Relationship between Social Work Theory and Practice (Essay Sample)

Relationship between Social Work Theory and Practice Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Relationship between Social Work Theory and Practice Theory without practice has little value, and practice is the living proof of a theory. This paper aims to examine, analyze and evaluate the relationship between the two by narrowing down to three theories. The intersection of social work theory and practice shapes the intervention for social change on the avenues of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Choice Theory, and Structural Functionalism. A theory provides the conceptual underpinning of any planned or systematic practice that leads to a favourable impact on society. For example, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) involves addressing problematic thoughts, analyzing them, and replacing them with fruitful ones. According to the American Psychological Association, it has one of the highest response rates CITATION APA21 \l 1033 (APA, 2021). Consequently, this theory has a very high practical value and importance in addressing societal issues. A theory can help explain a range of real-time phenomena and help identify why several entities behave in a particular way. Rational Choice Theory (RCT) is an example of a theory applied in economics and is assumed to be one of the central tenets of modern economics. It tells why people purchase a product with a lesser or higher price and how they make different decisions CITATION McL23 \l 1033 (McLeod, 2023). These implications are being widely adopted in commercial practice. Practice encapsulates several implications of theory, and it helps in revising theories. Modern society includes several phenomena that have shaped theories, such as the structures of social systems and different social institutions working in society. Structural Functionalism helps in explaining how these institutions help in the stability...