Social Work: A case study in applying theories to practice

Presenting Circumstance Mr. A is age 40, unemployed and living with his wife and six year old son; C in a twobedroom oun il flat in !ondon. "e is not only a gambler with drin# problem, he is #nown to the poli e and so ial servi es for domesti violen e towards his wife; Mrs A. "e is notorious within the neighbourhood for his onstant rows and aggression; sometimes a ompanied by violen e towards his wife. $he latter is a atalogue shopping addi t. As a onse%uen e of their spendthrift lifestyles, the family is fa ing a tion from the bailiffs for mounting debts. Additionally, their son&s aggression towards lo al hildren within the estate means that the family is also fa ing the possibility of evi tion from their oun il home for reasons of persistent Anti 'o ial (ehaviour )A'(*+. As a further insight into the family&s ir umstan e, the ouple&s parents are living way from !ondon.

So why, and which social work theories can be used to assess, explain and justify the processes of intervention in this case? $he positive indi ators in this ase are that apart from having an insight into their situation they were welling to re eive help in resolving their problem. Most importantly, they wanted to rebuild their relationship as opposed to a divor e

Introduction ,hile there is onsensus that -the on ept of theory is a so ial onstru t., /ayne, )0112, p. 34+, for the purpose of this dis ourse, theory denotes, -a set of proposiotions whi h posit the nature of the relationships between predefined onstru ts or variables. 5lynis et al., )0116, p. 6+. 'imilarly, while applying theories to pra ti e may not ne essary lead to positive out omes; it establishes a systemati approa h to so ial wor# pro esses. $he problem with hoosing a parti ular

perspe tive is that, while no parti ular theory is impli itly omprehensive; ob7e tively applied, any theory an prove ontextually appropriate. "owever, /ayne, )0112, p. 84+ asserts that theories are most effe tive when ombined and that in isolation, -the theory&s value is vitiated. 9ndeed in ontemporary omplex and dynami so iety with orresponding heterogeneity in its so ial problems, theory triangulation ) ombining theories+ is essential to better understand, explain and address the myriads of interrelated problems that is social work&. $he very use of theory in so ial wor# per se is indispensible in establishing some degree of rationality in what would otherwise be a haoti o urren e.

Reasons for choosing particular theories Argued on appropriateness rather than onvenien e; the : Psychodynamic theory by ;reud and the : Attachment theory by :(owlby& in parti ular; and the system theory in general seem most appli able to this ase study. $his preferen e is based on the premise that family and relationship problems may be rooted in ineffe tive personality developmental hildhoods. ,ithin this ontext, $homas and /ierson, approa h views the adult hildhood and early ases of ase. $he )0111, p.803+ state that, -the psy hodynami

/<='*>A!9$? as produ t of hildhood development. 'imilarly, /ayne, )0112, p. 21+ states that -the important fo us on so ial wor# on relationships and maternal deprivation omes from psy hodynami s theory. 9ndeed, !ishman, )3008, p. 04+ suggests the use of the atta hment theory in explain behavioural and relationship problems as typi al of this violen e; and Mrs A&s indis riminate spending ould be relationship and dysfun tional family situations be ause it seems to appropriately suggestion here is that, Mr A&s drin#ing, gambling, aggression with asso iated onse%uential of their defi ient or ineffe tive hildhood developments. Additionally, a ording to /ayne, )0112, p. 310+ both theories provide omprehensive models -that laim to offer a system of thought to over all the pra ti e so ial wor#ers might want to underta#e. /ayne, )0112, p.310+. Additionally, ,ood and "ollis, )0110, p. 1+ per eive psy hodynami theory as inseparable from family therapy. 9t is the ombination of these arguments, apped with my riti al 7udgement that has influen ed the hoi e

of these formal theories. ,ith the family as a system; the sum of whose integral ontributions is a fa tor of the wellbeing of the whole unit, the system theory ade%uately establishes the ause and effe t relationship in the problems of the A&s family. ;or example, resolving the onfli t between the parents is bound to produ e similar effe t of their hild; C, and possibly resulting in a united and happy family. Now what are these theories?

