Behavioural Social Work

Abstract

Why is it that behaviour therapy programmes (formerly known as behaviour modification), which usually aim to change overt behaviours, are couched in difficult language? Given the simplicity of the basic tenet of this approach, that behaviour is learned and unlearned, we have to grapple with words such as modelling, observation, learning, imitation, social learning and vicarious learning — all of which appear to mean the same thing! Educators such as Sheldon and Hudson, whose work is referred to here, have helped to make the concepts relevant and accessible to social work. Learning theory, on which behavioural principles are based, is a vast, well-researched field. Also, behaviourism has influenced social work practice in a number of ways. In working with people with learning difficulties the principles of ‘normalisation’ or age appropriate behaviour involve the basic principles of learning theory. Programmes working with offenders, especially those who are dependent upon substances such as drugs or alcohol, involve cognitive behaviour therapy, as do those working with people experiencing depression. In some ways, there are similarities between behavioural approaches and the task-centred practice, in that both focus on a particular problem, follow specific procedures and impose time limits. Finally, when we discuss groupwork, we will see that aspects of learning theory operate in group situations.