Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Theories for Social Work Practice

An accessible and engaging guide to the study of human behavior in the social environment, covering every major theoretical approach

Providing an overview of the major human behavioral theories used to guide social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, and organizations, Human Behavior in the Social Environment examines a different theoretical approach in each chapter from its historical and conceptual origins to its relevance to social work and clinical applications.

Each chapter draws on a theoretical approach to foster understanding of normative individual human development and the etiology of dysfunctional behavior, as well as to provide guidance in the application of social work intervention.

Edited by a team of scholars, Human Behavior in the Social Environment addresses the Council on Social Work Education’s required competencies for accreditation (EPAS) and explores:

• Respondent Learning theory
• Operant Learning theory
• Cognitive-Behavioral theory
• Attachment theory
• Psychosocial theory
• Person-Centered theory
• Genetic theory
• Ecosystems theory
• Small Group theory
• Family Systems theory
• Organizational theory

BRUCE A. THYER, PhD, LCSW, is Professor and former dean, College of Social Work, at Florida State University. He is the founding and current editor of the bimonthly journal Research on Social Work Practice.

CATHERINE N. DULMUS, PhD, is Professor, Associate Dean for Research, and Director of the Buffalo Center for Social Research in the School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, and Research Director at Hillside Family of Agencies in Rochester, New York.

KAREN M. SOWERS, PhD, is Dean and Beaman Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research interests include juvenile justice, sexuality, social work education, child welfare, evidence–based practice, and international social work practice.