Applied Social Pathology in Social Work (2011)

Andrej Mátel, Milan Schavel and colleagues.

The aim of the publication “Applied Social Pathology in Social Work” is to present selected social-pathological phenomena not only with regard to their basic characteristics and theories of their origins, but primarily from the perspective of social work as a helping profession that seeks to eliminate them, or at least mitigate their negative consequences.

FOREWORD

The publication Applied Social Pathology in Social Work, which you have in your hands, is one of many, such as Introduction to the Study and History of Social Work, Fundamentals of Social Work, Social Prevention, Social Counseling and Communication, Fundamentals of Supervision and Supervision in Practical Training in Social Work, Social and Legal Protection of Children and Social Curatela, Ethics in Social Work, Applied Ethics in Social Work, which emerge from author collectives of educators and practitioners at the University of Health and Social Work of the Saviour in Bratislava. The purpose of all of them is to bring students, but also practitioners and colleagues from other professions in the field of social work closer, helping to identify and confirm its autonomy among other professions that focus on solving social, health, and other human problems.

In the area of social-pathological phenomena, we have so far encountered publications that were of a theoretical character. Our aim was to find a connection between social pathology and social work so that, especially students of social work, could progressively identify in practice their competencies for working with target groups of clients in whom social-pathological phenomena are displayed. It is precisely applied practice—searching for a connection between theory and practice—that can help in a deeper delimitation of social work as a social-science discipline. In the Slovak Republic, at this very time, a platform is being created for mutual discussion among theory experts, educators, and social work practitioners. The result should be an upgrading of the field of social work and the strengthening of its legitimacy for social practice.

It is obvious that social workers today, as well as in the future, will work with target groups in whom social-pathological phenomena are present. Eliminating these requires teamwork, particularly in solving those problems presented in this publication. Team coordination will be essential, in which the social worker should have a distinctive role. The information concentrated in this publication should be transformed by social work graduates into knowledge and skills that would secure this distinctive role in practice. This is not only about some rivalry in practical professional activity; it is also about strengthening the competencies of social workers, who, still under the influence of legal regulations, do not have systematically appropriate positions in some roles.

The authors of the individual chapters are university educators, collaborators of the university, or practitioners in the field of social-pathological phenomena. The publication has a theoretical character in its introductory part and in its later parts presents information from applied practice. The selection of social-pathological phenomena presented is not absolutely exhaustive; some issues are treated separately by other experts from other professions. The findings and experiences presented in the applied part aim to help understand individual social-pathological phenomena from the standpoint of social work so that social workers and students of social work can recognize, distinguish, and characterize individual social-pathological phenomena with regard to important terminology, identifiable features of social pathology, and the state of research. Further, they should help choose appropriate social intervention or prevention by knowing suitable methods of social work, as well as current legislation and experiences from good practice.

The aim of the publication prepared in this way was to strengthen the idea of practical social work, moving from an administrative-bureaucratic framework toward more intensive work with the client while respecting the basic theoretical premises of each described problem. From the authors’ perspective, this is a path to bring social work education and practice to a higher level of social acceptance and professional competence. We consider our effort and contribution as part of a process involving educators, practitioners, and students in the field of social work, for whom this publication is intended.

Authors
In Bratislava, 15 August 2011

Reviewers’ opinions:

Since the time of Herbert Spencer, who introduced the concept of social pathology into sociological theory, i.e., into social biology, an absolute solution to pathological phenomena has not been found. Since then, individual social pathologies have been described, classified, and characterized, but this has not resolved them within social pathology itself. And it is precisely the applied paradigm of social work that is destined to address social-pathological phenomena. Postmodernists claim that science is science only if it finds application in the market. It is certainly a debatable claim, but whether we view science from a traditional or postmodern perspective, we must strive by all means to foster its development. And this applies doubly to the social sciences. And it is precisely social work that is made for that. ... To many of the above-stated and implicit questions, the monograph presented by this collective of experts gives a direct answer, as its basic, clear, and structured chapters give the reader a basic understanding of the concept of social work, as well as its applied dimension in relation to social pathology. prof. PhDr. Pavel Mühlpachr, Ph.D.

