competent practice of social work, and also compare and contrast the following significant theories of human development with examples. So, we start with the basic concept of social workers that social workers have an ethical and professional responsibility for intervening, interacting, assessing and observing with the clients in such a way that it is based on theories which are displayed to be credible and in alignment with the values of social work. Social Work utilizes a wide range of theories from other professions and disciplines like economics, psychology, gerontology, sociology and so on. Generally, there are two significant terms which are used for describing the theories in the profession of social work which include theories of human behavior in the social environment and theories of practice. HBSE theories can be used for predicting and explaining the variety of human behavior while on the other hand practice theory is based on the conceptual theory which informs about empirical practices. The practice of theory is generally linked with the knowledge of the problem of the client. Both of these theories are overlap and interlocking. Theories help the social worker to understand the behavior of people, the environmental effect of behavior. It also helps them to guild their interventions and predicting the result of the intervention of social work. Theories guide the way to social workers for approaching and viewing societies, communities, groups, and individuals by providing the social worker a rationale that how he should intervene and react. Using theory allow the social worker for creating a treatment plan, increasing sense of security, and predicting or explaining the occurrences in the life of the client.

Applying the theory for practicing can have a systematic and clear framework for helping social workers effectively evaluate outcomes, develop interventions, and analyze the case. By acquiring the theories, social workers can feel more confident about their professional skills and knowledge when dealing with clients. Applying theory to social work practice can help the worker for promoting confidence among them. The theory of social work is knowledge of systematic body that is grounded in logical analysis, empirical research, and professional experiences so, it can be utilized as a significant indicator which shows that social workers are professional and competent. It is also considered to be a good opportunity for social workers for transferring theoretical knowledge which can resolve the practical problems. Moreover, theories can be utilized by the social workers for addressing and conceptualizing the concern of clients that makes theoretical knowledge useful and applicable. For example, the theory of application in practice helps the students of social work to connect the classroom with the real world. In order to make social work practice effective and reliable practice of social work should be established through qualitative and quantitative research. Applying theory to practice can assist the social workers for making an in-depth evaluation and reflection on application and learning of theory that can increase the efficiency of theory application in practice.

Piaget Vs. Vygotsky Theory

Similarities

The Routledge Edition of Harry Daniel, Vygotsky, and pedagogy published in 2016 describe that In both Piaget and Vygotsky theory, children get the knowledge of complex skills and information on growing older. These theories emphasis both nurture and nature and also recognize the role of maturation and heredity of the body nature and brain. They also recognize how the children complete the requirements of their environment. In such theories, Children's specific abilities grow at certain stages, and cognitive abilities grow in a sequence.

Differences

The most significant difference between Vygotsky and Piaget theory is that Vygotsky believed that learning is considered to be done by being taught through more knowledgeable person while the Piaget theory considered that the self-discovery is crucial. According to Piaget theory cognitive development is done by the tendency of child's inbuilt for adopting to child's new experience while according to Vygotsky cognitive development is done through social interaction. Piaget theory believed that cognitive development remains universally the same while the theory of Vygotsky considered that it differs across time and culture. In Piaget, theory language is considered to be the cognitive development result while Vygotsky thought that language is a key of cognitive development. According to Piaget Children can only learn when they are considered to be ready while Vygotsky considered that development could be accelerated to some extent through correct scaffolding

Psychosexual vs. Psychosocial

Similarities

Psychosexual theory of Sigmund Freud's and Psychosocial theory of Erik Erikson are considered to be two significant theories of psychoanalysis on human development which could be utilized for explaining the effects the development of such a scenario. The theory of Erikson is considered to be followed by the Freud and was based on several ideas of Freud which is the main reason for similarities between these theories. Both theories recognize the significance of unconscious on development. These two theorists differentiate development into the life of a person and use divisions of similar ages for such development stages.

Differences

There are many differences in both these theories which exist between the stages name and issues of development that happened during each stage. The psychosexual theory of Freud emphasizes the significance of biological forces and basic needs while the psychosocial theory of Erikson is based on environmental and social factors. Psychosexual theory terminates at an earlier period. In 2017 Barbara M. Newman and Philip R. Newman who were studied from University of Rhode Island described in their book, Development through life: A psychosocial approach that psychosocial theory is based on the environmental and social factors. The psychosocial theory consists of five stages that do not go past puberty while the Psychosexual theory has eight stages that go past puberty. According to Freud's theory, everyone is born with his unique ID, and his ego develops with the growth while the theory of Erikson emphasized that ego is independent of others and it losses or acquire strength after the resolution of eight stages.

Example of Theories in Social Work Practice

Piaget theory can help in teaching the students who require effective questioning related to the characterization of objects. For example, whenever students get confused and investigate the geometric shapes, then the teacher could ask the student for grouping the shapes according to the same characteristics. Piaget theory can also help the parents and teachers for counting their candies, toys, and fingers. It may be difficult for the children in order to conceptualize about how a three by four-inch rectangle built with tiles of wood relates to three multiplied by four or three groups of four. Teachers can help the students by making the connections through showing how the rectangles can be differentiated into three rows of four tiles each.

Vygotsky theory can also help social work practice, e.g. memory in young children is considered to be limited through biological factors. However, Vygotsky refers to some intellectual adaptation tools which allow these children for using the basic functions of mind more adaptively and effectively.

Psychosexual theory can also help in assisting the social worker, e.g. it can work as the defense mechanism in daily life incidents such as crime victims who often experience repression. Moreover, it can also help for providing the treatment to the patients who suffer from any problem of mental health.

Psychosocial theories also play a significant role in social work. For example, this theory teaches the parent that if their child does not learn to trust it could become difficult for them to progress in their life. Similarly, the psychosocial theory can help the student to learn complicated lessons such as in math children initiate with learning about the understanding and identification of the numbers and later can progress to subtraction and addition with enhancing complexity and then division and multiplication.

So we should adopt all these theories in our daily life as, it can have a positive impact on our society.

References

Newman, B. M., & Newman, P. R. (2017). Development through life: A psychosocial approach. Cengage Learning.

Daniels, H. (2016). Vygotsky and pedagogy. Routledge.