Clinical Sociology: An Agenda for Action PDF
Preview Clinical Sociology: An Agenda for Action
Clinical Sociology An Agenda/orAction CLINICAL SOCIOLOGY Research andPractice SERIES EDITOR: John G. Bruhn, PennsylvaniaState University/Harrisburg Middletown.Pennsylvania CLINICALSOCIOLOGY:AnAgendaforAction John G. Bruhn and HowardM. Rebach Clinical Sociology An Agenda for Action John G. Bruhn PennsylvaniaState UniversityIHarrisburg Middletown.Pennsylvania and Howard M. Rebach UniversityofMaryland.EasternShore PrincessAnne. Maryland Springer Science+Business Media, LLC LIbrary of Congress CatalogIng-In-PublIcatIon Data Bruhn, John G., 1934- ClInIcal socIology: an agenda for actIon I John G. Bruhn and Howard M. Rebach. p. c~. -- (Cllnlcal soclologyl Includes blbl10graphlcal references and Index. 1. cttntcat socIology. I. Rebach, Howard M. II. TItle. III. Serles. HM73.B75 1996 301--dc20 96-38679 CIP ISBN978-1-4757-2518-6 ISBN978-1-4757-2516-2(eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-4757-2516-2 © 1996SpringerScience+BusinessMediaNewYork OriginallypublishedbyPlenumPress,NewYorkin1996. SoftcoverreprintofthehardcoverIstedition 1996 Allrights reserved 109876543 Nopariofthis book maybereproduced,storedinaretrieval system,ortransmittedinany formorbyany means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,microfilming,recording,orotherwise,without written permissionfrom the Publisher Tomy mentors Paul Meadows, Jerome K. Myers, and August B.Hollingshead -JGB ToKatherine, and to my students' -HMR Series Preface Sociology iscurrently perceived tobe ageneralist fieldwithout clearly definable outcomes, and its graduates are often perceivedto have indefinable skills.Some sociologists feel that there will becontinuingpressure onsociologyto become a practice-oriented profession.A recent study of sociological practitioners' views ofthemost importantissuesfacing sociology nowandinthefuture indicated that sociologists need to help intervene in a variety of societal and organizational problems, especially those within the domain of sociology, e.g., human abuse, violence,substanceabuse,poverty, andequityinthedeliveryofhealthandhuman services.The yield forclinical sociologyinthefuture liesinthe hands ofclinical sociologists themselves. There is no limit to the field or its satisfactions for engaging in actions that are intended to bring about positive change. As John Schaari has said, "The future isnot some place we are going to, but one we are creating." In the last decade there has been a reemergence of interest among some sociologists in the application of sociology to social issues. This had led to the organization ofgroups, such as Applied Sociology and Clinical Practice, within the ranks of sociology. This movement to create an "action sociology" that intervenes to improve social conditions has become increasingly popular among students whowanttodomorethanobserve, study,andcommentonsocialissues. The field of clinical sociology is in its adolescence. There is a growing awareness among sociologists to examine their methods of study and apply findingsfromtheirresearch toimprove thecommongood,aswellastoworkwith colleagues inrelated disciplines tosolve complex social problems.Clinical soci ologyneeds toshare itsexperiencesinresearch andpractice andthereby begin to develop a scientific framework to guide the education of future researchers and practitioners. ThisbookisthefirstinanewseriesentitledClinicalSociology:Researchand Practice.Thereisaneedforpractitionerstoshare "bestpractices," todiscuss the complex legal and ethical issues of client relationships, to refine techniques of interventionandevaluation, andtoexploretheuniqueness ofclinicalsociology in specific settings such as schools,prisons,organizations, and treatmentfacilities. Thereisalsoaneedformoreresearchinclinicalsociologytodiscoverwhatworks vii viii SeriesPreface andwhat does notandtocontinuetobuildupon,expand,andtestexistingtheories. Wewelcometexts thatexploreindetailthemany facets oftheincreasinglypopular and useful field ofclinical sociology. JOHN G. BRUHN Middletown, Pennsylvania Foreword As we enter the twenty-first century, the social world is experiencing rapid and profoundchange.Sociology asadisciplinehasitsrootsinsocialchange. Sociolo gists continuetosearch foranswers totheproblems inlivingthat weconfront on the individual, group, and structural levels. Clinical Sociology: An Agendafor Actionprovidesasolidgroundinginclinicalsociologyandsociologicalpractice.It provides an organized overview of the extraordinary changes taking place in sociologytoday: the actual application