Sociological perspectives on care work and caregiving

Care work or social work akin with any other human endeavor has a host of different perspectives that are used either in unison or in combination to direct it.

Its dominant perspectives are the following:

System theory

This is the view that all systems interact and that when, for instance, one works with a patient one needs to involve the family and community too and take all of the patient "s life into consideration for each impacts the other. The whole works as a holistic whole and, for instance, the child's school can effect the child as much as the child can the teacher and so forth. Systems have interrelated parts, and tend towards equilibrium.

Care workers use this system in a practical way by forging networks between the different ecosystems (for instance between child's school, community, and family) and by drawing ecomaps and genograms for understanding the dynamics of a patient's life. The system is valuable because strengthening one part of a person's life has positive ramifications to others.

Behaviorism and social learning theory

Behaviorism is the perspective that environment influences the human and by changing the environment, one can change / influence the human.

Social learning theory posits that all behavior is learned and that, by acquiring positive models, humans can acquire positive behavior.

Care workers in this modality seek to investigate and modify the patient's environment and patient's behavior through behavioral interventions such as stimulus, reinforcement, and conditioning as well as through cognitive reframing of thoughts.

Psycho-dynamic theory

The reverse of behaviorism. It argues that unconscious and inner energies influence emotional development. Healing occurs through attention to transference and the treatment relationship. This modality focuses on the patient's ego and emotions.

Social exchange theory

people view their environment and social relationships in terms of a maximizing costs, minimization loss model. So, in other words, people forge friendship with those who benefit them, and avoid circumstances that cause them unhappiness. Antecedents, consequences, culture, and personal experiences shapes expectations and lead them to interpret in a certain way.

Social constructionsim

Everything is relative. Even science is a doubtful venture. All cultures and ways of life have their own narrative / perspective of seeing things, and each is equally true since initiates form a different view. This model is useful for understanding and better emphasizing -though social constructionism claims impossibility of fully understanding -- the other, in particular marginalized groups and individuals.

Symbolic interactionism

The self is influenced by the expectations and 'games' of the cultural milieu and by complex interactions between people. We act in the present not the past and individuals take on roles when acting with the environmental.

This theory is useful to care worker in various ways, not least that it helps them intervene better through understanding the roles assumed by the individual.

Conflict theory

Conflict is an inevitable part of life with, in all societies, powerful groups / individuals dominating the vulnerable (e..g police over underprivileged). Social change is driven by conflict with people, in between, revolting against domination.