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Clinical Sociology

1931; University of Chicago Press; Volume: 37; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1086/215618

1537-5390

Louis Wirth,

Social Work Education and Practice

Sociology and clinical procedure.-Sociologists are increasingly participating in chil guidance clinics. Clinical procedure is characterized by the case method, co-operative work, and a therapeutic aim. The emerging field of clinical sociology can be of value to practice as well as science. Clinical sociology and social psychiatry.-In the organization of clinics psychiatrists have played the leading role. Until recently, in the absence of sociologists, the social workers have been the only representatives of the social sciences. Social psychiatry, distinguished by the situational approach, is in the course of development. The division of labor between social psychiatry and clinical sociology is in need of clarification. The cultural approach.-While a sociological clinic is as unthinkable as a psychiatric clinic, each specialist has a distinctive point of view, and the sociologists have made a contribution through the cultural approach, which is based upon the conception that behavior becomes a problem when it represents a deviation from the definitions prevailing in a cultural milieu, and can be understood and controlled only in terms of this cultural background. Through the sociological conception of personality which emphasizes social status and the playing of roles in social groups many forms of conduct become intelligible. The scope of clinical sociology.-Research, consulation with and training of other specialists, and direct participation in study and treatment of cases are possible tasks of sociologists in clinics. The work with problems of personality and community life which the sociologists undertakes is not at present carried on except incidentally and directly. The manipulation of the social world and the modification of attitudes are the chief therapeutic problems sociologist. Social worker, in addition to their present training, need training in clinical sociology. Freedom from dogma and cultism, an experimental attitude, and awareness of their own limitations on the part of sociologists are necessary in clinical work.