The Psychodynamic theory and its principles @eveloped from the wor#s of 'igmund ;reud, psy hodynami theories assume that, -behaviours ome from movements and intera tion in people&s minds. /ayne, )0112, p. 23+. 9t -relates to the internal psy hologi al onfli ts between the irrational pleasure drives of the id and the so ial ons ien e of the : Superego, mediated by the :Ego or psy hologi al regulator.. $hompson, )3000, p. 48+. $herefore, a welldeveloped ego and superego would have ensured for a better relationship within the A&s family. /sy hodynami would suggest that, Mr A&s drin#ing and aggression ould be a way of avoiding fa ing reality and his responsibility within their relationship by falling ba # )regression+ to his irrational :id& behaviours. ,ood, )0120+. <%ually, Mrs. A&s ompulsive atalogue buying and Mrs A&s gambling ould be -drives to satisfy some personal unidentified tension or libido within them.. /ayne, )0112, p.28+. Additionally, Mr A&s aggression with asso iated violen e in parti ular, and their stormy relationship in parti ular, ould signify under-development of their egos and super egos to enable them so ialise and behave rationally as married ouples. $he impli ation is that, apart from their own negle ted wellbeing; the A&s traumati relationship has deprived them of the effe tive ommuni ation and 7oint de isionma#ing about the welfare of their son. 9n onfli t, parents are -too preo upied with their own feelings to understand their hildren&s needs. Mit hell, )01A6+.

Attachment theory. (owlby defines atta hment theory as; a way of conceptualising the propensity of human beings to make strong affectional bonds to particular others and of explaining the many forms of emotional distress and personality disturbance, including anxiety, anger, depression, and emotional detachment, to which unwilling separation and loss give rise (owlby, B. )01A4, p. 32+

!i#e ;reud, (owlby believed that the root of the development of personality lay in early hildhood development, and that any trauma or failure in this early relationship would permanently shape the development of the hild&s personality. $he premise here is that ineffe tive or the la # of atta hment in hildhood or the ex ess of it ould have been responsible for the problems in this psy hodynami ase study. 'imilar to the theories, the atta hment theory suggest that the roots of the

ouples& diffi ulties may be due to ineffe tive or deprived affe tionate bonding to their mothers or are-givers in their hildhoods. $here is onsensus that experien e of it affe ts the development of other relationships; with the deprivation and disadvantage having ma7or damaging effe ts on hildren&s development and later life.. /ayne, )0112, p. 26+; "owe, )01A2+. $hus, C&s aggressive behaviour ould be suggestive of the same defi ien y. Another explanation for C&s aggression ould be that, rather than the la # of atta hment, he might -have been over prote ted by his mother, so that he never learned the so ially a eptable methods of relating to others. /ayne, )0112, p. A0+. $he la # of intima y in the A&s relationship )may be due to their inability to share and relate as ouples+ ould also be reating frustrations that are expressed in terms of aggression, drin#ing and gambling. 9n relation to bonding, Adams, !. et al., )3003, p. 020+ states that, -a woman negle ted as a hild may have low self-esteem, feels anxious and agitated in /resuming that Mr A experien ed a similar lose relationships.. hildhood, Adams, !. et al )3003, p. 020+

further state that, -mutual anger as ea h partner believes that the other is apable of ausing them hurt ma#es the relationship full of onfli t and turbulen e, anxiety and depression.. /resuming this to be the ase, ould Mrs A&s ompulsive buying be a

oping me hanism for yet undiagnosed depression or a vengeful and misinformed id response to her husband&s behaviourC 'imilarly, where (owlby dire ts the -psy hoanalyti interest in early mother- hild relationships to maternal deprivation. "owe, )01A2+, ould Mrs A&s ompulsive shopping be explained by the tenden y to indis riminately a %uire those material privileges she never experien ed in her hildhoodC ,here a supportive so ial environment would have mitigated the impa t of this ineffe tive atta hment, the family resides beyond easy rea h of their parents. <ven in the ase where neighbours would have provided support for the family, their anti so ial behaviour has rendered them out ast within the neighbourhood. ,hile both theories ould a ount for Mr A&s aggressive behaviour, in terms of

