Illustrating Human Behavior Theories in Social Work Using HBO’s The Wire

Abstract

Human Behavior in the Social Environment theories are a crux of social work education. However, they are often difficult to discuss in class because theories can be abstract and elusive for students. This may be especially true when exploring macro level theories. Social work students are attracted to the field of social work because of its practical application and often because they are interested in working with micro level systems. Further, in considering social work education at the BSW and often MSW level, using Bloom's Taxonomy, theory discussions and synthesis are certainly beyond the undergraduate expectation and similarly difficult for MSW students to contextualize. However, HBSE theories are the conceptual foundation of competent social work practice. This lack of exposure can also be said of working with diverse populations. Many undergraduate BSW programs are not in urban areas, but social workers need to understand urban problems as they advocate for social policy development and work with urban client systems at various levels of practice. As such the authors of this paper have created a context for elucidating macro HBSE theories exposing students to realistic urban scenarios using HBO’s The Wire. This framework provides both explanations of common SW macro level theories and discusses the ways in which a contemporary television show can be used in class to annotate macro theories including Systems Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, Social Construction, Conflict Theory, and Rational Choice Theory