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KNOWLEDGE AND PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION IN SOCIAL WORK
UNIT 3
THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND VALUES FOUNDATION IN SOCIAL WORK
OUTLINE
I. Philosophy of Social Work
II. Values of Social Work
III. Concepts Implied in Social Work Values
IV. Social Work View on Man
V. Dominant Filipino Values
VI. Principles of Social Work
VII. Professional Ethics
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PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL WORK
The philosophical base of social work is an expression of its concern with the ultimate nature of the
world and man. Man is the object of social work and it is man in relationship with his environment, how
he interacts with it.
Social Work is based on the belief that man has worth and dignity. This belief is generally associated
with democratic theory, which views man as having worth because he is capable of reason, of rational
analysis, and choice.
“Humanism implies an assumption about man. It implies that every
human being by the mere fact of his existence has dignity, that this dignity
begins at birth, that the possession of this dignity, even if dimly realized by
the possessor, is, or, ought to be, the continuum of his life, and that to
strip him of this dignity, is to degrade him in so outrageous a way that we
call the degradation inhumane.” – Howard Mumford Jones
The social work philosophy is contended to be derived from religion, and for many, it is rooted in Judeo-
Christian teachings. Man was said to be created in the image of God (and having soul), imbued with
inherent worth and dignity.
Social workers also believe in the value of human community and the importance of this life and its
continuity with the next. This concept is reinforced by Filipino values. The Filipino looks at himself as a
self (kalooban) conscious of his dignity and freedom as an individual.
The Filipino common man (tao) does not espouse flight from this world and its concerns and is mainly
concerned with practical solutions to the problems of daily life.
Many Filipinos still emphasize the importance of the tribe, the family, the group (sakop) over the
individual, a value which the social worker still frequently encounters in a community work.
As mentioned above, we can social work belief briefly from the beliefs that…
1. Man must be accorded due respect because of his inherent worth and dignity;
2. Man is unique creature depending on other men for the fulfillment of his uniqueness; and
3. Man has the capacity for change, growth and betterment/development.
VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK
(based on the Curriculum Study of the Council on Social Work Education)
1. Each person has the right to self-fulfillment, deriving his inherent capacity and thrust toward that goal.
2. Each person has the obligation, as a member of society, to seek ways of self-fulfillment that contribute
to the common good.
3. Society has the obligation to facilitate the self-fulfillment of the individual and the right to enrichment
through the contribution of its individual members.
4. Each person requires for the harmonious development of his powers socially provided and socially
safeguarded opportunities for satisfying his basic needs in the physical, psychological, economic,
cultural, aesthetic, and spiritual realms.
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5. As society becomes more complex and interdependent, increasingly specialized social organization is
required to facilitate the individual’s effort to self-realization.
6. To permit both self-realization and contribution to society by the individual, social organization must
make available socially-provided devices for needs-satisfaction as wide in range, variety, and quality as
the general welfare allows.
CONCEPTS IMPLIED IN THE SOCIAL WORK VALUES
1. The concept on human potentials and capacities. The man can fulfill himself premised on the belief that
he is inherently endowed with potentials and capacities.
2. The concept of social responsibility. That the individual has the obligation to contribute to the common
good and society, and on its part, has the responsibility to facilitate the development of its members,
gives a dual meaning to this concept.
3. The concept of equal opportunities. This concept is premised on the ideal of social justice, two
elements of which are fairness and equality. In addition, the concept of “access” is critical, for even if
opportunities do not discriminate against any individual or group, lack of access, for one reason or
another, detracts from the meaning of this concept.
4. The concept of social provision. This concept is based on the premise that there will always be people
everywhere, at all times, with unmet needs or problems which are beyond their own capacity to solve.
Thus, social provision refers to the desirability of providing social resources for the satisfaction of human
needs for the goal of human welfare.
As reported by William Gordon on the work of the National Association of Social Workers’ Commission on Social
Work Practice, there has been the agreement that “the ultimate value of social work rests upon a conviction
that it is good and desirable for man to fulfill his potential, to realize himself and to balance this with equal
efforts to help others do the same.”