of sociological knowledge, research,and theory to intentional intervention. There are two kinds of textbooks:those that tell the student what he or she needs to know to pass acourse and those that take the studentand the instructor another step into the world surrounding the classroom.This book is the second kind.It tells us what we need to know about athe theory and practice ofclinical sociology, andit helps ustothink and actwellbeyond whatwould normally take placeintheclassroomorcourse ofstudy.Clinical sociology isrevolutionizingthe discipline ofsociology. This text takes that revolution one step further. As Bruhn and Rebach show usinthis ground-breaking book, sociology and itspractitionershavetheopportunitytomakesubstantial andsuccessful contribu tionstoconsciousandintentional improvementofsocial life.Whetherthesocio logicalpractitionerorclinician isworking withindividuals orfamilies todevelop more effective ways of dealing with each other and the world around them, or designing and executing interventions that are intended to improve the produc tivityandperformanceofpublicorprivateorganizations,orhelping todesignand implement policy thatcanaffectanentire nation, thistexthas something tooffer. Clinical Sociology: An Agenda for Action applies sociological theory. It doesnotengage in "abstractempiricism" or "grandtheory." Arange oftheoreti cal approaches are discussed, by adopting a problem-solving approach to the clarification andresolution ofproblems. This istheoryinaction,nottheoryinthe classroom. Bruhn and Rebach take us into territory where mainstream sociologists are frequently uncomfortable.Clinical sociology isdistinguished by its emphasis on intervention to improve a social situation. But what is improvement? By whose ix x Foreword definition? By whatvalue system? The authors helpthe readerclarify the role of valuesinclinical sociology, pointingusinthedirectionof"doingtherightthing." Finally, while sociology has its roots in the enormous changes that have identified the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Bruhn and Rebach's clinical sociology isfocusedonthetwenty-first century.Thedemographicshiftsthathave occurred in the twentieth century are setting the stage for the twenty-first. The demands forthe practice ofclinical sociology willlikewise tobegrounded inthe present and past; but they must adjust to thefuture.This text sets the agenda for clinical sociology through this century and well into the next. W. DAVID WAITS Former president, Sociological Practice Association Editor, Clinical Sociology Review Preface Our previous contribution to the field ofclinical sociology was an edited book, HandbookofClinical Sociology (1991),inwhich several colleaguespresentedan overviewofthefield.Whileourexperience,andthatofourcolleagues,wasthatthe collected essays were useful in teaching, we felt that there was a need for a textbookthat presentedthefield,itsmethods, examples ofhow clinicalsociology is practiced, and its opportunities for the future: hence the present volume. Our intentionwas to make the book as practical aspossiblefor both under graduate andgraduatestudents inclinicalsociologyand'related fields.Bothofus havepracticedsociologyindifferentwaysandatdifferent levels. Wehavewritten thebookfromourrespectiveclinical experiences,whichtendtocomplementeach other; yet we do not assume that we are experts.In anevolvingfieldlike clinical sociology, the methods of practice are always being tested and refined, and the effectsofplannedinterventionaredocumentedandassessed. Therefore,wehave written aswe practice. Other practitionersputsociology into practiceindifferent ways. Differences can provide a source of rich debate inside and outside the classroomand contributetoshapingthe theory andpracticeofclinicalsociology. Wefeelthat thefieldofclinicalsociologyisexciting becauseitoffers sucha broad range of ways in which a sociologist can practice, and the need for practitionerswith broadperspectivescontinuestoexpand. Wehavetriedtoreflect thisbreadth andexcitementinexamplesthroughoutthetext.Wehopethatwehave been able to interest students looking for a way to practice a variety ofskills to considerclinicalsociologyinmaking apositive differencewithrespect tosocietal problems. We also hope that we have provided ideas that will challenge our colleagues who practice sociologyto explorenew ways to use their sociological skills in solving problems. Acknowledgment Weare grateful for the servicesofPaula Levine in editing and indexingthe book and to Jan Russ for her assistance in typing. xi
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