Angry girls: Behavior control by girls in latency 1

Abstract

Diagnostic, etiological, and treatment factors which contribute to the understanding of borderline personality disorder are examined from an empirical perspective. Studies of the disorder over the last decade show that there is considerable confusion as to the salient diagnostic and etiological factors which are relevant for predicting treatment type, duration, and outcome. This paper presents a review of studies which have addressed the multiple diagnostic features and early life developmental experiences of the disorder. In addition, three models of treatment currently being investigated for their effects with borderline patients are summarized. Specific emphasis is placed on the clinical implications of the research findings.     

A study of traits predictive of economic success 1

Abstract

In this paper it is argued that the family's sense of its own power is highly contingent on its relationship to the surrounding community. Power is conceptualized as both an external situation and an internal process of constructing meaning. Traditional approaches to the study of power are reviewed, as well as relevant theoretical and research models. It is suggested that a social constructionist perspective, in‐depth interviewing, ethnography, and family assessment techniques can inform an approach for gaining better access to family constructions of power.     

Chapter 13. Rural Older Adults at Home

SUMMARY

In this chapter, we discuss circumstances that affect rural seniors living in their own homes. The strengths perspective informs this discussion, allowing the reader to consider several alternatives to the deficit-focused mentality that often pervades those who work with elders who are, sometimes, and perhaps stereotypically, regarded as frail. Issues unique to rural areas are addressed, programs that serve rural seniors are reviewed, and suggestions are made for the service provider working with this population.     

Traits predictive of the successful outcome of unmarried mothers’ plans to keep their children 1

Abstract

After reviewing some of the major themes and trends in research on lesbians, lesbian couples, and lesbian families, I argue for a cultural perspective and an ethnographic stance in clinical work with this population. “Story” and “ritual” are suggested as examples of the many possible cultural lenses that can be useful in such practice, and illustration of how these cultural lenses can be worn in the therapeutic conversation are offered. A cultural perspective makes easy alliance with post‐modern thinking and notions of the de‐privileging of “expert” knowledge.     

A study of social distance in the implementation of the national minority social work in Xinjiang

Abstract

As a subfield of social work studies, social work for ethnic minorities has drawn the attention of academics and practitioners in recent years. In Mainland China, hardly anyone is involved in social work concerning ethnic minorities, and barely a handful of practical research papers on ethnic minority social work are available. This paper seeks to study practical social work for ethnic minorities from the perspective of social distance. It describes the major social distance scales and the main causes behind the formation of social distance, as well as several strategies in response to the social distance in ethnic minority social work.     

I. Patients of the treatment division of the judge baker guidance center 1

Abstract

There is a growing emphasis in the social work literature that social work's overall mission should be that of social justice and that mental health be relegated as outside of social work's realm. This paper draws upon a constructionist and narrative perspective in developing a general formulation of clinical social work to bridge the gap between social justice and mental health.     

Land of Forgetfulness

Abstract

The personal circumstances of dementia caregiving are sometimes experienced as so severely demanding as to be overwhelming. While sustenance within, and recovery from these experiences are increasingly addressed in helpful ways from psychological, emotional, and practical life planning frames of reference, we are still learning how to speak with one another about the spiritual dimensions of this peculiar journey. From a spiritual perspective, the caregiver initially, and frequently perpetually, finds her/himself in a state of spiritual exhaustion. Oddly enough, there are ample resources at hand to address this existential state with wisdom and grace, allowing for the possibility that the caregiver might move from spiritual weariness to enhanced spiritual formation.     

Residential Treatment: Contextual Learning and Demand for Work from a Social Group Work Perspective

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the implications of integrating social group work theory to residential treatment facilities in order to improve therapeutic engagement of clientele. This examination focuses on the natural and serendipitous construction of groups within residential treatment facilities. These natural groups provide frontline workers with constellations that are symmetrical to the knowledge-base of social group work theory. In addition, this paper incorporates the initial phases of social group work stage theory as a means of providing opportunity for contextual learning to residential clientele as well as planning appropriate demand for work within these settings.     

