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7.

Describe and contrast the key theoretical assumptions underlying


the structural functional and conflict theories of human behavior.
Functionalism is predicated on the idea that the survival of any social
system is predicated on four functional imperatives: adaption, goal
attainment, integration, and latent pattern maintenance. Conflict theory, as
the name suggests, is predicated on conflict. It refers to the competition
over limited resources and who is in power of them.

8. Differentiate between treatment-oriented and task-orientated


groups.
Treatment-oriented groups are often made up of members with a common
problem or issue such as drug/alcohol addiction. The discussions in these
groups are usually open to its members and they may be encouraged to
actively participate in the discussion. Roles in these groups usually grow from
their connection with the group. As the name suggests, task-oriented groups
are more focused on a particular action or task that needs to be performed.
The discussions in this type of group are more structured and focused on
the task at hand. The roles in these groups are often assigned.

9. Describe and evaluate key factors that account for group influences
on human behavior.
Groups have a great deal of influence on human behavior. Some of these
influences include norms, which dictate acceptable and non-acceptable
behavior; roles, which are the parts people play within a group;
communication patterns, which refer to the ways in which members of a
group communicate; power, which refers to ones influence over the group,
part of the group, or an individual member of the group; status, which refers
to the ranking system of a group; and cohesiveness, which refers to a groups
ability to stick together.

10. Critically evaluate the utility of different conceptualizations of


community.

Conceptualizations of community include place, which may refer to the


country, city, or even neighborhood in which one spends most of their time;
relationships, which may refer to roles such as mother, father, husband, or
wife; source of identification which may refer to circumstances such as
sexual orientation; and resource. Which is a conceptualization I do not quite
understand.

11.Describe
organizations.

different

approaches

to

understanding

formal

Webers approach to understanding organization focused primarily on


issues of formalization and structure of large and complex organizations
such as bureaucracies. The approach known as Taylorism contends that
there in one best way to accomplish a task. The elements of this approach
include planning, organization, staffing, directing, coordination, reporting,
and budgeting.

12. Apply the intersection of the concepts of ethnicity and social class
in assessing Raul Salazar's circumstances.
Raul is a member of a Puerto Rican family and is probably classified as
either lower-middle class or impoverished. Both of these labels work against
him. I dont believe his teachers have taken the time to understand his
culture and what it may infer about his social interactions. His social class
probably limits his access to services that may help him cope with the dayto-day issues of child trying to make it in a social environment that may hold
different norms and values than those of his family.

13. Identify the characteristics of aversive forms of racism.


The type of people who exhibit this type of subtle inequity and also the
ways in which these inequities are expressed can characterize aversive
racism. The perpetrator is consciously aware of the stigma that has become
attached to racism and may not want to appear as a racist in his or her own
eyes nor in the eyes of others. Instead of exhibiting openly racist behavior
she or he may support organizations, ideas, or practices that may foster
racial oppression. Discriminating in this way may provide a way to express
their prejudice while maintaining a clear conscience.

14. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between


sexism and homophobia.
Both women and members of the LGTBQ community live under oppressive
conditions through the functions of sexism and homophobia. Women typically
earn less than men who are performing the same job and gay people are not
afforded the same rights to marriage as heterosexuals are. By definition,
homophobia is a fear or hatred of homosexuals or sex with someone of the
same gender. Sexism doesnt necessarily imply hatred or fear of women, only
inequity.

15. Identify and describe the central tenets of queer theory.


I must admit I do not have a clear grasp of queer theory, but I think it
pertains to the implementation of terms such as queer and LGBTQ as a
means of eliminating gender as an identity.

16. Identify at least two tools for conducting spiritual assessment with
Native Americans.
Our textbook gives five examples of tools for conducting spiritual
assessments with Native clients; spiritual histories, spiritual life maps,
spiritual genograms, spiritual ecomaps, and spiritual ecograms. However,
since the authors do not elaborate on how or when to use these tools, or
even what they are, I dont feel comfortable basing my answer to this
question on the aforementioned tools. Instead I would suggest that the
three dimensions of spiritual competence are all necessary tools in
conducting spiritual assessment with Native Americans. Like the order of
operations in algebraic expressions, the third dimension of spiritual
competence, implementing intervention strategies with Native American
clients (Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 5 th ed.), cant be
performed without first considering the first two dimensions. In order to
effectively approach the intervention step, one must first become aware
ones own worldviews. Additionally, one must be able to understand the
worldviews of Native American clients.

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