DIFFERENT VIEWS ON MAN
1. Natural vs. Transcendental View.
In the naturalistic view, man is part of nature. He can be studied and understood scientifically as
we do the rest of nature, so that if we know all that science could teach us we could fully
account for man and his behavior.
In the transcendental view, it holds that science can never fully explain man, partly due to
ignorance, and partly because man has a potential to transcend the natural order of things, to
choose, to create, and to be rational.
2. Man as Social, Asocial, or Anti-social.
Being a social, men aspire to live on good terms with others, to be part of and to contribute to
group life, making personal goals subservient to group goals.
As asocial beings, they are discreet individuals who come together to form groups for their
mutual protection and safety.
As anti-social beings, men are viewed as inherently self-seeking, egotistical, out to extend
personal gain at the expense of others.
3. Democracy’s View of Man
Man is viewed as capable of reason, of rational analysis and choice. It believes that social,
biological, cultural and psychological influences are powerful in determining behavior, but that
man can overcome these influences and exercise choice.
Social work adheres to the democratic view of man while the tow other views about man are also recognized. It
is the third view that forms the main basis for the values of social work.
DOMINANT FILIPINO VALUES
1. Social Acceptance – defined as being undertaken by one’s fellows for what one is, or believes he is, and
being treated in accordance with his status, this value is facilitated by the following intermediate values:
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a. Smooth Interpersonal Relations (SIR) – which is a facility at getting along with others in such a
way to avoid outward signs of conflict.
i. Pakikisama
ii. Euphemism
iii. Use of “Go-Between” (tulay)
b. Amor Propio – term used to refer to the sensitivity to personal affront and functions to protect
individual against loss of social acceptance.
2. Emotional Closeness and Security in a Family – this value is believed to be facilitated in situations
whereas member of the family undertakes sacrifices in expense of self for the good of the family.
3. The Authority Value – the belief that families will remain close if someone exerts firm authority, and
that such person must be respected and obeyed. Closely related to the authority balue is the respect for
tradition and rituals no matter how impractical they have become. Panalangin and Bahala na (fatalism
are part of this adherence to the tradition and beliefs.
4. Personalism – attaches major importance to the personal factor which guarantees intimacy, warmth,
and security of kinship and friends in getting things done.
5. Utang na Loob – when a transfer of goods or services takes place between individuals, it compels the
recipient to show his gratitude properly by returning the favor “with interest” to be sure that he does
not remain in the other’s debt.
6. Patience, Suffering and Endurance – is a cultural belief that a person must suffer before he can gain
happiness.
SOCIAL WORK PRINCIPLES
Based on De Guzman’s Book Based on Mendoza’ Book
1. Acceptance 1. Acceptance
2. Individualization 2. Client Participation
3. Nonjudgmental Attitude 3. Client Self-Determination
4. Purposeful Expression of Feelings 4. Individualization
5. Controlled Emotional Involvement 5. Confidentiality
6. Self-Determination 6. Worker’s Self-Awareness
7. Confidentiality 7. Client-Worker Relationship
ACCEPTANCE
It is based on the belief that every human being is born with that every human is born with inherent
worth and dignity, that he is intrinsically good and naturally virtuous and therefore should be treated
such.
Clients are accepted for what they are irrespective of what they have done or failed to do. Nevertheless,
clients are held accountable for their actions and must behave responsibly toward others.
This principle requires social worker to extend unconditional love despite awareness of the person’s
failures and weaknesses. Love in this moral sense is more an act of will rather than an emotional
impulse. It sees the person as a human being, strong in certain qualities but with his own limitations.
It does not include anti-social or deviant attitudes of the client. The social worker separates the
individual from his deeds; he must be viewed independently of his acts. The object of acceptance is not
the good but the real which means dealing with the client as he is in reality.
INDIVIDUALIZATION
This principle involves the recognition and understanding of each client’s unique qualities and the
differential use of principles and methods in assisting each toward a better adjustment.
This principle means that the worker recognizes that while human beings have many things in common,
there are also important individual differences that must be accepted. No two persons are alike because
each personality is the product of genetics and the environment. Each individual has the right to be his
own person, separate and distinct from others, and to be treated and regarded as such.
