Social Work & Person-in-Environment

Definition (IFSW) and (IASSW), 2014

Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social
change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people

Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are
central to social work.

Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous

knowledges, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance
well-being.

Social work is practice-based profession and an academic discipline

We apply the theories we learned from our classroom (social workers does not just help, we
help client thru assessing them thoroughly in order for us to provide a much more fitting
intervention. Practice and Theory. That is .why if magtake mo sa board exam, you need to
provide a document, certifying that you completed 1000 hours prescribed by the law R.A 4373

That promotes

Social change and development – kabag-ohan and paglambo

Social cohesion – unity amidst diversity, there is a power if together.
Empowerment – providing power to those marginalized, minority
Liberation of people – freedom from the binding chains of poverty, that people have the liberty
to do what they want on their own capacity ensuring that they will not affect anything.

Principles that are central to Social Work

Social Justice - equality

Human Rights
Collective Responsibility – emphasizing that everyone of us has the responsibility to each other
for social good
Respect for Diversity – uniqueness in us. That even if we differ in opinions, perspectives we
must learn to accept that fact.

Social work does not just engage with people but also with structures (government,
organization, family, community) to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing (change
does not only happen on the life of the person but also to the systems/things that surrounds
them)

Functions of Social Work

Prevention – identify the potential areas of disequilibrium, we prevent the things that will
cause dysfunction to the client – early discovery can help control and elimination of those
conditions
Restoration – we help them erase those factors that cause their breakdown, rehabilitate them
and try to put them back to normal
Developmental – maximize strength of the person, groups or community – identify, strengthen
and enhance
Social Functioning
Example. Cellphone
You know the function of a phone, its to be able to communicate from our loved ones afar. And
if the phone will not turn on, it will be considered dysfunctional (an illustration of functioning)

William Schwartz (1961) – every profession has a particular function to perform in society, it
receives a certain job assignment for which it is held accountable.

Example: Public Administration – responsible for policy implementation

Entrepreneurship – management of businesses

Symbiotic relationship – each needing the other with all the strength it can command at a
given moment.
Society is like a chain – organized effort and if there is one that is not connected anymore, it will
not be considered whole and productive.

Wernes Boehm (1958) – focused on social relationships and interaction between individuals
and the environment
Restoration – of impaired capacity
Provision – of individual and social resources
Prevention – of social dysfunction

William Gordon (1969) – person – in-his-life situation complex (simultaneous focus on man and
his environment) An individual has an immediate life situation
One side focuses on the organism as interpreted by psychological theories (human behavior),
while on the other side of environment is interpreted by sociological and economic theory

Harriet Barlett (1970) – relation between the coping activity of people and the demand from the
environment.

Louise C. Johnson (1989) – social workers became involved when individuals are having
difficulty in relationship with other people in growing so as to maximize their potential, and in
meeting the demands of the environment.
- Identify the problem on an individual’s social functioning – enhancement of the social
functioning of environment. (too much demand from the environment and the
individual have the difficulty to cope with the demand)

Social work profession mediates the process through which the individual and society reach out
to each other through a mutual need for self-fulfillment.

Individual Social Work Society

 Role to function in  Process (Helps  Perform the

the society society and responsibility to
(ambag) individual achieve an individual
fulfillment)  Organized efforts of
 Impetus towards
health, growth and  We will identify the society to integrate its
belonging gap, the problem parts into a productive
and dynamic hole
 Economic and sociological
theories
 Demand
Triangle
 ofPsychological
Social Functioning
Theories
Satisfaction of
 Coping roles in life
Positive relationship with others
Feelings of self-worth

Person – in – environment – spearheaded by Mary Richmond

Key concept of the field of social work – states that a person’s behavior can largely be
understood by looking at their environment, including their past environment.
E.g., CICL – they are not criminals; hence, they are just victims of the circumstances of their life.
Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are

Person-in-environment

Major
Larger Societal Generalized
System other

Family THE PERSON Immediate

(bio-psycho-social-spiritual community
Goods being)
Services

Nurturing Environment Educational

Political Power
Resources

Sustaining Environment

People can be heavily influenced by their environment

Highlights the importance of understanding an individual and their behavior through their
environment
- Will help us understand how a person views the world, how they think, and why they
respond that way
- Our way of gathering of information is like putting together the pieces of puzzle
(interconnectedness and interactions that may have impact on their functioning and
development)
3 concepts of PIE

1. Social Functioning
Human needs
1. Physical Aspect (food, safety, shelter, health care and protection)
2. Personal fulfillment (education, recreation, values, esthetics, religion, and
accomplishment)
3. Emotional Needs (sense of mutual caring and companionship
4. Adequate self-concept (Self-confidence and identity)

2. Social Environment
3. Social Situation

Approaches in PIE
Micro, mezzo, macro
Micro – interactions of an individual (knowledge, educational, self-image, self-esteem, beliefs,
values, personality, gender, attitudes)
Mezzo – Friends, school, resources, relationships, social activities, family, social support)
Macro – social attitudes and norms, culture, ethnicity, social disadvantage, availability, religion,
media)
George L. Engel – Bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach
Biological Dimension – health, physical abilities, weight, diet, lifestyle, medications, genetic
connection, vulnerabilities, history of mental health problems, genetics
Psychological Dimension – beliefs, attitude, personality, behavior, cognition, personality,
perception
Social Dimension – culture, conditions, circumstances, human interactions
Spiritual dimension – faith, spiritual experiences, higher level of consciousness (how does it
affect you as a person)
Activity
Make your own Person-in-environment Interaction. You may draw it according to the levels of
interactions/influences to your personality. And then have an explanation of not less than 150
words.