unresolved hildhood onfli ts, Crawford and ,al#er )3008, p. 40+ suggest that it ould be due to gender role and identity whereby he is imitating his father&s -dominating behaviour, finding it hard to express emotions and demonstrating aring a tions and s#ills.. C&s aggression ould be explained from similar perspe tive. an be Conversely, Mrs A is passive; unable to express her individuality and independen e. "olisti ally both theories are unanimous that dysfun tional relationship attributed to defi ien ies in hildhood development. Dnderstanding so ial problems from su h perspe tives provide rational arguments to 7ustify a so ial wor# rather than medi al model approa h in addressing so ial problems. ;or example, detaining Mr A for substan e abuse without re ourse to in%uire into the underpinning reason for his devian e, or providing him with a supportive rather than punitive exit option an only produ e short-lived solutions. Applying the psy hodynami and atta hment theories, the sustainable approa h should be to empower the roots of their diffi ulties. A lients to a %uire those so ial s#ills that they missed in their hildhood; and whi h have been at the ording to /ayne, )0112, p. 44+, these supportive and therapeuti approa h an help lients - hange their deviant pattern of behaviour. Dsing the arguments from the psy hodynami and atta hment theories as bases for intervention, relevant are plans should therefore be set against the ba #ground that the members of this family need to re-learn or a %uire those s#ills that would hen eforth enable them to live and behave as so ial beings if they are not to be li#e they parents. As earlier mentioned, the problem with using theory to explain so ial problems is that no one theory an be omprehensively ade%uate. 9n agreement,

/ayne, )0112, p. 18+ points out that psy hodynami s -is a theory for tal#ing therapy, preferring verbally able lients with psy hologi al problem.. Intervention A ording to ,inni ott&s wor#, parents li#e Mr and Mrs A should be sensitise -on how to adapt from fo ussing on their inner world by developing apa ity for dealing with the outside world. /ayne, )0112, p. 26+. Dsing person-in-situation approa h, both parents should be en ouraged to thin# and understand their debts, gambling, drin#ing, ompulsive buying as provo#ing agents in instan es of aggression and general disharmony. ,ithin the ontext of ego and superego reformation, initial eptan e a tions should suggest, en ourage and assist the ouple to start ommuni ating in a rational and so ially a eptable ways. $his will in lude the respe t and a of their respe tive individualities, on erns and opinions. 'tarting with simple 7oint a tivities li#e ta#ing their son to the par#, the whole family may start to engage in meaningful so ialisation. $he rational is that by so doing, they would develop and perfe ts those a eptable so ial ethi s that they never a %uired in their hildhood. 9ndeed, they may start to engage with their lo al ommunity; they are part of so ial systems and play a so ial rule. /ertaining to their finan ial diffi ulties, the role of the so ial wor#er should be to provide them with the ne essary information to 7ointly examine their situation and if need be, use the servi e of debt ounsellors. 'ame applies to the marriage as a whole, if things do not wor# out through mutual negotiations; maybe with the so ial wor#er a ting as an impartial mediator or fa ilitator, then marriage ounselling servi es may have to be engaged. <%ually, if attempts to sort out their finan ial problem do not ut out Mr A&s drin#ing and their spending, then he may have to onsult an al ohol as well as a gambling addi tion advisory servi e. $he rational in all these initiatives is that by first maximising on their own potentials, lients are empowered to be their own do tor. Dsing external servi es should be a last resort and a formal way of providing what psy hodynami lients are unable to a hieve through their own efforts. Dnderstood and explained from the and atta hment perspe tives, but addressed from a system perspe tive, if these a tions ould enable Mr A to be ome the ma7or bread-winner, this feeling of responsibility and self-worth ould filter to other areas of their family and relationship.

Children focused intervention As a vulnerable lient; legally in apable of providing informed onsent, so ial wor# intervention on behalf of a hild li#e C&s has to be legally ompliant and appropriate as well as being based on systemati approa hes. $hus, while ex eptional hild. ir umstan e may suggest the evo ation of - ontrol order to prote t the

