Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Feminist Theory And Social Policy Or Why Is Welfare So Hard To Reform?, Dorothy C. Miller

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

More than 10 years ago Henry Aaron wrote a classic paper entitled "Why Is Welfare So Hard to Reform?" (1973). This paper answers that question from the perspective of the new discipline of Women's Studies. The author suggests that the use of feminist theories; notably those of Hartsock and Chodorow; can further one's recognition and understanding of male bias in social policy development. Tracing the history of U.S. welfare policies for women and children the analysis provides explanations for the differential treatment of women in the welfare system and the failure of work strategies to increase poor women's economic independence. …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 12, No. 4 (December 1985)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Feminist Theory and Social Policy or Why is Welfare So Hard to Reform? - DOROTHY C. MILLER - pp. 664
• Addressing Socio-Legal-Problems: A Unifying Perspective for Social Workers - RAYMOND ALBERT - pp. 691
• Informal Helping Networks And Social Service Changes: A Community Perspective - CAHRLES HOCH, GEORGE HEMMENS, ROJEAN MADSEN, WIM WIEWEL - pp. 712
• Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Unemployed Black Adults - DIANE R. BROWN, LAURENCE E. GARY - pp. 736
• Issues in Assessing Community Resources for the Leisure-Time Needs of the Elderly - JORDAN I. KOSBERG, JUANITA L. GARCIA - pp. 777
• Demographic …

Addressing Socio-Legal Problems: A Unifying Perspective For Social Workers, Raymond Albert

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Problems where social work and the law overlap have consistently challenged social work professionals, and the challenges promise to continue. The overlap exposes important interdisciplinary issues, which are best addressed when certain conditions are met. The article describes these conditions within the context of a perspective that underlines the interaction between the two fields and structures the professional's approach to these interdisciplinary problems.

Informal Helping Networks And Social Service Changes: A Community Perspective, Charles Hoch, George Hemmens, Rojean Madsen, Wim Wiewel

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Interviews with 112 household respondents and 58 social service agency directors in three ethnically and racially distinct Chicago neighborhoods provided a comprehensive assessment of -- household helping relationships in a community context. Reliance on informal helping greatly exceeded use of formal agencies at the household level. Households were twice as likely to give help as receive it in a complex variety of ways, while agencies struggled to add new functional programs in a time of retrenchment. What households gave and got did not overlap with agency programs in any coherent way. Further, household respondents and agency directors disagreed in their …

Predictors Of Depressive Symptoms And Unemployed Black Adults, Diane R. Brown, Lawrence E. Gary

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Using data from a probability based survey of unemployed Black adults residing in an urban area, this study explores factors related to the presence of depressive symptoms. Findings indicate that depressive symptoms are less among unemployed persons with higher levels of income, education, religiosity, age and satisfactory social support. Age, however, is the single best predictor of depressive symptoms among unemployed Blacks. There were no significant differences by gender.

The Effect Of Changes In The Federal Disability Programs On State And Local General Assistance Programs, Courtney Scherer Petersen, Eric R. Kingson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Since early 1981, there has been a large-scale removal of persons from the SSI and Social Security disability programs as a result of the Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980. This article reports on the findings of a national survey designed to determine whether the removal of persons from the federal disability programs had an impact on state and local General Assistance programs and the extent to which older recipients of General Assistance are in need of long-term income assistance for health and other reasons.

Some states and jurisdictions have noticed an increase in applications as a result of federal …

Issues In Assessing Community Resources For The Leisure-Time Needs Of The Elderly, Jordan I. Kosberg, Juanita L. Garcia

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The growth of leisure-time, following retirement, is potentially problematic for the elderly and can result in such adversities as depression, problem drinking, loneliness, and boredom. Leisure-time resources include recreation, education, volunteerism, training, voluntary associations, familialism, and solitary activities. The use of resources for leisure-time needs of the elderly are influenced by idiosyncratic differences; cultural background, financial resources, geographic variations; and the characteristics of programs and services. There is a need to better prepare individuals for the use of leisure-time. Each community must ensure that leisure-time resources exist and do not exclude any elderly from possible involvement, for either structural, programmatic, …

Demographic Understanding Of Volunteerism, David F. Gillespie, Anthony E. O. King I

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A large sample of volunteers from a midwestern city chapter of the American Red Cross were studied to identify demographic correlates of the reasons given for volunteering. The findings suggest that the reasons people give for doing volunteer work are conditioned by their age, sex, and marital status. Implications for volunteer programs and future research are discussed.

