Key Social Work Terms Flashcards
(249 cards)
aberrant
Markedly different from an accepted norm; deviant, atypical, or nonconforming
abstinence
practicing of not doing something; often used to describe an activity which may be enjoyable such as drinking alcohol or engaging in sexual activity
acculturation
process of individuals or groups acquiring or adopting the cultural traits, practices, and values of another culture while maintaining their own cultural identity; does not restrict the need to change those in minority
act of commission
engaging in an act of malfeasance when knowing the action or omission is illegal
act of omission
failure to perform a legal duty; social work task that is not done despite the need to do so according to established standards of care
active listening
a technique that involves listening closely and asking questions as needed to fully understand latent and manifest communication, as well as feeling associated with the content of the message; critical to client-centered therapy
acuity
sharpness or ability; particularly of the mind, vision, or hearing
acute
short or episodic; often characterized by high intensity and unanticipated (sudden onset), not chronic
ad hoc
created or done for a particular needed purpose; occurs temporarily to fulfill a given need
advance directive
written statement of wishes regarding medical treatment to ensure those wishes are honored in the event that they cannot be communicated to doctors; ex. living wills, power of attorney, health care proxy, do not resuscitate orders
age of consent
legal age at which a minor can legally engage in a behavior without parental consent; varies by jurisdiction and type of activity
minors are granted the right to confidentiality if they are over the age of consent as they are regarded in the same manner as adults
ageism
stereotyping based on age; a form of discrimination
amelioration
aimed at improving or making better; lessening of symptoms or severity of disease, illness, or disorderly eradicating a social problem
antecedents
things or events that existed before or logically precede others; often identified as causes of maladaptive behaviors
assent
agreement or approval by someone not able to give legal consent due to age or cognitive ability
assimilation
process of individuals adopting the dominant cultural norms, practices, and values, often leading to the loss of suppression of their own cultural identity
atrophy
decreasing in size and function; shrinkage of muscle or nerve tissue; can be caused by aging, inactivity, malnutrition, and other injuries, illnesses, and conditions
aversion therapy
a behavior therapy designed to make clients give up undesirable habits by causing them to associate these habits with unpleasant effects
bartering
acceptance of services, goods, or other non-monetary payments from the client in return for services
creates the potential for conflicts of interest, exploitation, and inappropriate boundaries in social workers’ relationships with clients; only permissible in very limited cultural contexts
baseline
functioning before the intervention occurs; intervention is often the service or treatment delivered by a social worker
beneficence
to act for the benefit of others; the moral obligation of helping professionals to do no harm and act in the best interest of others
benign
not damaging or threatening to life, often used to describe growths that are not cancerous
boundary violation
harmful or potentially harmful deviation from established professional standards dictated by professional relationships; often involves exploitation
capacity building
intervention aimed at enhancing the abilities or resources of an individual, group, organization, or community