Psychosocial theory

Though a great deal of theory claiming to be “for social work” has been advanced over the last decades, individual, their social context, and the dynamic relationship between these, frequently, the debates it generates fail to transcend academia. Little theory reaches practitioners. Paradoxically, social work has always fought to maintain a professional identity grounded not only in an ethos of care and social justice, but crucially in a critical social science knowledge base, which can – which must – offer an analysis of the struggling theory, I will argue in this chapter, that uniquely addresses this. Theory for social work has work to do, and psychosocial theory has the requisite breadth, depth, and ethical leanings to do it. Psychosocial thinking addresses people as constituted within social structures and personal internal landscapes. It also insists that the experiencing, relational human subject is placed at the center of the analysis: the knower and the known in terms of knowledge construction, the worker and the service user in social work, are both equally dynamically present and constitutive in all encounters, and this subjective interface is fundamental to the relationship. The human subject is at the core of psychosocial understanding: a crucial position for social work. In the world of social work it is evident that struggle, mess, and confusion are ubiquitous, and even “all-rightness,” let alone wellbeing, is extraordinarily difficult to attain. Suffering co...

In simple terms, Sigmund Freud's theory suggests that human behavior is influenced by unconscious memories, thoughts, and urges. This theory also proposes that the psyche comprises three aspects: the id, ego, and superego. The id is entirely unconscious, while the ego operates in the conscious mind. The superego operates both unconsciously and consciously. If you are hungry, for example, you might create a mental image of a delicious meal that you have been craving. In other cases, the ego might harness some energy from the id (the primitive mind) to seek out activities related to the desire in order to disperse excess energy from the id. Sticking with the same example, if you can't actually seek out food to appease your hunger, you might instead thumb through a cookbook or browse through your favorite recipe blog. • Life instincts (Eros) are those that relate to a basic need for survival, reproduction, and pleasure. They include such things as the need for food, shelter, love, and sex. • Death instincts (Thanatos) are the result of an unconscious wish for death, which Freud believed all humans have. Self-destructive behavior was one expression of the death drive, according to Freud. However, he believed that these death instincts were largely tempered by life instincts. There is some question as to whether the iceberg metaphor came from Freud himself or one of his biographers, as some researchers indicate that there was no mention of an iceberg in Freud's writings. In add...

• Describe Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development Figure 1. Erik Erikson. Now, let’s turn to a less controversial psychodynamic theorist, the father of developmental psychology, Erik Erikson (1902-1994). Erikson was a student of Freud’s and expanded on his theory of psychosexual development by emphasizing the importance of culture in parenting practices and motivations and adding three stages of adult development. [1] [2] Background As an art school dropout with an uncertain future, young Erik Erikson met Freud’s daughter, Anna Freud, while he was tutoring the children of an American couple undergoing psychoanalysis in Vienna. It was Anna Freud who encouraged Erikson to study psychoanalysis. Erikson received his diploma from the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute in 1933, and as Nazism spread across Europe, he fled the country and immigrated to the United States that same year. Erikson later proposed a psychosocial theory of development, suggesting that an individual’s personality develops throughout the lifespan—a departure from Freud’s view that personality is fixed in early life. In his theory, Erikson emphasized the social relationships that are important at each stage of personality development, in contrast to Freud’s emphasis on erogenous zones. Erikson identified eight stages, each of which includes a conflict or developmental task. The development of a healthy personality and a sense of competence depend on the successful completion of each task. Psychosoc...

