THE PROBLEM-SOLVING MODEL
Helen Harris perlman, the main proponent of the problem-solving Approach (or" model") in
social work, acknowledged that although many individuals and theories influenced her thinking
it was the social psychologist and educator-philosopher John Dewey who spurred her interest in
the matter of how people think and manage to cope. She in fact adopted Dewey's term
"problem-solving" as the name for a different concept of social work practice, that is, a
departure from the (then) already established Freudian-based psychodynamic "diagnostic"
school of thought in social casework .
ELEMENTS OF THE PROBLENM SOLVING APPROACH.
As Perlman"states, the usual active elements of the model state; a person beset by a problem
seeks help with their problem from a place(either a social agency or some other social
institution)and is offered such help by a professional social worker who uses a process
simultanuously engages and enhances the person's own problem-solving functions,and
supplements the person's own problem-solving resources.
THE PERSON
The person is viewed as a product of inherited and constitutional makeup in continuous
transaction with potent persons and forces in life experiences.the person is thus a product of
past,but in no sense is viewed as finished product,Each is seen as a product-in process of
becoming.
Among the important perspectives of this model is its view of the personality as an open
system,continuously responsive to"input"and feedback"from outside itself.Another is the
recognition that while the person is living "whole," a biological-psychological-social system,the
social worker does not set out to either diagnose or treat the person wholly. Based on this
perspective,partialization (i.t,,,centering of attention on relevant and selected parts of what is
presented to view)becomes necessary for purposes of action. A third perspective is that which
takes the person as more that a personality disturbance of psychosocial problem. This"more
consist of the motivation and capacities for being engaged in working in some new way on
problem. The problem
The model is based upon the presence of and the identification between a help-seeker and
helper of a problem for which help is being iether sought or offered.
The problem is simply a problem in the current life situation of the help-seeker which disrurbs
or hurts the latter in some way. This is usually some difficulty in person-to-person or person-to-
task relationships. This problem must be defined early and held clear before the eyes of both
help-seeker and helper, between client and caseworker and that it should be circumscribed
enough so that an already overwhelmed ego need not retrear from it. It should also be current
and accessible enough so that the client's effort to cope with it in some new way learned within
the casework interviews, has some chance of making a dent in it or in feelings about it.
Another important perspective on the problem is " partialization" and focus. A piece of what is
often felt as an overwhelming. Problem is less threatening to a person who has it; it seems
more manageable.
The process
The problem-solving process consists of the following operations:
1. The problem must be identified by the person, i.e., be recognized, named, and placed in the
center of attention.
2. The person's subjective experience of the problem must be identified, i.e., how it is felt, seen,
interpreted, what it does, and what is being done with it - to cause, exacerbate, avoid, and deal
with it.
3. The causes and effects of the problem and it's import and influence upon the person-in-life
space must be identified and examined
4. The search for possible means and modes of solution must be initiated and considered, and
alternatives must be weighed and tried out in the exchange of ideas and reactions that prefer
action.
5. Some choice or decision must be made as a result of thinking and feeling through, what
means seem most likely to affect the problem or the person's relation to it.
6. Action taken on the basis of these consideration will test the validity and workability of the
decision.
The place
This model takes into consideration the place which utilizes casework as a model of helping
people with problem. This means the particular organization, agency or social institution, the
purposes of which define it's functions, services, and it's areas of social concern ( all
models/approach share this perspective)
RELATIONSHIP, DIAGNOSIS AND GOAL
Two factors are important in the problem-solving approach : relationship and the involvement
and effect of "significant others" (persons and social circumstances within the help-seeker's
problematic network) . These two determine the nature and outcome of the case worker's
problem-solving efforts. Relationship is used by Perlman to mean all relationships between
case worker and client. She points out that whatever is the problem, the helping relationship
should combine caring, concern, acceptance, and expectation of the client with understanding,
know-how and social sanction.
A central assumption in this model is that the person's inability to cope with the problem
independently is due to some deficit in or absence of one or a combination of the following
Problem-solving means:
1.The motivation to work on the problem in an appropriate way
2.The capacity to work on the problem in an appropriate way
3.The Opportunity available and applicable to the presented problem.
