STUDY GUIDE 1

ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

History and Key Figures

ECOLOGY

• Ernst Haekel for used the term “ecology” to refer to an organism and it’s interdependent relationship with its natural environment

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The ecological perspective uses ecological concepts as lens to help us better view how interconnected humans are with their environment

By adapting the systems model in biology, social workers were able to find a close conceptual fit with the ‘person-in-environment’ model that dominated social work until the mid 70’s (Hepworth, 2019)

KEY IDEAS

• The individual is always creating, restructuring, and adapting to the environment
• The environment also being affected by the individual

kEY IDEAS

• All existing elements within an ecosystem play an important role.
• It’s a way to examine the strengths and weakness within an environment (Hepworth, 2019)

Applied in Social Work

• This model focuses on the examining the “goodness of fit” between and individual or group and the places in which they live.
• An effective model when addressing problems faced by vulnerable populations because it can address how a group or person is impacted by their cultural environment.

• An individuals relationship with their environment can be both positive and negative, provide benefits and present obstacles to self determination.
• In case management, the individual or group is view with ability to engage in strategies to manage their relationship with their environment.
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Limitations to the Theory

*Does not yield a lot of empirical testing
*Doesn’t effectively recognize the power in oppressive systems. (Hardina, 2002)

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ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE