Human behavior theory & social work practice /

Another in a growing collection of books by social workers designed to summarize and clarify a variety of conceptual paradigms that purport to explain human behavior in its social context. The book is useful and timely and compares favorably with similar works. It covers traditional perspectives, including Freudian, classical ego psychology, cognitive and learning theories, Rogerian humanism, and group theory. Although it cites Yalom's work on groups, it fails to use his more creative and valuable treatment of existential perspectives in therapy. Other humanist approaches are not included, but the book is particularly useful for its coverage of symbolic interactionism and the ecological perspective; treatment of these is commonly obscure and murky in other works. The organizing theme is the ^D["person in the environment,^D]" a useful and pragmatic model for social work practice. However, Greene and Ephross, not unlike others before them, fail to contend honestly with issues of individual value and dignity in a society that is increasingly controlling and oppressive. Outstanding bibliography. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students.