Ego Psychology: Contributions to Casework Theory and Casework Practice at the Spence-Chapin Adoption Service New York, 1967
Abstract
The atmosphere in the United States in the 1960s is similar in some ways to that which prevailed in this country in the beginning years of the century, when social work was just getting started. During both periods, there had been widespread realization of economic achievement not previously known. In both periods, it seemed at first that those privileged to enjoy the material benefits of life would be content to settle down to an existence of self-satisfied security. Although this worked for a time, somehow the blessings of such a life were not as great as had been predicted. Among a small minority there seemed to be a growing dissatisfaction, a new awareness of problems which could not continue to be overlooked, and an attempt to try to deal with them in ways which had never been tried before. The problems of the 1960s, of course, are different from those of the earlier era, as are the people trying to deal with them. In the early 1900s, the concerned segment of the population was an inexperienced laity, unburdened by any particular theories, armed primarily with common sense and good moral intentions. Their concern, for the most part, involved the most basic needs of their fellow men for survival in an urban, industrial economy. During thirty years of struggle the profession of social work evolved. Aided by the Depression, minimum economic standards were allowed to be underwritten by the government but this was just a beginning. From the New Deal to the Great Society, the country has continued to struggle with the problems of providing economic opportunity for all its citizens. Many of these problems have not been solved as yet, and in addition we now are not so naive as to believe that money alone can be a panacea for all the ills of our society.
Subject Area
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Montague, Dorothy, "Ego Psychology: Contributions to Casework Theory and Casework Practice at the Spence-Chapin Adoption Service New York, 1967" (1967). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI30308752.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI30308752
