The concept of the ‘lifeworld orientation’ for social work and social care

Abstract

This paper presents and examines the lifeworld orientation for social work and social care. This concept has, since its establishment in the 1970s, become dominant in German theory and practice discourses. The authors describe the theory's specific and critical view of both life situations and social care, and how this perspective stresses the subjectivity of all patterns of interpretation and practice. Social work and social care with a lifeworld orientation supports everyday coping patterns in the struggle for a successful everyday. The concept has its roots in critical-hermeneutic pedagogy, interactionism and recent social science analyses of an unjust, fragile and complex society. Practice maxims are prevention, everyday relevance, regionalisation, integration and participation. Respect and negotiation are used when shaping dimensions of the everyday: time, social environment and social relations. Learning organisation and flexibilisation principles help achieve structured open-endedness. It is noted that the social justice commitment of the lifeworld orientation is endangered by current trends: the depoliticising of social problems and the reduction of social care to controlling functions. The authors conclude by arguing for a reassertion of lifeworld orientation principles in the face of these problematic developments.

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