The Social Work Profession: A Reconceptualization

Abstract

The relationship between social work's efforts to develop a clear conceptualization of itself and the development of the sociology of professions is analyzed. Traditional sociology of the professions, with its emphasis on cognitive exclusivity, has yielded dysfunctional results for social work. An alternative conceptualization is offered that views professionalization as being related to societal needs, as well as to occupational characteristics. It is suggested that the social work profession emerged because of society's need to manage dependency. The management of dependency is presented as a realistic organizing focus for social work.

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