into to human services test 1

what is a theory?

A set of ideas that explains why something happens or how things are connected.

what are some examples of influences on how a person beleives and views the world?

social groups, culture and religion, authority and expertise, and direct observation

what does theory help us avoid?

oversimplification and victim blaming

what is oversimplification?

believing that issues have a single or primary cause. ex - Saying, “Someone is homeless because they’re lazy,” instead of considering things like job loss, housing costs, mental health, family support, and other factors.

what is victim blaming?

blaming a person or some aspect of their identity solely for their situation with no consideration of social forces that contribute to the problem. ex - if a women gets graped, saying it was their fault for wearing certain clothes or something.

3 Principles of Multicausality

1. Problems usually have multiple causes

2. Look at causes at different levels (personal, social, and structural/political factors)

3. One solution may not work for everyone

what are the two general paradigms for working with clients?

deficit based and strengths based approach

what is the deficit based approach?

focuses on disroders or issues/abnormalities within a person, seeks to find a “cure”, focuses on fixed characteristics without regard to client’s humanity and and future aspirations. ex - trying to “cure” a person with autism.

what is strength’s based appraoch?

seeks to identitfy competencies and abilities, emphasizes clients well being and validates past experiences while still taking positive steps to make positive change

trust vs mistrust (0-1)

infants learn to trust caregivers to meet their basic needs

autonomy vs. shame and doubt (1-3)

toddlers learn to develop a sense of control and independence

initiative vs. guilt (3-6)

children assert control through directing play and social interactions

industry vs inferiority (6-12)

children develop a sense of pride in accomplishments and abilities

identity vs. role confusion (12-18 years)

teens explore personal identity and a sense of self

intimacy vs isolation (18-40)

young adults form intimate, loving relationships with others

generatively vs stagnation (40-65)

adults create or nurture things that will outlast them, contributing to society

integrity vs. despair (65+)

seniors reflect on life and either feel a sense of fulfillment or regret

sensorimotor stage (0-2)

Learn through senses/actions; develop object permanence (knowing something exists even when you can’t see it).

preoperational (2-7)

Develop language/imagination; egocentrism (difficulty seeing others’ perspectives); symbolic thinking.

concrete operational (7-11)

Use logical thinking about real things; understand conservation (quantity stays the same even if appearance changes).

formal operational (12+)

Can think abstractly and hypothetically; use more advanced logic and problem-solving.

zone of proximal development

what a person can’t do alone yet, but can do with help from someone more knowledgeable. ex - A child can’t read a new word by themselves, but with help from a teacher sounding it out, they can read it. Eventually, they can read the word on their own.

growth mindset

Believing your abilities can improve through effort, practice, and learning. ex - “I can’t do this yet, but eventually I will be able to".”

fixed mindset

Believing your abilities are set and can’t really change. ex - “I’m just not good at this.”

bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory

views the person as developing within a complex of relationships affected by multiple levels of surrounding environment. Core idea is that we are constantly impacted by our environment

microsystem (innermost circle)

The people/settings you directly interact with. Ex: Family, friends, school, teachers.

mesosystem (second circle)

How your microsystems connect and affect each other. Ex: Parents and teachers working together can affect a child’s school performance.

exosystem (third circle)

Things that indirectly affect you, even though you aren’t directly involved. Ex: A parent’s work schedule affects how much time they can spend with their child.

macrosystem (4th circle)

The larger culture and society around you. Ex: Laws, politics, economy, cultural beliefs, and healthcare standards.

chronosystem (outermost circle)

Changes over time that affect a person. Ex: Changes in gender roles, marriage, divorce, technology, or major life events.

why are some internal barriers that would cause someone to not seek out help from human services?

fear of being judged/the unknown, distrust of human service workers/agencies

what are the three parts of Self Determination Theory?

autonomy (feeling in control of your own actions and choices), competence (feeling capable and able to master challenges/build new skills), and relatedness (feeling connected to and cared for, a sense of belonging with other people/communities)

what are some clients rights when it comes to therapy?

competent service, honesty, privacy, confidentiality, respect and dignity, and HIPPA

what is the difference between privacy and confidentiality?

privacy is your (clients) right to keep personal information to themselves, vs. confidentiality is the professional’s responsibility to protect the info a client shares

what is bias?

thoughts, beliefs, or feelings for or against someone or something

what is an ingroup?

a group that you feel you belong to or identify with (race/ethnicity/sports team/college student, etc)

what is an outgroup?

a group that you do not belong to or identify with

what are some consequences of bias?

damaged relationships, poorer care to certain groups by professionals, social division, stereotyping, etc.