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

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…