Social Movement Theory

Social Movement Theory: Theory that attempts to explain why social mobilization occurs, the conditions under which it occurs, and the consequences of its occurrence.
(Source: Morris, Mueller, C.M. (1992). Frontiers in Social Movement Theory. New Haven: Yale University Press.)

In community development, this applies whenever members of a community assess the needs and concerns of the community, such as the mistreatment and murders of its members, and organize rallies and marches to protest these issues. As of recently, demonstrators have mobilized in  attempt to protest the murders of African Americans like Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, and Oscar Grant.

In other fields, such as social media, bloggers can craft think pieces, videos and announcements in order to garner more support and more participation for a good cause. One example of this is Arab Spring in Egypt in 2011. This was started by a group of young people in Egypt in an attempt to get President Mubarak to step down from office due to his administration's treatment of its citizens. The Arab Spring Revolution started on Facebook and drew thousands of supporters and protesters, and was the catalyst in Mubarak to eventually give up his position in office.

Cooperative Learning Theory

Cooperative Learning Theory: The assumption that adolescents and teenager can learn as much from each other as from adults.

(Source: High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, 2001)

In social work, this means when people get involved and form a grassroots team, such as a neighborhood watch group, and they come up with a list of goals and objectives. They then come up with plans to achieve these goals and objectives, and designate roles and responsibilities in executing these tasks.

When applied to other fields, this happens in engineering, when  a team scientists discover new functions and new, conventional ways to make life easier, and use other scientists and inventions, as well as each other, as a source of inspiration. This happens in the redesigning of original cars, and the invention of brand new models (Chrysler, Ford, Mitsubishi), with sleeker styles, implementation of satellite radios, better speed, a new source of power (electric), and other updates to change the way society commutes.

Communicative Action Theory

Communicative Action Theory: This theory suggests that language plays the role of coordinating the goal-directed activities of different subjects, as well as the role of a medium in the socialization of these very subjects.
(Source: Haberman, J. (1981). The Theory of Communicative Action. Translated by Thomas McCarthy. Boston: Beacon Press.)

In social work, this means introducing your self into a new community with the neighborhood leaders by hosting a block party, a potluck a dinner, or other welcoming gathering. From there, a new community organizer locates the community gatekeepers and discusses the issues of the community, as well as the skills and talents they have or other members of the community have. Then, community developers designate and delegate roles, with the help of community gatekeepers, so they each member of the community has a part to play in the revitalization of the community.

Applying it to other areas, the same thing happens when a new pharmacist joins a pharmaceutical team. He or she may get to know other doctors though golf, dinner or other outings, then discuss problems with medications and with the communication/morale of staff and administration. He or she then may designate roles and responsibilities for his or her new team to correct problems within the pharmaceutical company.

Rational Choice Theory: a a framework for understanding and often formally modelling social and economic behavior.

(Source: Scott, J. (2000). "Rational Choice Theory." Understanding Contemporary Society: Theories of the Present. London: Sage Publications.

In social work, this means, with a designated amount of money, choosing which programs are the most beneficial to the neediest members of the community, and which programs or activities need to be laid aside until more money arrives. This may also mean choosing between the less expensive between a number of programs that are of equal benefit.

Applying it to other fields rational choice may mean, for instance, getting $500.00, and choosing to spend it on penny stocks, which have the potential to increase over time, clothes, which tend to wear out or become out of fashion very quickly, or renting an apartment, which lasts a very limited time, usually a month. Some people, if they are money oriented, invest money in stocks, and they also invest money in small businesses.

Adult Learning Theory

Adult Learning Theory: Also known as andragogy, this theory suggests that adults are self-directed and expect to take responsibilities for decisions.

(Source: Knowles, M. (1970). The Modern Practice of Adult Education, from Pedagogy to Andragogy. New Jersey; Prentice Hall Regents.)

In the field of social work, adult learning may apply to the way you handle treating a patient or student with anger issues. You can argue with them, which can make things worse, or you can let them lead the way, have them vent their frustrations, and just listen to them to help them calm down. I know this, because this happened to me at my first internship with a students, and I drew pictures with her, and on some occassions, just had conversations with her to calm down.

In terms of other fields, like science adult learning may  apply to learning (through being self-taught) about different elements and their uses, and making decisions on what to invent from them (being an inventor). Some examples include Benjamin Franklin (bifocals, electricity), George Washington Carver (hundreds of patents out of a peanut), James Watt (Steam engine) and Elijah Mccoy (57 patents pertaining to the lubrication of steam engines).

