ABSTRACT
A fairly classic rendition of both the underlying psychology and the use made of it by social workers will be offered here. Its scientific and functionalist qualities will be recognized. These require the social worker to make objective diagnoses of other people’s behaviour. A cure is then attempted through a course of treatment. Although psychoanalytic-styled casework has gone largely out of fashion, it still evinces strong support in many quarters. For example, Butrym (1981) makes out a good case for social workers understanding the nature of defence mechanisms and the centrality of dependence in personal relationships. Stalwarts of traditional practices have banded together to form the ‘Group for the Advancement of Psychodynamics and Psychotherapy in Social Work’. In the mid-1980s this group launched a new twice-yearly publication, the Journal of Social Work Practice, carrying papers with a strong psychodynamic and analytical flavour.
