Human behavior is learned during

interactions with other persons and

the environment
• Respondent behavior

• Operant behavior
 How we perceive ourselves
• Self efficacy

• Collective efficacy
 Interorganizational theory
• Organizations exist within a network or system
and must relate to one another
 Social exchange theory
• The act of obtaining a desired commodity
from someone by offering something valued
by the other party
 Conflict theory
• Conflict is generated by opposing interests
rooted in the economic organization of society
( Marx)
• Individuals who share a common oppression,
when organized into a group, will engage in
conflict to change the situation
 Motivational theory
• Why to people become involved? Why do
some not engage?
• Understanding ours and others’ motivations
helps form coalitions
 Ecological theory
• Our physical and cultural environments
change and they impact on the community
and its well being
 Critical theory
• The focus is on how large, dominant
institutions influence local life
 Feminist social theory
• Exemplifies many types of empowerment
theories
• Attempts to give voice to the people who have
had no voice
 Chaos theory
• The world is complex
• Very small changes can impact the outcome
and we may not be able to predict
 Putting it all together- the complex field of
action
• Individuals, groups and organizations…
• Resources and information
• Relationships: values beliefs,feelings,power
 Rothman’s 3-prongs
• Locality development

• Social planning/ social policy

• Social action
• Locality development emphasizes
strengthening communities
 Social planning/social policy
• Planning at the local and neighborhood level
grew out of a distrust in the ability of
governmental structures to adequately plan

• Social policy planning often takes place within

the governmental process
 Questions to ask yourself
• How widespread is the problem?
• Is this problem confined to one social or
ethnic group?
• Have people been trying to solve this problem
for a long time?
• What is the cost of this problem?
( psychic,fiscal, emotional)