Conscientization

Conscientization: this theory pertains to the process of learning to perceive social,political, and economic contradictions, and to take action against the oppressive elements of reality.

(Source: Lloyd, AS (1972). "Friere, Conscientization, and Adult Education." Adult Education. Retrieved from: http://aeq.sagepub.com/content/23/1/3.full.pdf+html

In social work, this means learning to observe the environment around you, and, in some cases, learning where the pockets of poverty are. Conscientization also means realizing the privilege one has, and using his or her privilege to bring attention towards those who are oppressed. This may be in terms of joblessness, homelessness, lack of food, or inadequate education.

In other fields, this may mean assisting other countries in the wake of disaster. In some cases, assisting countries like Haiti with medical supplies, and delivering countries water and food. In other cases, conscientization is when the leader of the free world works with other lawmakers to grant asylum to immigrants fleeing their homes from poverty insearch of a better life.

Gidden's Structuration Theory

Giddens Structuration Theory: the theory that human behavior is based on structure (or rules and resources) and agency (to human action). This theory is often associated in social work and sociology with social written and unwritten laws and the human interactions and behaviors affected by them.
(Source: Leydesdorff, L. (2010). "The Communication of Meaning and the Structurization of Expectations: Giddens' Structurization Theory and Luhmann's Self-Organization." Journal for the American Society of Information Science and Technology, 61 (10), 2138-2150.

In social work, when working with communities, people who come into communities need to be mindful that communities are different, and have their own rules and regulations as well as ideas and attitudes that must be considered. Just because one's ideas and approach to problems in one community are well received in one community, doesn't mean that they may be well-received in another community. In fact, if one uses the same tactic in different communities, they have the potential to burn bridges.

Similarly,when a business executive moves from one company to another, he or she must observe the rules, regulation, motto, ethos and attitude of the company. Otherwise, the relationship between the executive and his subordinates will falter, and as a result, the company will suffer and be short-lived.

Conflict Theory

3. CONFLICT THEORY:  There are many different definitions to ts theory. According to Bartos and Wehr, "Park and Burgess early on described conflict theory as a struggle for status; later on, Mack and Snyder defined it as a struggle for status, scarce resources and significant social change." (Bartos, C.  and Wehr, P. (2002) Using Conflict Theory. Cambridge University Press.)

In community organization, conflict theory can apply to a power struggles and conflicts when it comes to planning a program or implementing projects that seemingly benefit the community. People may have great plans, but limited space and time to use those plans. In this case, in deciding the best  and most effective use of a space for a community, there will be disputes involved, as disputes are common.

Conflict theory also happens in business decisions, no matter what type of business. People have to decide what products to sell, who to target, and the style that will best attract customers. They also have to decide if they want to keep their business local, or if they want to take it international, to the masses.

Functionalism

2. FUNCTIONALISM: Theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. (Source: Kimberly Moffitt, study.com; Isejiw, W.W. (2013) Causation and Functionalism in Sociology.)

In community development, different organizations are established that work to make the community stable. For instance, there are schools that educate the children of the community, community centers to make sure kids are taken care of when their parents are still at work, parks and playgrounds are established for kids to play on and for fitness; and businesses located in the community fund schools with goods such as computers and books to make sure that kids get a top-notch education. 

Functionalism works on any sports team as well. For instance, in American football, the quarterback calls the plays, defense keeps the ball from the opposing teams, running backs rush the ball to the goal, the kicker makes the extra point, and the coach helps to orchestrate the plays.

Social Capital Theory

THEORIES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

1. SOCIAL CAPITAL THEORY: The connections among individuals, social networks, and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them. (Packham 150-1)

The way this theory can apply to community development work is in the form of an informal meeting  a coffee date between two people, a party, networking in the gym or in the barbershops. From there, we utilize these connections to build a grassroots campaign to restore the community, bring jobs back into the community and put local out-of work residents back to work. The important thing is that there needs to be a lot of investment in the community.

Social capital theory applies to  business startups as well. Whenever people have a special synergy and  have an idea that will revolutionize the way the world works, they get other people who have similar ideas and believe in the grand idea. Just as in community development, a team is organized to launch businesses such as tech startups or fashion lines, and if enough peope have buy-in into the brand, the brand goes public and becomes successful.