Chapter 4

Social Casework

Key Points

1. Every individual is unique and his/her needs are different from others in the society. Consequently, the treatment given or approach to one individual cannot be used exactly the same for another individual.

2. Problem of social functioning causes distress to the individuals. These individuals are not to be considered as a unit of category but a unique person. Casework method tries to resolve individual problems through scientific approach.

3. The main work of social casework is to enable an individual in solving a problem through self-efforts. The social worker’s job is to provide adequate help and guidance.

4. Study, assessment, intervention, termination and evaluation are the main divisions of the social casework process.

The Nature of Individual

All human beings are part of society and in the has different social everyone society roles and duties. While performing his roles and duties, individual faces many problems in one or other form, which hinder his performance as a social being. Casework is the oldest and the most developed method of solving individual’s problems and improving his social relations.

I. The Nature of Individual

Every individual is unique and his/her needs are different from others in society. the treatment or Consequently, given approachto one individual cannot be used for the other individual. To understand human behavior and the individual difference. Grace Mathew has given following propositions.

(1) An individual’s behavior is conditioned by his/her environment and his/her live experiences. Behavior refers to reacting, feeling, thinking, etc. Attributes of human being are not visible to others.

(2) The conditions and influences surrounding the persons constitute the environment.

(3) For human growth and development, it is essential that certain basic needs should be met. The basic needs may be – physical and mental. Physical needs refer to needs for food, shelter and clothing.

(4) Mental needs can be in the form of emotional security, need of parents, child, and spouse.

(5) Emotional needs are real and they cannot be met or removed through intellectual reasoning.

(6) Behaviour is purposeful and is in response to the individual’s physical and emotional needs.

(7) Other people’s behavior can be understood only in terms of ones’ own emotional and intellectual comprehension.

The Nature of Individual

Each individual and every individual has his/her own importance. As every human being has his/her own set of qualities, he/she cannot be neglected. Herbert Bisno described the following attributes of individual nature:

The Nature of Individual

1

Each individual by the very fact of his/her existence is of worth.

4
Man does not
naturally act in a
rational manner.
Man is amoral and
asocial at birth.

2
Human suffering is
undesirable and
should be prevented
or at least alleviated,
whenever possible.

3
All human behaviour is
the result of interaction
between the biological
organism and its
environment.

The Nature of Individual

5

There are both individual and common human needs.

There are important differences between individuals and they must be recognized and allowed for.

6

Human motivation is 7 complex and frequently obscure.

8

9

Family relationships are of primary importance in the early developments of individual.

“Experiencing” is essential for learning process.

The Nature of Individual

While these two attributes regarding individuals seem obvious at first glance they are often forgotten. Our tendency to simplify events and our biases often prevents us from realizing the uniqueness of the individuals with whom we are dealing. We often observe how individuals with different natures are treated using the common approach. For example, we hear people say that beggars have no self-respect and are lazy. To avoid this mistake, caseworkers have to remind themselves that each client who comes to the agency has his own outlook, feelings and attitudes. Their problems may have some similarities but has important

differences.