Ann Weick

Knowing What's Best: A New Look at Self-Determination

Rationalistic and legalistic influences have diminished the power of self-determination as a guiding principle of social work practice. The authors discuss an approach that places the clients own knowledge of self at the center of social work practice.

The Philosophical Context of a Health Model of Social Work

The development of the social work profession has been deeply influenced by a scientific world view whose tenets conflict with the philosophical tenets of the profession. The author discusses the nature of this conflict and proposes a health model as an alternative to the biomedical model.

A Growth-Task Model of Human Development

Human growth during adulthood is cyclical and more related to the reworking of growth tasks than the assumption of new roles. A model of human development based on this theory offers an expanded, and potentially more powerful, instrument for helping adults cope with change.

Theories of Adult Development: Creating a Context for Practice

The assumptions of life-cycle theorists can serve as a basis for reappraising the theoretical underpinnings of practice and establishing a larger context for intervention with adults. A theory of adult development and a view of social work intervention from a developmental framework are discussed.

Knowledge as experience: Exploring new dimensions of social work inquiry

The influence of the empiricist paradigm has narrowed the range of knowledge considered as a legitimate base for practice. In order to reclaim a broader view, this paper proposes several strategies for reconceptualizing the boundaries of human experience so as to incorporate tacit, intuitive ways of knowing. Principles deriving from this conception are offered as guides for a different kind of inquiry for social work.