,atson et al, )3004, p. 002+ the legal preferen e as suggested by the hildren A t 01A1 is to -support hildren and family to stay together.. /ar#er and (radley )3008, p.30+. "owever, sin e a ording to ' haffer, )0110+ -the situation most ondu ive onstant rows does not only and atta hment theories may for hildren&s welfare is minimum overt onfli t., the dire t exposure of C to Mr A&s aggression and violen e on his mother; and the ,hile arguments based on the psy hodynami onstitute domesti violen e, but hild abuse, "ague and Malos, )011A, p. 01+. suggest a more supportive and therapeuti intervention to enable C&s parents to arter for his welfare, the potential to suffer signifi ant harm from this situational haEard may legally suggest a more drasti or punitive approa h. As mandated by the legal framewor# under -the hildren A t 01A1, /oli y and pro edural guidan e under Area Child /rote tion Committee )AC/C+ and the "ome *ffi e )3000+; -;ramewor# for the Assessment of Children in >eed and their families- ,atson, ;. et al )3004, /. A1+, a - hild-fo used ris# assessment. will establish where C&s best interest would be best served while things are sorted out.

Appraisal As evident in this ase study, the appli ation of either the psy hodynami or

atta hment theories is ontextual and dependent on the preferen e of the appli ator. Conse%uently, the la # of a standardised ben h-mar# ma#es the evaluation of their effe tiveness and appropriateness problemati and relative rather than absolute. "owever, the use of theories in the understanding, explaining, planning and intervening in so ial wor# is indispensible if pra ti e is to be systemati . >evertheless, any in oheren e in applying these theories to pra ti e ould be a mirror of the omplexities of life&s realities themselvesC 'imilarly, no so ial wor# ontexts are ever identi al, neither are lient groups homogeneous; a situation that would render the standardisation of perspe tive approa hes futile. =e alling that stated that 9 opted for the /sy hodynami and atta hment theories be ause of their appropriateness, riti%ues point to inherent short omings in both perspe tives. 9ndeed, onventional psy hodynami s ientifi riti s argue that -psy hoanalysis has a s ientifi ways.. "arris, )01A4, p. 34+. *thers assert and that, originally biologi al approa h to explanation that annot be easily tested in

does not respe t human self-determination; pointing out that, in

so ial wor# pra ti e where the %uest is to eliminate dis rimination, -psy hodynami s is a means of understanding how men a hieved and maintain suprema y in patriar hal so iety.. 'tream, )0121+. Moreover, psy hodynami seen as limited to lients with verbal ability who an ontribute in dis ussions and self-determination at the ex lusion of servi e-users with psy hologi al problem. As for the atta hment theories, riti s point out that a hild li#e C an ma#e atta hment relationship to other people, not 7ust the mother. Additionally, relationship that -relian e on one ex lusive an itself be damaging, as it does not allow for supportive healthy

relationship with others. Crawford and ,al#er, )3008, p. 44+. "olisti ally, by trying to apply both theories to predi t people&s behaviour, -the danger is that this argument an stereotype hara teristi s and people, thus potentially supporting pre7udi e and oppressive behaviour. Crawford, )3008, p. 00+. Moreover, redu ing omplex human behaviours as in this ase study using abstra t on epts that are so ially onstru ted is bound to produ e re ipro al out ome and ontestations.

Conclusion $he entrality of theories in so ial wor# pra ti e is that they provide and establish rationality and systemati ways of addressing otherwise haphaEard o urren es. Additionally, as in this ase study, they draw attention to the rationale ontrol that human beings have over their environment and their own behaviour. /ayne )0112, p.312+. ,hile so ial wor# out ome may not be perfe t nor even always satisfa tory, the riti al and systemati approa h provided by the theories ensure that goodenough de isions are onsistently made on the best information and 7udgment

available. ,here psy hoanalysis and atta hment theories have lin#ed so ial problem as onse%uential of developmental defi ien ies in hildhood, the prognosis is that without a systemati so ial wor# intervention to safeguard a repli ation, the mi ro and exosystems of the family will ollude to sustain the ongoing produ ing a ondu ive environmental for a re ipro al risis, while onse%uen e. ,ithin the

omplex environment of interrelated and omplex so ial problems, a better insight into parti ular problems is better gained through the multiple appli ation of theories )triangulation+; in isolation, -the theory&s value is vitiated. /ayne, )0112, p. 84+. 9n family interventions, any effe tive intervention to an integral part will eventually re ipro ate similar impa t of the wellbeing of the system as a whole.

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