The Social Support Networks Of Indochinese Refugees, Peter J. Pecora, Mark W. Fraser

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Refugee sponsors and social service staff of agencies serving Indochinese refugees in Utah were surveyed to determine the relationship between social support and economic self-sufficiency among refugees. Agency staff and refugee sponsors rated contacts by family, work, school, and sponsors who are family members as most useful, with differences emerging between the two groups regarding other sources of social support. Respondents who had been refugees rated some forms of social support higher than nonrefugee respondents. Mutual Assistance Associations were seen as underutilized resources for helping Indochinese refugees build and maintain networks of social support.

Social Development In Nigeria: A Case Analysis, Gloria Mead Jinadu

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Nigeria is plagued by a social poverty that continues to escalate dramatically, in spite of the rapid economic growth associated with the "petrol naira." Efforts to check this deterioration and ensure development are hindered by the lack of culturally rooted structural and conceptual supports in the social development sector. These support components have been, and still are absent and until they are established, economic growth and ideological choices will be irrelevant to any rational effort to halt the escalation of social poverty and enhance the quality of life enjoyed by Nigerians.

Defining The Concept Of Crime: A Humanistic Perspective, Ronald C. Kramer

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper argues that the traditional definition of crime is too narrow and unnecessarily constrictive of criminological work. Definitions more in accord with the objectives of a humanistic criminology must be developed. The traditional debate over the definition of crime has not been grounded within the context of the more fundamental images of crime that actually guide criminological work. By clarifying these underlying images (paradigms) and displaying the value questions and domain assumptions contained within them, we are in position to develop first order and second order definitions of crime which are more suitable to the task of humanistic criminology.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 12, No. 3 (September 1985)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Humanistic Perspectives In Criminology - RONALD C. KRAMER, STUART L. HILLS
• Humanistic Criminology: Is It Possible? - CLAYTON A HARTJEN
• Defining the Concept of Crime: A Humanistic Perspective - RONALD C. KRAMER
• Humanistic Criminology: Roots From Peter Kropotkin - LARRY L. TIFFT, LOIS E. STEVENSON
• Organizational Deviance: A Humanist View - DAVID R. SIMON
• Social Justice vs Criminal Justice: An Agenda For Critical
• Criminology - T.R. YOUNG
• Criminology As A Force for Human Tolerance - HAROLD E. PEPINSKY
• Humanistic Criminology: Future Prospects - ERDWIN H. PFUHL, JR.

Humanistic Criminology: Future Prospects, Erdwin H. Pfuhl

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The present paper focuses on several prominent organizational and ideological aspects of academic criminology and the criminal justice system in an effort to assess the prospects of developing a criminology that is informed by humanistic concerns. The conclusion is that, for the immediate future, the prospects are minimal.

Humanistic Criminology: Roots From Peter Kropotkin, Larry L. Tifft, Lois E. Stevenson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Kropotkin's extensive writings on criminological issues have been almost totally neglected. Through critical historical and macro-structural analyses Kropotkin assessed institutional arrangements disclosing how they were or were not meeting human needs. Our exploration focuses on Kropotkin's theoretical contributions, his feelings-based criminology and his extremely insightful dualistic conceptualization of "human nature". His contributions to penology, and his assessment of social arrangements which would meet the complex and ever-changing needs of humankind are briefly examined. Kropotkin's analytic framework provides an insightful and provocative base from which to synthesize criminological thought and research and from which to take action to alter social arrangements …

Humanistic Perspectives In Criminology, Ronald C. Kramer, Stuart L. Hills

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In the past two decades, the field of criminology has changed dramatically. Mainstream criminology, which focused primarily on the etiology of behavior taken for granted as criminal, has been successively challenged by a number of different sociological theories and perspectives. These challenges have come from the labeling or interactionist perspective, various pluralistic conflict theories, and a number of radical, critical, or Marxist approaches. Although there are many differences among these theoretical developments, they share a common set of humanistic concerns. All of these perspectives attempt to combine a theoretical explanation of crime and social control with a practical concern for …