Types of boys amenable to treatment in a junior republic 1

Abstract

Educators currently are giving considerable attention to the diagnosis and remediation of children with learning disabilities. The integration into clinical social work of this body of knowledge and experience presents a major challenge. The task of understanding the impact on development of neurocognitive delays, distortions, and deficits has just begun. In this paper I review the major paradigms of learning disabilities, and discuss those psychoanalytic developmental theories that have attempted to integrate the concept of neurocognitive differences in endowment into their frameworks. I then offer a developmental perspective based on selfpsychology and the narrative metaphor to assess the impact on children's development of differences in their endowment. A case illustrates a theme in the self‐narrative of a child with a learning disability.     

Colorful Disclosures: Identifying Identity-Based Differences and Enhancing Critical Consciousness in Supervision

ABSTRACT

Managing microaggressions and marginalizing experiences while negotiating the ongoing oppression that occurs in micro, mezzo, and macro settings can be particularly challenging for clinicians of color. Thus, supervision with clinicians of color must include affirmation, empowerment, and exploration of the intracultural/intercultural dynamics inherent in the treatment-providing process and clinical supervision. Through case studies, autoethnographic studies of our supervision experiences, and interviews with supervisors and supervisees, we reflect on how axes of identity, including race, power, and privilege, inform practitioners’ clinical lenses and affect their vulnerability in treatment and the clinical supervision dyad. Special attention is placed on the clinical supervisor–clinician–client triad (the triple process) and the interpersonal dynamics of cultural sensitivity, cultural humility, and authentic responsiveness that supervisors aim to model and cultivate in the supervisory relationship. In addition to sustaining clinical growth for clinicians of color, adding this level of complexity to supervision supports equity in direct clinical practice, enhancing efficacy outcomes for clients and communities. Recommendations and pedagogical strategies are offered to support supervisors in initiating difficult dialogues and shifting the paradigm to promote this transformational perspective.     

Results in family casework with feebleminded clients 1

Abstract

The bombing in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995 was a massive assault on the meaning‐making of survivors and community members. Utilizing a social constructionist perspective, this article explores the evolution of the community's social narrative as it shifted in the immediate wake of the blast to a new framework for understanding the event three months later. It is speculated that the community's storying of the bombing was initially centered on issues of action and recovery in order to restore civil order. Only after the departure of the Red Cross, which contributed to the formation of this communal narrative, did traditional crisis notions concerning phases of grief begin to appear in the local Oklahoma City newspaper. In addition, individual stories that did not conform to the larger understanding of events were conferred less authority than those in accordance with the dominant narrative.     

Social worker trauma: Building resilience in child protection social workers

Abstract

Child protection social workers can experience psychological trauma effects as a result of their work. This article considers the utility of the trauma perspective in understanding and intervening when overwhelming events impact social workers. Psychological trauma theory enhances earlier contributions of the stress and burnout literatures in the effort to increase the efficacy and well‐being of child protection staff. Resilience theories are relied upon to develop strategies for promoting optimal effectiveness of social workers who remain exposed to potentially traumatizing events.     

“We Just Happen to Live Here”

Abstract

This article is written more like a conversation with the reader rather than a strictly academic piece. The purpose is to share from a more personal perspective the unique circumstances and challenges faced by two social workers in Oregon as they grappled with the Death with Dignity Law. The law has been in effect for six years and a May 2004 decision from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court allowed the law to remain a legal end-of-life option. Each writer has a unique voice on the process of social work involvement in practice, research, and policy since the law was originally passed in 1994.     

End-of-Life Care and Social Work Education

Summary

Social workers are major service providers to people who are facing end-of-life issues including the terminally ill and their families. Yet, exemplary models for social work education and intervention methods are limited in rural states. A statewide survey conducted in Kentucky found only two social work courses dedicated to end-of-life care currently being offered by accredited undergraduate and graduate institutions. Another statewide survey found that many hospice social workers are relatively inexperienced and have a need and desire for more education on death, dying and loss. Also, unique cultural, economic and geographic areas, such as Appalachia are enigmas when it comes to the provision of end-of-life care. This partnership provides a varied perspective on delivery of end-of-life care services with an emphasis on social work interventions and education.     