The author collective aspired to a difficult and at the same time high goal in their work. In the first place, they brought a rich and creative excursion into the theoretical delimitation of the issues we encounter in many sociological, psychological, and pedagogical texts, with emphasis on new information. Even more significantly, the subsequent linkage with social work opened new dimensions in the applied intervention options of the field of social work. This effort by the authors is commendable; with pleasure I can state that the authors fulfilled their goal honorably, and their publication—which I hope will have many satisfied readers—is an important part of the professionalization process of social work. doc. PhDr. Ľuba Pavelová, PhD.

In social pathology, the influence of the era and historical context on the emergence of theories and on the development of social pathology as a scientific discipline is a very important issue. In this way I perceive the publication Applied Social Pathology in Social Work, whose added value is also the collective authors’ effort to apply social work methods in relation to the different types of clients. It is a contemporary excursion into individual types of pathological forms of behavior, primarily in Slovak society, but also in comparison with various foreign studies. It is necessary to analyze and examine current societal needs in relation to pathological forms of behavior; the presented monograph fulfills this to a large extent. doc. PhDr. Markéta Rusnáková, PhD.

This publication, issued in 2011, is no longer on sale. It was replaced by a newer edition from 2015: http://www.prohuman.sk/socialna-praca/socialna-patologia-a-prevencia-vybranych-socialno-patologickych-javov

CONTENTS:

I. GENERAL SOCIAL PATHOLOGY IN SOCIAL WORK

1 SOCIAL PATHOLOGY AND DEVIANCE 1.1 SOCIAL PATHOLOGY – TERM AND DEFINITION 1.2 SOCIAL PATHOLOGY OR DEVIANCE? 1.3 NORM, NORMALITY, SOCIAL CONTROL AND OTHER CONCEPTS 1.4 BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SELECTED DEVIANCE THEORIES 1.4.1 Biological Theories 1.4.2 Psychological and Socio-Psychological Theories 1.4.3 Theory of Social Disorganization 1.4.4 Anomie Theories 1.4.5 Subculture and Counterculture Theories 1.4.6 Social Control Theories 1.4.7 Labeling Theories 1.4.8 Ethnomethodological Theories 1.4.9 Radical Theories

2 SOCIAL WORK IN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO SOCIAL PATHOLOGY 2.1 MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO SOCIAL PATHOLOGY 2.1.1 Social Work 2.1.2 Methods and Techniques of Social Work 2.1.3 Social Services and SPODaSK 2.1.4 Social Prevention 2.2 IDENTIFICATION OF SOCIAL-PATHOLOGICAL PHENOMENA 2.3 CLASSIFICATION OF SOCIAL-PATHOLOGICAL PHENOMENA

II. APPLIED SOCIAL PATHOLOGY IN SOCIAL WORK

3 DEPENDENCIES 3.1 DEPENDENCIES – TERMINOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION 3.1.1 Drug Dependence 3.1.2 Alcohol Dependence 3.1.3 Non-Substance Addictions 3.1.4 Causes of Emergence and Risk Factors 3.2 SOCIAL PATHOLOGY OF THE FAMILY WITHIN DEPENDENCIES 3.2.1 Codependency 3.2.2 Adult Children of Alcoholics 3.3 IDENTIFIABLE MARKERS OF THE SOCIAL PATHOLOGY OF DEPENDENCE 3.4 MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IN THE FIELD OF DEPENDENCIES 3.5 TREATMENT OF DEPENDENCIES AND THE SOCIAL WORKER’S PLACE IN IT 3.5.1 Outpatient Care 3.5.2 Inpatient Care 3.5.3 Court-Ordered Protective Treatment 3.6 METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK WITH DEPENDENT AND CODEPENDENT CLIENTS 3.6.1 Streetwork and Harm Reduction 3.6.2 Crisis Intervention in Dependence 3.6.3 Social Work with the Family of a Dependent Client 3.6.4 Social Counseling for Dependent and Codependent Clients 3.6.5 Therapeutic Communities and Socio-Therapeutic Groups 3.6.6 Resocialization 3.6.7 Spirituality and Rituals in the Recovery Process 3.6.8 Self-Help Groups 3.6.9 Social Work and Psychotherapy with DDA

