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Conflict Theories in Social Work Practice with Specific Populations
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Why does conflict exist? What if conflict and instability were life’s normal state of affairs, occasionally interrupted by periods of peace and stability? What if peace is contrary to the nature of man? According to conflict theory, society is in a state of perpetual conflict and competition for limited resources. In fact, this perspective might explain the existence of war, poverty, political strife, divorce, discrimination, and a host of other conflict-related social phenomena. If conflict theorists are right, are social workers fighting a war that cannot be won? The social worker’s mission is not to foster a utopia where all conflict ceases to exist. Rather, social workers help clients overcome the conflicts they face and reduce or eliminate the harm they experience, in order to improve their lives. How can the understanding of conflict’s origins and why it exists prepare social workers to help their clients effectively manage the conflict in their lives?
For this Discussion, review this week’s resources. Select either the Roy case study or the Matt and Keith case study. Then, select a conflict theory that best applies to the specific case you selected. Finally, consider what social work skills you might use to apply that theory and think about why it is appropriate for that case.
· Post a description of the conflict theory that best applies to the case study you selected.
· Be sure to reference the client from the specific case study you selected in your post.
· Then explain what social work skills you might use to apply that theory and explain why it is appropriate for the case you selected.
Working With Individuals: The Case of Roy
Roy is a 34-year-old, divorced, Caucasian male. He has been divorced for 1 year and has three children, Jordon (7), Jared (6), and Jane (3). Roy met his ex-wife, Melissa, when she was 17 and he was 25, and soon afterward she became pregnant with their first child. As part of the divorce agreement, they were given joint custody, and Melissa was granted physical custody.
Roy had been working at a hog confinement farm for the prior 2 months. Previously, he had been a highway patrolman for 10 years. Roy was terminated from the force, and charges were filed against him, after he drove his patrol car into Melissa’s home. He was ordered to pay for the damages to the house and the patrol car and enroll in a batterer’s intervention program (BIP). Melissa was granted a permanent order of protection against him, and the court ordered that Roy’s visits with his children be supervised.
I met Roy during our intake and assessment meeting prior to beginning the BIP. As one of the co-facilitators, I met individually with many of the group members prior to our first group meeting to learn more about why they were referred to the BIP and to orient them to the group’s goals and objectives. Roy arrived at the intake and assessment session 30 minutes late, and he did not explain his tardiness. During the assessment, Roy spent much of the time talking about what he perceived as the reasons for his divorce. He categorically denied any history of domestic abuse, and he stated, “Me and Melissa would get into verbal arguments, but I never hit her.” He said they would fight about a number of ongoing things, such as money, “her partying,” and the children. When they were married, Melissa was a stay-at-home mother, and Roy felt she was irresponsible with “his money.” Roy also disagreed with Melissa’s desire for Jared, who was exhibiting behavioral problems, to be evaluated and medicated.
Roy said he went drinking and got drunk the night that he drove his patrol car into the house because he was upset that Melissa had refused him visitation of the children. Roy blamed his ex-wife for the loss of his job and felt his past employer had treated him unfairly. He told me that during his 10 years of employment, he had an exemplary work record, which should have been taken into consideration before he was fired. He felt like a suspension would have been more appropriate and fair. He expressed anger over having to attend this group and once again denied being abusive to his ex-wife.
Roy began attending the BIP a week after our intake meeting. The BIP is a program based on the Duluth Model, a 24-week educational program that focuses on abuse as a form of power and control and its origins in societal conditions. In keeping with the Duluth Model, the group is co-led by a male and female social worker to model appropriate gender interactions. The group provides education about power and control and feminist theory to understand why abuse occurs. The goal is to help the abusers recognize their behaviors and learn how their actions are negatively affecting those in their lives. In the group, Roy would complete the assignments and respond when spoken to, but he did not voluntarily contribute any information, and his homework assignments seemed to lack insight and were minimal.
At week 10, Roy was terminated from the program after we learned that he had violated the protective order and was arrested for driving under the influence. He had driven intoxicated to Melissa’s home and refused to leave the front door. Roy was sentenced to 3 months in jail and 1 year’s probation.
