Social Sciences - General & Miscellaneous, Social Structure & Social Change, Psychology - Theory, History & Research, Sociology
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Overview
Completely revised and updated, this fifth edition shows a full sensitivity to the diverse constituencies of the human services. It reflects awareness of the role of varied cultural and ethnic features within the social environment it explores, and of the importance of the lengthened life cycle. The book serves as a template of the nested concentric circles of human behavior, with chapters on fields of behavior, beginning with the person and ranging outward to culture and society. Abundant examples from practice and from behavioral patterns are drawn from the social sciences, topical events, literature, and the authors' personal and professional experiences.Synopsis
Since publication of the first edition of Human Behavior in the Social Environment in 1974, over 120,000 students have successfully used this classic text, which takes a social systems approach to human behavior--an approach that perceives connections between fields of practice, between methods, and across professional disciplines and bodies of theory. Completely revised and updated, this fifth edition reflects awareness of the role of varied cultural and ethnic features within the social environment, and recognizes the importance of the lengthened lifecycle.This text responds to our understanding of human behavior and to the needs of students and instructors as these have developed since the publication of the previous edition. Three new themes in particular are explored in depth: self-development, caring, and postmodernism. Clearly illustrated throughout, Human Behavior in the Social Environment contains abundant examples from practice and from behavioral patterns drawn from the social sciences, topical events, literature, and the authors' professional and personal experience.
"A quarter-century ago, systems theory was a relatively obscure set of suppositions and observations, and social systems had little recognition or status; in fact, it was largely regarded as one more attempt to scientize' ideas about human behavior, a fad with a short career. Early in the preparation for this edition, we raised the question whether we could now legitimately call social systems a theory rather than an approach. We believe the threshold for status as a full-fledged theory (or body of theories) has been reached, and we call it an approach' less frequently."--from the introduction to the fifth edition.
Ralph E. Anderson was professor emeritus of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. Irl Carter is associate professor emeritus of the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Carter served as acting director, Center for Youth Development. Gary R. Lowe is professor and dean, School of Social Work and Criminal Justice Studies, East Carolina University.
Editorials
Booknews
Takes a social systems approach to human behavior. Chapters on fields of behavior begin with the person and range outward to culture and society. Examples from practice and from behavioral patterns are drawn from the social sciences, topical events, literature, and the authors' personal and professional experiences. This fifth edition shows a full sensitivity to the diverse constituencies of the human services, and reflects awareness of the role of varied cultural and ethnic features within the social environment. A disk is available on request with this edition. The authors are professors in social work at various US universities. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Book Details
Published
October 31, 1999
Publisher
AldineTransaction
Pages
308
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780202361154