4 CRIMINALITY 4.1 TERMINOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION 4.2 THE FIELD OF CRIMINOLOGY AND ITS SEPARATE AREAS 4.3 STRUCTURE OF CRIMINALITY, ITS DYNAMICS, AND CURRENT STATE 4.3.1 Violent Crime 4.3.2 Moral Crime 4.3.3 Property Crime 4.3.4 Economic Crime 4.3.5 Extremism 4.3.6 Terrorism 4.3.7 Corruption 4.3.8 Drug Crime 4.3.9 Organized Crime 4.3.10 Public Order and Street Crime 4.4 PENITENTIARY CARE 4.4.1 Specifics of Pre-trial Detention 4.4.2 Specifics of Serving a Prison Sentence 4.4.3 Penitentiary Social Work

5 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 5.1 SOCIAL PATHOLOGY OF THE FAMILY 5.2 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – TERMINOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION 5.2.1 Child Abuse, Neglect, and Maltreatment 5.2.2 Domestic Violence in Intimate Partnerships 5.2.3 Elder Abuse, Exploitation, and Neglect 5.3 IDENTIFIABLE MARKERS OF SOCIAL PATHOLOGY 5.4 STATUS QUAESTIONIS 5.5 MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 5.6 METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK 5.6.1 Crisis Intervention for Victims of Domestic Violence 5.6.2 Social and Legal Protection of Children and Curative Social Work 5.6.3 Social Counseling for Victims of Domestic Violence 5.6.4 Comprehensive Assistance and Residential Facilities 5.7 SOCIAL PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 5.7.1 Prevention of Violence Against Children 5.7.2 Prevention of Violence Against Women 5.7.3 Prevention of Elder Abuse 5.8 HELP FOR PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

6 PROSTITUTION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING 6.1 FUNDAMENTAL THEORETICAL DELIMITATION OF PROSTITUTION 6.1.1 Types and Forms of Prostitution 6.2 PROSTITUTION AS A SOCIAL-PATHOLOGICAL PHENOMENON 6.2.1 Historical View of Prostitution 6.2.2 Contemporary Approaches to Prostitution and Its Occurrence in the Slovak Republic 6.2.3 Negative Consequences of Prostitution 6.3 CAUSES OF PROSTITUTION AND THE STATE OF RESEARCH 6.4 SOCIAL WORK IN THE ISSUE OF PROSTITUTION 6.4.1 Streetwork 6.4.2 Harm Reduction and Prostitution 6.5 PREVENTION OF PROSTITUTION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING 6.6 NATIONAL PROGRAMME AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

7 SECTS AND DESTRUCTIVE CULTS 7.1 TERMINOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION 7.2 TYPOLOGY OF SECTS AND DESTRUCTIVE CULTS 7.2.1 Types of Organizational Structures 7.2.2 Satanism 7.3 REASONS FOR ENTRY, RECRUITMENT, MEMBERSHIP IN A SECT, AND ITS EXIT 7.3.1 Recruiter’s Behavior During Recruitment 7.3.2 The Emergence of Dependence on Destructive Sects and Cults 7.3.3 The New Identity of Sect Members 7.3.4 Leaving a Sect 7.4 SOCIAL PATHOLOGY OF SECTS 7.4.1 Negative Effects of Sects 7.4.2 Negative Effects of Satanism 7.5 PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WITH CULT DEPENDENCE 7.5.1 Prevention of the Social Pathology of Sects 7.5.2 Deprogramming 7.5.3 Exit Counseling 7.5.4 Strategic Interactional Approach 7.5.5 Institutions of Assistance and Prevention

