Last Updated on January 23, 2023 by Team TSW
Whenever one comes across a new term, the first few things come into mind is to know, what is the meaning, the definition, concept and uses. Social casework is a different ball altogether, to understand the definition and meaning of casework one must have an idea of social work as a whole. This is notably important since many believe that terms social case work and social work can be used interchangeably as they are synonyms. Which they are not. To understand the social casework definition , it is necessary to know what social work is.
To know social work one should look at its objectives. Two major objectives for the purpose are socio-economic development and satisfying social relationships.
Table of Contents
Social Casework Definition
Various Social Scientists have tried to define social casework. In order to understand what social casework is, it appears essential to present some important social casework definitions given from time to time :-
“Social case work consists of those processes which develop personality through adjustments consciously effected, individual by individual, between men and their social environment”.
Most preferred social casework definition of her is: “Social case work may be defined as the art of doing different things for and with different people by cooperating with them to achieve at one and the same time their own and society’s betterment”.
MARY RICHMOND (1917)
Social casework is an art in which knowledge of the science of human relation, and skills in a relationship are used to mobilize capacity in individual and resources in the community appropriate for the better adjustment between the cline and all or way part of his total environment.
BOWERS (1949)
“A process used by certain human welfare agencies to help individuals to cope more effectively with their problems in social functioning.”
PERLMAN (1957)
Social casework is a method employed by a social worker to help the individual find the solution to a problem of social adjustment which they are unable to handle in a satisfactory ways by their own effort.
HOLLIES (1957)
Social casework is the art of untangling and reconstructing the twisted personality in such a manner that the individual can adjust himself to his environment.
WATSON (1922)
Social casework is the art of changing human attitudes.
LEE (1923)
Social casework is the art of bringing an individual who is in a condition of social disorder into the best possible relationship with all parts of his environment.
JARRETT (1919)
Social casework means social treatment of maladjusted individuals involving an attempt to understand his personality behavior, and social relationship, ad to assist him in working out a better social and personal adjustment.
TAFT (1920)
social casework which is both a tool and area of work consists of processes which develop personality through adjustment, consciously affect individual by individual between man and his social environment
GORDON AND HAMILTON
Social case work is the art “of adjusting personal relationship”.
QUEEN (1932)
Concept and Assumptions
There are theoretical concepts, which are accepted as true about human beings behaviour. These are also accepted as basic assumptions of social casework. They serve as reference to understand the interaction of man with its environment and help in learning, diagnosing and evaluating the cases.
Basic Assumptions
According to Hamilton the basic assumptions of social casework are:
1. Individual and society are interdependent and complementary to each other.
2. Various factors operative in society influence human behaviour and attitude.
3. Some problems are psychological and some are interpersonal in nature.
4. Within certain limits, man can be understood and helped.
5. Man can grow and change as per his/her inherent capacities and potentials.
6. Every person is unique as well as similar to others.
Philosophical assumptions
The end goal of social casework is to establish a healthy relationship between the individuals and their society. Grace Mathew opined that there are certain assumptions, which form the basic structure of social casework. These are products of shared thinking and custom in casework. These philosophical assumptions are:
1. Every individual has to be looked at as a person with dignity and worth.
2. Human beings are interdependent and it regulates their interaction in social groups.
3. There are common needs for development and growth of individuals. The existence of common human needs does not negate the uniqueness of individual. Every individual is like all other human beings in some aspects and like no other individual in certain aspects.
4. Every individual has potential for growth and achievement and s/he has the right to the realization of this potential.
5. Society has an obligation to help those who do not have the means for the realization of their potential.
Conclusion
Many social Work Scientists have contributed in defining social casework. Their Contribution is not just theoretical but technical as well. Considering all the definitions it can be concluded that social casework is the method of social work which focuses both on the person and his/her environment and helps to improve the balance between the person’s coping efforts and the environmental demands. It is a method in which help is provided by social caseworkers to the individuals to cope more effectively with their problems in social functioning.
One response to “Social Casework: Definition, Concept and Assumptions”
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