An Elder Abuse Case Study

Abstract

This article explores elder abuse from the perspective of caregiver stress and domestic violence theories. The author proposes that the theory of caregiver stress has shaped the elder abuse laws and the practice field, raising some important questions for examination. The need for policymakers and practitioners to evaluate their applied theory(ies) so they may better advocate for needed changes in policies and laws is examined by using a case example. In conclusion, the author suggests that the elder abuse protection field must consider the underutilized concepts of domestic violence theory for policy development, case assessments, and intervention strategies.     

A Pastoral Understanding of Positive Aging

Abstract

Positive aging may be more dependent on spiritual well-being than physical capacity. Understanding the spiritual perspective derives from the dichotomy between the “perceptual” and the “spiritual” realms of human awareness. Awareness of spiritual process in relationship to positive aging may also offer counseling additional challenges and opportunities, including: a balanced perspective on life issues, a sense of humor, counter-factual thinking, internal strengths and resources for growing through life losses and crises, and compensation skills that focus on current capacity and chosen pathways rather than dwelling on lost abilities.     

Confronting Immigration Myths with the Reality: A Necessary Perspective for Culturally Grounded Social Work Practice

ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to address the most common myths about immigration in the United States. Similar to the anti-immigrant sentiment of the 1800s, the immigration debate today is filled with misinformation and fear-inducing tactics. This misinformation colors the perspective of many, promoting a culture of xenophobia and fear of anyone who is foreign born. By reframing the often unchallenged narrative that immigration to the United States is a problem and in addressing some of the most common myths, social workers will be better equipped to engage in well-informed, balanced dialogue on this hotly debated topic.     

Application of Fairness Theory to Medical Tourists' Dissatisfaction and Complaint Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Patient Participation in Medical Tourism

ABSTRACT

Medical tourism is a worldwide phenomenon in which patients travel abroad to seek medical treatment. Although excellent health service quality of a foreign country has shown to attract more medical tourists, little is known about how an unfairly distributed service can increase dissatisfaction and trigger complaint behaviors. Fairness theory and consumer complaint behaviors provided the theoretical support for this study; and, 354 medical tourists who received cosmetic treatments in Korea agreed to provide feedback via online surveys. The findings indicated that outcome fairness is the strongest variable affecting dissatisfaction, followed by interpersonal, procedural, and informational fairness, and dissatisfaction triggers specific behaviors (e.g., switching, negative word of mouth, and complaining), and differs by levels of participation. The results suggest that a medical hosting country and its hospitals should provide a fair service to reduce dissatisfaction and conceive a way of managing complaint behaviors. Future research should focus on service recovery strategies that can correct service failures from the perspective of the medical tourist.     

Modernity as history: Post-revolutionary China,globalization and the question of modernity

Processes associated with globalization have provoked important changes in our conceptions of modernity, as well as the discourse of modernization. While the end of socialism has encouraged a 'renaissance' of modernization discourse, this discourse is significantly different than in the past in its willingness to make room in modernity for civilizations other than the EuroAmerican. At the same time, post-colonial criticism has played a significant part in the downgrading of EuroAmerican modernity by pointing to its origins in colonialism, which encourages calls for recognition of alternative modernities, or alternative claims to modernity. Intentionally or not, the combination has resulted in a renewed reification of cultural and civilizational traditions. This article juxtaposes two sets of literature to examine these developments critically. The two sets are a general, mostly sociological, literature on modernity and modernization, and literature on Chinese modernity which has proliferated in recent years. Juxtaposition of these two sets of literature provides a space that enables a critical perspective on culturalist tendencies in studies of modernity that persist despite strong evidence of problems that cut across cultural or civilizational boundaries.     

Abstracts of theses,July 1955: Smith College School for Social Work

Abstract

This commentary amplifies the dynamic strategies in Message in a Bottleto consider in working with clients who seek to augment psychotherapy with psychopharmacologic treatment. This commentary also addresses how to evaluate and enhance psychotherapy outcome independent of medications and reviews some of the factors which contribute to positive treatment outcome. In order for clinicians to resist the pervasive colonizing effects of the medical model, this commentary reevaluates some of the claims that medications seem to promise and reinforces data which demonstrate that psychotherapy remains a safe and effective first-line treatment.