8 FOOTBALL HULIGANISM 8.1 FOOTBALL HULIGANISM AND FOOTBALL HULIGANS 8.2 SOCIAL-PATHOLOGICAL CORRELATIONS OF FOOTBALL HULIGANISM 8.3 THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO FOOTBALL HULIGANISM 8.3.1 Institutional and Legislative Possibilities of Assistance 8.4 SOCIAL WORK AND PREVENTION OF FOOTBALL HULIGANISM 8.4.1 Fan Projects as a Form of Social Work with Youth 8.4.2 Streetwork with Football Supporters 8.4.3 Fan Embassies 8.5 PROBATIONARY AND RESOCIALIZATION PROGRAMS

9 SUICIDAL ACTING 9.1 SUICIDAL ACTING – BASIC CONCEPTS 9.2 THEORIES OF SUICIDAL ACTING 9.2.1 Sociological Approach 9.2.2 Medical Approach 9.2.3 Psychological Approach 9.2.4 Religious Approach 9.3 IDENTIFIABLE MARKERS OF SUICIDAL ACTING 9.4 RISK FACTORS 9.5 POSSIBILITIES OF HELP 9.6 PREVENTION OF SUICIDAL ACTING 9.7 SOCIAL ATTITUDES AND RESPONSES TO SUICIDAL ACTING

10 POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS 10.1 POVERTY 10.2 HOMELESSNESS 10.3 DO POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS BELONG TO SOCIAL PATHOLOGY? 10.4 STATUS QUAESTIONIS 10.4.1 Poverty 10.4.2 Homelessness 10.5 REDUCING POVERTY 10.6 SOCIAL WORK WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT HOUSING 10.6.1 Systemic Approach 10.6.2 Streetwork 10.6.3 Social Services Provided to Homeless Persons 10.6.4 Curative Social Work 10.6.5 Social Counseling

SUMMARY

The aim of the publication Applied Social Pathology in Social Work is to present selected social-pathological phenomena not only with regard to their basic characteristics and theories of their causes, but primarily from the perspective of social work as a helping profession that strives to eliminate them, or at least mitigate their negative consequences.

The authors of the individual chapters are university teachers and practitioners in the area of addressing specific social-pathological phenomena. In terms of structure, the first two chapters form a general introduction to social pathology, and the remaining eight chapters represent individual social-pathological phenomena applied to social work intervention.

In the first chapter, Andrej Mátel presents a terminological introduction to relevant concepts such as social pathology, deviance, norms, normality, social control, and so on. Today, one can state that in contrast to the abandonment of the term and concept of social pathology in the second half of the 20th century in sociology, social work, and other disciplines in the West, in Slovakia and other countries in Eastern Europe the expression “social pathology” and the concept associated with it have become fully domesticated, especially in social work. It is appropriate that from the viewpoint of social work, the terms social pathology and deviance should be distinguished, with social pathology emphasizing the negative consequences of deviation for the individual, the family, the group, or society, which become subjects of social work as a helping profession. A brief overview of selected theories of deviance is also part of this introductory chapter.

In the second chapter, Milan Schavel and Andrej Mátel present a multidisciplinary approach to social pathology with an emphasis on social work. They briefly present the most common social work methods that social workers use to remove or mitigate the consequences of social-pathological behavior. Particular attention is paid to identification criteria according to which this phenomenon can be labelled as social-pathological in social work.

In the third chapter, Andrea Vasilescu focuses on dependencies on drugs, alcohol, and non-substance dependency. She describes in it treatment options and social work methods for the area of addictions. In addition, she points to the importance of aftercare in the recovery process of dependent persons through self-help and socio-therapeutic groups. Her particular contribution is the presentation of the issue of codependency, which has not received adequate attention here so far. Therefore, in social work it is important to provide counseling to codependent persons aimed at coping with the existing problem, gaining perspective, and relieving tension.

Tibor and Ladislav Roman in the fourth chapter present one of the most severe social-pathological phenomena for society, namely criminality. Through explaining the concepts needed for understanding the specifics of criminality, they identify in detail, for the purposes of social work, the different types of crime, their dynamics, and current state. The authors then also address the issue of punishment sentencing; they present the specifics of pre-trial detention and serving imprisonment in a way that is less known to the public and to social work. For penitentiary and post-penitentiary social work, they offer many open topics for future research and the need for changes in society’s approach to sentencing.