Most modern psychiatrists subscribe to the psychosocial (or more specifically, the biopsychosocial model) of mental well-being, but in our society, the biological and medical models all too often take precedence. As a result, it’s critical to understand the theory behind the psychosocial model of well-being and how it promotes recovery. What Is the Psychosocial Model ? While the word “psychosocial” has been around for well over a century, its meaning has morphed over that time. One of the most important things to understand, however, is that the word primarily arose from the emergence of psychology and sociology as distinct academic disciplines in the late 19th century. The psychosocial model today aims to reconcile the insights from both psychology and sociology to provide a more holistic understanding of mental health . Since the psychosocial model considers both an individual’s psychological makeup along with the social context out of which it arises, it provides a more comprehensive and effective method for understanding mental distress and identifying The Benefits of a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Model The psychosocial model accounts for a broader range of factors than many other models of mental well-being. By understanding an individual’s mental state in relation to social milieu, the psychosocial model works to dispel the myth that an individual’s mental distress exists exclusively in the mind, independent of context or environment. As a result, a psychosocial unde...

Share on Pinterest Erik Erikson is one name you might notice come up again and again in the parenting magazines you leaf through. He was best known for his theory of psychosocial development. Psychosocial development is just a fancy phrase that refers to how a person’s individual needs (psycho) mesh with the needs or demands of society (social). Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development gives us a way to view the development of a person through an entire lifespan. But like all theories, it has its limitations: Erikson doesn’t describe the exact way that conflicts are resolved. Neither does he detail how you move from one stage to the next. Regardless, as you read through the eight stages below, you may find yourself nodding in agreement when you recognize yourself — or your child. Birth to 12–18 months old The first stage of Erikson’s theory begins at birth and lasts until your baby approaches their first birthday and a little beyond. You’ve probably noticed that your little one’s totally dependent on you for everything: food, warmth, comfort. Be there for your baby by giving them not only physical care, but also plenty of love — no need to hold back the cuddles. By providing these basic needs, you teach them that they can depend on you. This builds within them the psychological strength of trust. Feeling secure and safe, your infant will be ready to experience the world. What happens when you slip up? Maybe you yell once in a while. Or you don’t want to read another No...

These are a group of ideas and principles that is worked in a way a social context is related to psychological development. It is common to associate Erik Erikson with this theory. The psychosocial theory comprises the following eight stages. Trust vs. mistrust: This stage starts at birth and continues to around 18 months of age. Infants depend solely upon their caregivers. Therefore, if caregivers are sensitive and responsive to their infants’ needs, it helps them develop a sense of trust. You should check out our new grade calculator . Indifferent caregivers who don’t fulfill their babies’ needs might cause the infants to develop feelings of mistrust, anxiety, and fear and consider the world unpredictable. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt: This stage happens between 1 1/2 and 3 years of age. If kids are allowed to grow at their own pace at this stage, they can acquire self-confidence and self-reliance. You should check out our new high school GPA calculator . However, if parents are overprotective, inconsistent, or overcritical, the kids might doubt their ability to control their world and themselves. Initiative vs. guilt: The third stage occurs during preschool, between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Children can develop initiative via social interactions and by directing play and other activities. If their pursuits don’t succeed or are criticized, feelings of guilt and self-doubt might arise. Industry vs. inferiority: It occurs between the ages of 5 and 12 years. At this stage...

\( \newcommand\) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • What is a Theory? Students sometimes feel intimidated by theory; even the phrase, “Now we are going to look at some theories...” is met with blank stares and other indications that the audience is now lost. But theories are valuable tools for understanding human behavior; in fact, they are proposed explanations for the “how” and “whys” of development. Have you ever wondered, “Why is my three year old so inquisitive?” or “Why are some fifth graders rejected by their classmates?” Theories can help explain these and other occurrences. Developmental theories offer explanations about how we develop, why we change over time and the kinds of influences that impact development. A theory guides and helps us interpret research findings as well. It provides the researcher with a blueprint or model to be used to help piece together various studies. Think of theories as guidelines much like directions that come with an appliance or other object that requires assembly. The instructions can help one piece together smaller parts more easily than if trial and error are used. Theories can be developed using induction in which a number of single cases are observed and after patterns or similarities are noted, the theorist develops ideas based on these examples. Established theories are then tested through research; however, not all theories are equally suited to scientific investigation. Some theories are difficult to test but are still useful i...