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Behaviorism in Social Work

Gordon Laird Lakehead University

Social Work 2401 Foundations of Social Work

Aug 7, 20011

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Social work was originally carried out by caring volunteers motivated by a sense of religious charity (Turner, 2001, p. 81). As the growing ideology of scientific empiricism revolutionized the nature of society, it also transformed the practice of social welfare. From a scientific perspective, the foundation of helping shifted from a mixed base of moral judgment, blame, and informal charity to an organized practice based on scientific evaluation and research. One current theory that represents the philosophy of scientific empiricism is behaviorism. This paper will consider the relative strengths and weaknesses of behaviorism as they apply to social work practice. Cognitive theory will not be considered. Behaviorism is a learning theory based on the interaction of individual organisms and their environment. This seems consistent with the person-insituation approach of contemporary social work. Any time a social worker uses variables in a clients environment to reinforce desired behaviors or discourage undesirable ones they are employing a central behavioristic mechanism called operant conditioning (Skinner, 1953).
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Aversion therapy is a form of classical conditioning that consists of pairing

an unwanted behaviour with unpleasant effects. This type of simple behavioral association might be used in a quit smoking program by pairing cigarettes with nausea. However, this kind of intervention can be seen as manipulative and unethical, has proven ineffective, and is of limited use in social work (Hudson and MacDonald, 1986, p.123).

Operant procedures include specific techniques such as behavior shaping, systematic desensitization, modelling, thought-stopping, contracting, and operant extinction. All these techniques employ a system that involves either providing or withdrawing rewards to change behavior in desired ways. Such techniques have proven to be useful over the years with individuals (Stallard, 1983), groups (Miller and Miller, 1970), and families (Alexander and Parsons, 1973). Behavioristic theory gets its major strengths from being associated closely with the methods of scientific empiricism. For social workers, this means the goals of treatment are clearly identifiable as objective behaviors to be changed in specific ways. The outcome of the treatment is easily measured, and change can be monitored and demonstrated clearly in an objective manner. This is very appealing in an institutional environment calling for accountability and demonstrated competence. In fact, the notion of competency in social work has its roots in behaviorism (OHagan, 1996, p. 6). When the problem of the client lies primarily with elements of his or her own behavior, and intervention can be based primarily on behavior change, behaviorism is a useful tradition to call upon. This is especially true because behavioral theory is associated with a great many specific and wellresearched techniques that can be applied in the field. However, behaviorism only works with variables that effect individual behaviour . Wider community and social change are not part of the theory, and this limits its application in social work practice.

The objective and well-defined methods of behavioral therapy leave little room for the prejudices of the therapist. This may be considered a strength (Hudson and MacDonald, 1983, p. 14). However, social workers since the original friendly visitors have found the therapeutic relationship between client and worker to be a powerful therapeutic factor (Saari, 1991, p. 10). This practice wisdom is further backed up by empirical research (e.g. Miller, Duncan, and Hubble, 1997). Behaviorism, however, does not deal with relationship and puts little stock into therapeutic use of the self. Further, as it encourages practitioners to control, impose structures, and formalize, behaviorism may undermine natural helping networks, which are a significant client resource to be taken into account (Martinez-Brawley, 2000, p. 264). In conclusion, various behavioral techniques may be useful under certain conditions. However, an unsupported focus on the proximate variables that effect individual behavior and an imbalanced philosophy of detached scientific empiricism limit behaviorism to a minor role on social works continuum of practice theories (Turner, 1999, p.28). Reference List Alexander, J., & Parsons, B. (1973). Short-term behavioral intervention with delinquent families: Impact on family process and recidivism. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 81, 219-225. Hudson, B., & Macdonald, G. (1986). Behavioral Social Work: An Introduction. Chicago: Dorsey Press. Martinez-Brawley, E. (2001). Close to Home: Human Services and the Small Community. Washington, D.C: NASW Press.

Miller, S., Duncan, B., & Hubble, M. (1997). Should social work clients have the right to effective treatment? Social Work 42 (6), 619-620. Miller, L., & Miller, O. (1970). Reinforcing self-help group activities of welfare recipients. Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis 3, 57-64. OHagan, K. (1996). Competence in Social Work: A Practical Guide for Professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Saari, C. ( 1991). The Creation of Meaning in Social Work. New York: Guilford Press. Skinner, B. (1953). Science and Human Behaviour. New York: MacMillan. Stallard, P. (1983, December). The shape behavioral rehabilitation programme for young offenders: Client variables and follow-up data. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavioral Therapy, Washington D.C. Turner, F. (1999). The theoretical base of practice. In F. Turner (ed.), Social Work Practice: A Canadian Perspective (pp.23-33). Scarborough: Prentice Hall Allyn and Bacon Canada. Turner, J. (2001). The historical base. In J. Turner & F. Turner (eds.), Canadian Social Welfare (pp.80-95). Toronto: A and B.