In the fifth chapter, Andrej Mátel deals with domestic violence as a newer social-pathological phenomenon in its different forms, such as the CAN syndrome, intimate partner violence, and poor treatment of older adults. All social-pathological signs of domestic violence and the state of research in this area are identified. The core of the chapter is social work methods with victims of domestic violence, especially crisis intervention, curative social work, and social counseling. Attention is also paid to residential care, prevention, and work with perpetrators of domestic violence.

In the sixth chapter, Barbora Kuchárová presents prostitution and human trafficking as serious social-pathological phenomena of today. She focuses social work in prostitution mainly on streetwork and the harm reduction approach. As one of the competent engaged experts, she presents the National Programme Against Human Trafficking.

Sects and new religious movements are an expression of protest against current religious, family, and societal conditions, and by their very existence they present society with an increasingly timely challenge. Lenka Látalová and Andrej Mátel in the seventh chapter present the role of helping professions, including social work, in this area. Among its priorities is minimizing the risk of entering sects and cults that may be harmful or dangerous due to their ideology for individuals, families, and society as a whole. For people who have already had negative experiences with sects or destructive cults, a comprehensive system of assistance and counseling is presented.

One of the new areas of proactive social prevention of social-pathological phenomena is the social environment of risky football supporters, whom we call football hooligans. In the eighth chapter, Peter Jusko presents the possibilities of social work in this area, especially in the prevention of spectator violence. Social work with risky football supporters is implemented mainly through fan projects, street-level social work, and probation and resocialization programs.

Suicidality belongs to traditional social-pathological phenomena to which sociology pays extraordinary attention. Czech author Alena Vozáb Gabrielová in the ninth chapter presents an understandable overview of this issue, theories of suicidal behavior and risk factors influencing it. She pays special attention to the prevention of suicidal behavior and possibilities of help for those who have attempted suicide or are contemplating it.

In the final chapter, Jaroslava Poloňová, Andrej Mátel, and Eva Romanová present poverty and homelessness as social phenomena often labeled as deviations, but their classification as social-pathological phenomena in social work is debatable. Since both phenomena receive specific attention in social work because of the large clientele, their inclusion in the publication is a type of dialogue and an attempt to answer the question of whether they belong to social pathology. Particularly from an ethical perspective, in cases of poverty and homelessness, it is generally not a matter of deliberate and free conduct by individuals, families, or communities. Given social work, it may be more appropriate to classify them among socio-economic problems of society, or among problems of violations of basic human rights. Therefore, systemic approaches are necessary for their elimination in society. In social work with homeless persons, attention is therefore also paid to streetwork, social services, curative work, and counseling.

Authors: doc. PhDr. ThDr. Andrej Mátel, PhD. (chapters 1, 2, 5, 7, 10) prof. PaedDr. Milan Schavel, PhD. (chapter 2) doc. PaedDr. Peter Jusko, PhD. (chapter 8) PhDr. Andrea Vasilescu, PhD. (chapter 3) PhDr. Tibor Roman, PhD. (chapter 4) PhDr. Ladislav Roman, PhD. (chapter 4) PhDr. Lenka Látalová, PhD. (chapter 7) Mgr. Jaroslava Poloňová, PhD. (chapter 10) PhDr. Eva Romanová, PhD. (chapter 10) Mgr. Barbora Kuchárová (chapter 6) Mgr. Alena Vozáb Gabrielová (chapter 9)

Reviewers prof. PhDr. Pavel Mühlpachr, PhD. Institut mezioborových studií Brno doc. PhDr. Ľuba Pavelová, PhD. Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre doc. PhDr. Markéta Rusnáková, PhD. Katolícka univerzita v Ružomberku

Language editing: Mgr. Mária Mišovičová Cover design: Mgr. Lucia Janechová

Publisher MÁTEL, A. – SCHAVEL, M. et al. 2011. Aplikovaná sociálna patológia v sociálnej práci. Bratislava : VŠ ZaSP sv. Alžbety, 2011. 442 s. ISBN 978-80-8132-009-5. PROHU Bratislava Year: 2011 Second edition Printing: BEKI Design s. r. o. ISBN: 978-80-89535-03-3