Humanistic Criminology: Is It Possible?, Clayton A. Hartjen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A humanistic criminology is one that would be oriented to human betterment and fulfillment, as opposed to conventional criminology oriented to the control of crime and suppression of offenders. Some of the obstacles that stand in the way of developing a humanistic criminology, as well as some of the reasons why these obstacles do not necessarily preclude its being established, are addressed. Some reasons why humanistic criminology is desirable are suggested. Given that humanistic criminology is viable a critique of contemporary schools of criminology/criminal justice is offered and a number of suggestions are made regarding what an academic department of …

Organizational Deviance: A Humanist View, David R. Simon

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The sociological paradigm proposed by C. Wright Mills is advocated as a basis (model) for the study of elite deviance of an organizational nature. The relationship between social structure and social character within organizational environments is examined utilizing central concepts regarding both social character (i.e., alienation, other-directedness, and inauthenticity) and bureaucratic structural characteristics (e.g., routinization and fragmentation of tasks, dehumanization and groupthink, the construction of guilt neutralizing ideologies, and front activities). The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of this approach for a humanist study of crime.

Social Justice Vs Criminal Justice: An Agenda For Critical Criminology, T. R. Young

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper presents an overview of the features of crime and the criminal justice system in the United States. It notes the great disparities in use of five systems of justice. It discusses the amount and variety of corporate crime, political crime, street crime, white collar crime as well as organized crime. It emphasizes the inadequacy of current theories of crime in so far as corporate, white collar and political crime are concerned. The author argues that social justice is a far better way to prevent crime than are criminal justice systems and points to other societies with low crime …

Criminology As A Force For Human Tolerance, Harold E. Pepinsky

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Criminology traditionally has been the study of twin forms of intolerance--crime and punishment. Punishment can only increase crime. Criminology ought to become a study of how to alleviate crime and punishment by engineering tolerance of greater varieties of human behavior, where "social control" takes on positive connations. A framework is outlined for making criminology a force for human tolerance.

Applying The "Unmotivated" Label To Clients In Social Service Agencies, Ben-Zion Cohen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study, based on the responses of a sample of 245 public-sector social workers, explores the factors associated with labelling clients "unmotivated." The variables examined relate to clients, workers, agencies, and the interactions among these elements. Multiple regression analysis reveals that the best predictor variables are client-related. The client most likely to be rated by the social worker as lacking in motivation is of lower socioeconomic status and is perceived as believing that he or she does not require much professional intervention. The research supports the argument that clients who workers believe are unreceptive to their professional styles are likely …

Ideology And Opportunity In Social Work During The New Deal Years, Norma Kolko Phillips

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

As the country moved from a dominant ideology of voluntarism towards the welfare state during the New Deal years, conflicts and compromises occurred within the social work profession that required a definition of the role the profession would assume with relation to the public sector of social welfare. The nature of the relationship that evolved between social work and government, and the accommodations made by each during the New Deal years, and particularly around the passage of the Social Security Act of 1935, are examined.

The Immobility Of Low-Paid Workers, Marshall I. Pomer

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper extends the labor segmentation perspective on unequal job access. Analyzed here are Census data on the occupational mobility of low-paid workers during the period 1965 to 1970. Upward mobility, defined as movement from a low-paid to a mainstream stratum, is far more common for white men than for women and blacks-even after controlling for differences in age, education, and type of low-paid job. A worker's particular low-paid occupation also strongly affects chances of entering the mainstream stratum. The dominant paradigm for quantitative research on social stratification is questioned, and social policies are suggested.

