FOCUS ON OPTIMISM AND HAPPINESS: PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING THE SOCIAL WORK CLIENTS’ STRENGTS

Abstract

Understanding the value and autonomy of the client in the intervention process are postulates on which the modern social work practice is based and which are complementary integrated in a relatively new strengths-based approach (SBA).This paper aims to characterize the theoretical basis of SBA. It is based on a retrospective review of the literature, presenting those psychological concepts on which social work interventions are based, aimed at developing clients' resources and raising their self-esteem and self-efficacy in dealing with life challenges or in solving life’s tasks.It has been determined that SBA is based primarily on humanistic philosophy and positive psychology and seeks or strives to maximize the client's resource potentia in order to improve their quality of life. It's a philosophy and a way to consider clients as resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges. It was found that the implementation of SBA requires the integration of knowledge psychology, in particular the theory of self-actualization (A. Maslow), the need for self-realization (K. Rogers), the development of faith in one's own ability (R. May) , the desire for self-development (J. Bugental), and directions positive psychology - cognitive-behavioral, rational emotional-behavioral therapy (A. Beck and A. Ellis), theory of "learned optimism"(M. Seligman), theory of self-efficacy (A. Bandura) "flow", psychology (M. Csikszentmihalyi), goal-setting (C. Snyder), growth mentality (С. Dvek), understanding of happiness (D. Gilbert), self-determination (K. Sheldon) and strengths perspective (С. Peterson). At the same time, a strengths-based approach combines self-help psychology through the study of self-consistency and the use of psychocybernetics tools. The strengths-based approach as a direction of modern social work is based on such categories of humanistic and positive psychology as "self-concept", self-actualization, potential, resources, subjective well-being, client perspective, experience, positive thinking in order to maximize the client’s resource potential and empowerment, which reinforces its relevance and demand.

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