社會工作理論是取之於實務也用之於實務,理論提供解釋、預測與分析,使我們能有系統的理解人與環境種種的複雜交互反應現象,並進一步思考如何適當的介入。本文主要探討社會工作理論的發展和本土化的問題。社會工作發展受到各發展階段當時的社會情境、經濟條件和社會關心的議題所影響,同時受到當時所發展的一些知識、理論和哲學思想的影響,建構出各種不同的理論。社會工作理論的發展一直隨著時代所關注的社會議題和哲學思想所左右,當然有時也受到當時各學門的理論發展所影響,因此社會工作理論的與時俱進之要求是不容置疑的。此外,本文亦提出下列幾個面向來思考本土化的問題如理論與實務整合的能力;哲學理念;東西方人際關係之差異;人性觀;專業督導體系不健全;社會福利未充分發展等,對於社會工作理論是否有本土化的問題提出一些討論與心得。社會工作理論的發展和實施需要掌握時代的思潮和社會關心的議題,紮實的學習,嚴謹的督導和訓練,所進行的研究能著重在理論的檢視和社會問題的干預,那麼不僅理論和實務整合的困難會減少,對社會工作理論的本土化運用必大有進展。
The western social work theories could be organized into two clusters such as foundation theories that provide a general orientation and practice theories that are more action-specific. The foundation theories include psychoanalytic theory, ego psychology theory, cognitive theory, behavior theory, role theory, system theory and feminist theory etc. The practice theories include problem-solving theory, psychosocial theory, crisis theory, task-centered approach, life model theory and empowerment approach etc.. Theory aids the practitioner to recognize, understand, and explain new situation. If we understand sufficiently the phenomena with which we are dealing and their interrelationship, we should have the conceptual tools for dealing with unexpected or unanticipated behavior. These theories offer some guidance that help us to know how to do and what we should do.The development of social work theories are based on the social situation, culture, economic, social structure, social problem, science and philosophy. The paper discuss about the development and the localization of social work theories. How to apply social work theories into our society successfully will be the most important job in the future.