Professional Development Of The Bsw Student, Joan M. Merdinger

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In order to test the hypothesis that undergraduate social work students, over the course of two years, will move in the desired direction on scales measuring humanistic values and on scales measuring orientations to profession, client, agency or community, students in one BSW program were studied longitudinally. Forty-one students were tested in 1978 and in 1980. Students obtained significantly higher scores on a scale of humanistic values over the course of two years. Students scored higher on profession and client orientations and lower on agency orientation over the same period. Students manifested a strong career interest in social work education …

Long-Term Trends In Public Concerns In Two Societies, Rachel Kats

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Trends in public concerns from the early 1960's to the mid-1970's are compared for Israel and the United States, relating changes in concerns to historical and social change which occurred during the decade in both societies. The analysis is based on open-ended questions regarding views of either personal or nation's future -- hopes and fears for that future -- and a Self-Anchoring Rating Scale, by which the respondent evaluated personal and nation's situation in various time perspectives. The Israeli's future perspective became centered around peace and war, removing other issues to a secondary plane of concern. In contrast, the American …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 12, No. 2 (June 1985)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Long-Term Trends in Public Concerns in Two Societies - RACHEL KATS
• Ideology and Opportunity in Social Work During the New Deal Years - NORMA KOLKO PHILLIPS
• Applying the "Unmotivated" Label to Clients in Social Service Agencies - BEN-ZION COHEN
• The Immobility of Low-Paid Workers - MARSHALL I. POMER
• Public Preferences Concerning Future Directions in Social Security - DAVID L. KLEMMACK, LUCINDA L. ROFF
• Tracing the Conception and Meaning of The Age Discrimination in Employment Act: Where Are We With Mandatory Retirement? - MONICA FERRELLI
• Students' Views on the Future of Social Work - DONALD E. MAYPOLE, JAMES …

Public Preferences Concerning Future Directions In Social Security, David L. Klemmack, Lucinda L. Roff

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Using data collected from a probability sample of 1030 adult Alabamians, this study segmented respondents among those favoring limited expansion, maintenance, and limited contraction of the social security retirement program. Those favoring some expansion in the system tended to be less well educated and affluent, and more likely to be retired, nonwhite, and to identify themselves as Democrats than did those favoring maintenance or some limited contraction of the system. The findings suggest the potential for cleavages among the population, based primarily on socioeconomic status, in ongoing discussions about the system's future.

Tracing The Conception And Meaning Of The Age Discrimination In Employment Act: Where Are We With Mandatory Retirement?, Monica Ferrelli

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper addresses the political development of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The historical origin, amendments, and arguments for or against the act are also presented. The implications of social work practice with our vastly increasing retired and aging population is finally discussed.

Verbal Strategies That Succeed When Job Performance Fails Or How To Eschew Social Work Through Convincing Conversation (A Pocket Guide For The Weary), Michelle Waters, Paula Dressel

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The seemingly endless parade of literature on burnout among social service workers is the source of inspiration for this pocket guide. With the creative tailoring of some of the following vignettes to local situations, it will be almost impossible for you, the service worker, to achieve burn-out. Daily interactions with your clients and your co-workers can be accomplished with the greatest of ease, and services delivered with no muss or fuss. If the situation demands it, perhaps you can avoid clients altogether. With current retrenchment in social services, you have been asked repeatedly to do more for your clients and …

Evolution Of Adult Foster Care, John M. Mccoin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Adult Foster Care evolved under the influence of the Catholic Church and dates to about 600 A.D. Gradually, it has been brought under the influence of the State. In 1979-80, the author surveyed 49 states and determined that 34 states had formal regulation, currently, Adult Foster Care is cost effective and reasonably humane. The future appears to have considerable promise and the need for AFC is proliferating.

The purpose of this article is to trace the development of Adult Foster Care from its inception to the present, the numerous relevant variables which have impacted upon its evolution, discuss relevant theoretical …

Understanding A Presented Problem From A Phenomenological Perspective, Anant Jain

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Social work and other helping professions utilize knowledge generated by social sciences to understand human behavior and human problems. Social sciences follow positivistic and humanistic philosophies. The former claims that methodologies applicable to natural sciences should be applicable to social sciences. The latter believes that positivistic methods are reductionist and social sciences should develop their own methodology because they deal with a unique subject matter--human beings. Phenomenology, a branch of humanistic thinking, has been offered as a perspective to understand the presented problem by the client. Several cases are utilized to highlight the role of a professional in understanding the …