Individuals may present the same problems to a worker, but the circumstances of the problem, the
client’s individual perceptions and responses, will be different. This implies that the social worker must
be skilled in differential diagnosis so that the kind of help he will render to each and every client meets
the particular needs of each specific case or situation, using as much as possible the client’s own
resources (his capacities and capabilities).
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NONJUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE
The principle of acceptance implies a non-judgmental stance on the part of the social worker which may
be expressed in his attitude of neutrality. The worker does not use derogatory labels to identify his
clients like prostitutes, thief, retarded, murderer, etc. He may not even assume a condemnatory attitude
towards the client’s attitudes and behavior, his values, standards and actions, even his lifestyle. He may
not assign guilt or innocence on the client.
The worker may not say outright that the client caused or created his problem; his skills and techniques
he uses should bring the client to the point of self-discovery, or self-awareness, of self-recognition of his
own failings or innocence.
PURPOSEFUL EXPRESSION OF FEELINGS and CONTROLLED EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT
These principles are like the two sides of a coin. The first refers to the client and the second, to the social
worker.
Emotional expression on the part of the client enables him to release, express his pent-up feelings. Only
then he can view more objectively his problem, his situation and his own place in the mix-up. The
client’s expression of feelings enables the worker to gain deeper insights in the client’s problem and
become more sensitive to his needs.
It is purposeful because the worker by interposing relevant questions or encouraging observations
provides the direction which will enable him to acquire better understanding and more knowledge of
the situation. The client should be able to share his private thoughts freely, especially the negative ones.
Verily, the need for man to express his feelings is a strong factor in the solution of the difficulty he is
encountering.
The controlled emotional involvement or the professional non-involvement refers to the social worker’s
way of reacting to the client’s purposeful expression of feelings. It implies professional detachment. It
means that although the worker must be sympathetic and understanding he must guard against
becoming emotionally involved with his client. Becoming emotionally involved is likely to color what
should be an objective viewpoint. The worker is therefore advised to remain neutral but sensitive,
understanding and responsive.
Sensitivity refers to the ability to perceive or respond to the client’s expressed feelings, attitudes or
behavior. The worker must understand the meaning of these feelings and behavior in relation to the
client and his problem and respond in appropriate ways to the client’s feelings.
CLIENT SELF-DETERMINATION
Self-determination is a derivative of the belief that man is endowed with a reason and a free will.
Client’s self-determination is the right and need of the client to make his own choices and decisions in
the process of receiving help. The worker has a corresponding duty to respect that right, recognize that
need and help activate the person’s potential for self direction.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Social workers believe that the clients have a right to keep their past behavior and present troubles
private. Confidentiality refers to the preservation of secret information concerning the client which is
disclosed in a professional relationship.
CLIENT PARTICIPATION
The client participation refers to the client part and active involvement in the entire problem-solving
process. From the time that the worker begins to gather information, the client is asked to provide
pertinent facts, to present his own perceptions of the situation and is involved in defining the nature of
the problem. If there are many problems, he is involved in prioritizing these problems. He participates in
planning, thinking of possible solutions for the problems, alternatives and finding his own resources
which can be utilized in problem-solving.
The worker builds upon and utilizes the client’s strengths. Right from the start, the social worker’s move
should be to make the client understand that his participation is expected and crucial in the problem-
solving process.
SELF-AWARENESS
This principle means that the social worker is always conscious that her role is to make use of her
professional relationship with her client in a way that will enhance primarily the client’s development
rather than her own.
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Being a human being herself, the social worker has complex personal motivations. She is influenced by
her own cultural beliefs and values. She also has certain biases, prejudices and negative attitudes toward
certain things. All these may enter in her relationships with the clientele system she works with. She
should therefore sufficiently understand and face herself, and be conscious of her own responses to her
clients. She must always examine her feelings, whether they are positive and negative, and whether her
responses and feelings are professionally motivated.
The inability to control personal responses, even if they are positive responses, can work to the
disadvantage of the client. On the other hand, negative feelings prevent a social worker from following
the primary social work principle of acceptance.
The conscious use of one’s self is also part of this principle. The social worker’s actions, gestures,
behavior and expression reflects her discipline and conscious use of self. It includes the capacity to set
limits when necessary.
