Sociology for Social Workers and Probation Officers / Edition 2

by Viviene E. Cree

Overview

How does a social work student make the connection between sociological knowledge and day-to-day social work?

Sociology for Social Workers and Probation Officers provides an introduction to sociological ideas and research and places them firmly into the context of actual social work practice. It encourages readers to develop critical awareness and reach their own judgements about the usefulness and implications of holding certain conceptual positions and shows how social work can be better informed and improved by doing so.

Fully revised and updated throughout, this second edition examines sociology in relation to key areas of social work and probation practice, and includes one new chapter. Areas covered are:

• Family
• Childhood
• Youth
• Community
• Care and Caring
• Health and Illness
• Crime.

Essential reading for all social work and probation studies students, this text looks beyond individual and psychological explanations and solutions to develop a sociological knowledge base for social work practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415446228
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/26/2010
Series:	Student Social Work
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	1390L (what's this?)

About the Author

Viviene E. Cree is Professor of Social Work Studies at the University of Edinburgh, UK. She is the editor of Social Work: A Reader and Becoming a Social Worker and co-author of Social Work: Voices from the Inside, all published by Routledge. She is also co-author of Social Work: Making a Difference and co-editor of the series Social Work in Practice, published jointly by BASW and the Policy Press.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Acknowledgements xx

1 Sociological perspectives 1

Definitions 1

The discipline of sociology 7

Traditional sociological frameworks 8

New directions in sociology 15

Looking ahead 21

Recommended reading 23

2 Family 24

Introduction 24

Definitions 24

Historical accounts 28

Cross-cultural studies 30

Traditional sociological approaches 32

New directions 36

Conclusion 44

Recommended reading 45

3 Childhood 46

Introduction 46

Definitions 47

Historical accounts 50

Cross-cultural studies 52

New directions 161

Conclusion 169

Recommended reading 170

8 Crime and deviance 171

Introduction 171

Definitions 172

Historical accounts 174

Cross-cultural studies 176

Traditional sociological approaches 177

New directions 192

Conclusion 197

Recommended reading 197

9 Towards sociological practice 199

Interrogate the commonplace 199

Think historically 199

Beware of ethnocentrism 200

Locate issues in their wider social, political and economic context 200

Place value on individual experience and meaning 201

Do not expect to find simple answers 201

Act with integrity 201

Bibliography 202

Index 226

Editorial Reviews

‘In her immensely readable book, Professor Cree enthusiastically demonstrates that the study of sociology can help students improve their social work practice. In doing so, she shows that sociology has been a key influence on politics in the past 50 years - especially in its analysis of family and community.’ - Martin Davies, University of East Anglia, UK

From the Publisher