Social Work for Sociologists: Theory and Practice

126 ● Anita Gibbs

sociologists to integrate explanation and intervention for the nexus between
personal troubles and public issues. In the adapted framework, six explana-
tory theories are used; each is considered at two levels: the social/structural
and the personal. The six explanatory theories correspond to six interventive
strategies; these too are described at the social/structural and personal levels.
(Another level, the organizational, could have been added, but in the inter-
ests of brevity and simplicity, I have limited it to the social/structural and
personal levels.) Shannon and Young’s adapted framework can be illustrated
visually; see Figure 7.1.
The theories presented in this chapter are both socially constructed and
contested, and they are constantly changing and evolving. When they are
used in practice situations, they are usually applied eclectically, rather than in
a purist manner. In true praxis fashion, the theories are then reevaluated by
feedback from the practice or problem areas to which they have been applied
and then improved or extended. Hence, as Payne (2014) argued, each theory
must be reflexive and able to adapt to changing client views, as well as to the
social environments in which clients find themselves.

Perspectives

(world view)

(Examples Only)

Theory

(explanatory)

Theory

(interventive)

Practice Models

(general)

(Examples Only)

Social/

Structural

Level

Personal

Level

Freedom

Equality

Feminism

Antiracist

Green

Indigenous

Human rights

Justice

Empowerment

Christian

Individual

Determinist

Peace

Merit

Liberal/

Neoliberal

Socialist

Alternative/

Communitarian

Cognitive/

Behavioral

Radical

Humanist

Compulsion

Class struggle

Participatory/

Democracy

Behavior

modication/

Cognitive restructuring

Consciousness

raising

Advocacy,

empowerment, self-

determination

Social planning

Professional

control models

Anti-oppressive

practice

Community action

Community

development

Cognitive-behavioral

therapy

Welfare rights

Radical

nonintervention

Strengths model

Narrative therapy

Family group

conferences

Figure 7.1 Relationships between Perspectives, Theories, and Models
Source: Adapted from Shannon and Young 2004, 27.