There is also a need for the social worker to be conscious of how she respond or reacts to manipulation
by others. By being conscious of this, then she can learn skill of properly handling of certain acts that
undermine her professional role.
CLIENT-WORKER RELATIONSHIP
The relationship between worker and client is the means for carrying out the social worker’s function. A
professional relationship comes to be formed on basis of expectations from the parties who
compromise the relationship, such as between the worker and the client, and moves in the direction of
certain goals or objectives which have been identified by mutual agreement.
The purpose of worker-client relationship is to help the client in some area of his social functioning in
which at the present time he is experiencing some difficulty, and where, the worker, usually
representing a social agency, is in some position to offer help. Direction refers to where the relationship
between worker and client should move in order to achieve its purpose. Expectations have to be
clarified.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Ethics is the science that treats of morals and right conduct.
Professional ethics is the system of ethical principles and rules of conduct generally accepted by the members of
a professional group, based on the philosophy, values, and guiding principles and rules of conduct for guidance
of the professional group, and the unwritten principles and rules of conduct which usually have the same force
as the Code. Together, they serve as compass which helps guide the practitioner in her professional
relationships – with her client, with her colleagues and her profession, with her agency, and with the public.
CODE OF ETHICS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS
1. American Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (adopted in 1979)
2. Philippine Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics (revised in 1998/ adopted in 1964)
3. The Ethics of Social Work – Principles and Standards by International Federation of Social Workers
(adopted 1994)
PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS CODE OF ETHICS (PASWI)
We, the members of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. believing:
In the inherent dignity and worth of all persons, emanating from a Supreme Being who directs our
actions of love for one another;
That every human being has natural and social rights, capacities and responsibilities to develop his full
potentials as a human being;
In the human being’s capacity to change and recognize the value of unity in diversity, individual
differences and pluralism in society;
In free men and women living in a free society where poverty, in all its forms, is neither a fate nor a
punishment, but is condition that can and must be changed;
In the family as the basic unit of society and its vital role in the growth and development of the
individual, the family system, and community;
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That the government, the private sector and the public have a joint responsibility to promote social
justice and to ensure political, economic and social well-being of all people;
In the role of social workers as agents and advocates of change and in the promotion of professionalism,
responsibility and accountability; and,
That our professional practice is deeply rooted in our cultural values,
DO HEREBY DECLARE that we will abide by these standards of ethical conduct:
Relative to Self and the Profession:
To conduct myself in a manner consistent with the philosophy, principles, values, and beliefs of the
social work profession;
To act at all times with honesty, openness, and transparency in all my professional transactions;
To constantly work towards my own professional advancement so as to contribute to the promotion of
the social work practice;
To contribute time and professional expertise to activities that promote respect for the integrity and
competence of social workers;
To share research knowledge and practice wisdom to colleagues and other professionals;
To be vigilant and act to prevent the unauthorized and unqualified practice of social work;
To support the professional association duly organized and constitute for the professional welfare of all
social workers;
To respond and volunteer my professional services in times of emergency;
To uphold and protect the dignity and integrity of the profession; and
To promote cultural values that will enhance the practice of social work profession.
Relative to Clients:
To uphold the basic human rights of clients and serve them without discrimination;
To accept primary responsibility and accountability to clients, respecting their right to self-determination
and observe confidentiality in all my dealings with them;
To seek out the marginalized and ensure equal access to the resources, services and opportunities
required to meet basic needs; and,
To expand choice and opportunity for all persons, with special regard for disadvantaged or oppressed
groups or persons.
Relative to Colleagues:
To acknowledge and respect the professional expertise of other disciplines, extending all necessary
cooperation that will enhance effective services;
To bring any violation of professional ethics and standards to the attention of the appropriate bodies
inside and outside the profession, and ensure that relevant clients are properly involved; and
To advocate with legislative and policy bodies for the welfare of all colleagues
References:
1. Mendoza, Thelma Lee, SOCIAL WELFARE AND SOCIAL WORK, Rev. Ed., Megabooks Co., 2002
2. De Guzman, Leonora Serafica, INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK, New Day Publishers, 1992
3. http://www.paswi-national.org/?file=about-us/code-of-ethics
