Book Review: Multidimensional human behavior in the Complex social environment: Decolonizing theories for social work practice

We were pleasantly surprised by Aguilar and Counselman-Carpenter's Multidimensional Human Behavior in the Complex Social Environment: Decolonizing Theories for Social Work Practice. This book offered an engaging and poignant discussion around the structure of human behavior in the social environment, which then built upon existing theories in social work practice by utilizing a critical theory approach to apply these theories to marginalized populations. The book is composed of two parts and eleven chapters. Part I, chapters 1-3 focus on the contexts of human development and Part II, chapters 4-11 positions the audience to understand marginalized identities through the lifespan.

The book uniquely integrates race and other identities into theory; as exemplified in chapter seven, “Young Adulthood on the Margins”, where the authors examined ethnic and racial identity in adolescence through the lens of Erikson's psychosocial development theory. The authors assert, “…[Erikson's] stages are limited in their applicability to young and emerging adults with multiple marginalized identities, particularly in the consideration of interdependent and collectivist communities” (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024, p. 169). Following critique of existing theories regarding limitations in application to minoritized and marginalized people, the authors offer practice implications for social workers engaged in work with these groups. Additionally, the authors adequately create balance between providing knowledge and employing self-reflective practice for readers to critically analyze and apply what they’ve learned to real-life case studies in the reading.

According to the authors, this book was developed to address the lack of inclusion of marginality and the lack of emphasis on social and environmental factors that shape human development and behavior. The book opens with a preface that states, “This book came to be for the simplest of reasons: we could not find a book that helped us investigate the vast number of situations that arise when examining human behavior” (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024, p. 13). The authors argue that traditional HBSE books have relegated peoples with marginalized identities to one chapter of a book or to inserts of diversity within chapters that are typically written from a Eurocentric, ethnocentric, cisgendered, heterosexual perspective. There are four key features of the book which include: context as applied to human development, theory, focus on multiple social identities, and explicit focus on practical applications of theories. Additionally, pedagogical elements in the book include, learning objectives, case studies and vignettes, reflection questions, and theory ↔ practice boxes (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024). The book also has an interactive component to engage its readers. Lastly, the authors seek to achieve the competencies set forth by the Council on Social Work Education.

General Overview

Unlike traditional HBSE books that begin with the lifespan's first stages, this book begins by examining the impact of the social environment, social context, and geopolitical and economic factors on human development. Chapter one explores the overlap between complexity and systems theories, urging social workers to integrate the two by seeing the complexities in people and societies from a systems perspective while also acknowledging that people and societies are multifaceted with the potential for multifinality (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

The book then moves into geopolitical and economic influences on human and social development in chapter two. This chapter introduces basic concepts of economics to social work practice and its implications for practice. In an illustration, two case studies are presented of two children, a ten-year-old, Ferhana, living in a tent after being displaced by war in Afghanistan and a two-year-old, Salim, attempting to survive the cold of winter at a Syrian border—both living in despairing conditions impacted by economic and geopolitical conflict. The point is made that traditional theories will lead social workers to assume that these two children will “…develop similarly to same-age children growing up in the quiet suburbs of the United States, which ignored Ferhana's and Salim's significant and ongoing material, economic, emotional, social, and physical continuities” (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024, p. 29). It is argued that many schools of social work “…continue to use classical theorists like Erikson, Piaget, or Kohlberg to assess human behavior despite the understanding that these frameworks, with their assumptions of epigenesis and universality of development, are limited in their analytical power to understand diverse human experiences” (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024, p. 30). Ergo, the use of these limiting theories excludes economic disenfranchisement, inequitable market economies, and incautious capitalism from the conversation on development and behavior (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

Chapter three explores the impact of cultural trauma and historical trauma on development. The authors brilliantly juxtapose the social science's school of thought that culture's past can be explained by psychological and social factors with neuroscience's empirical lens; offering social workers scientific insight when working with individuals and communities that have been historically impacted by traumatic events. This chapter also explores the family formation, the prenatal phase, and birth, and implications for social work practice while working with diverse individuals and families who do not subscribe to normative familial perspectives (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

The book then moves into the infancy to toddlerhood stages of development. Chapter 4 reexamines traditional theories and models that have been used to explain human development. The authors examine the historical context of human development by noting that marginalized people have been excluded from the conversation until recently. With the title of the chapter being, “Creating Marginalized Social Identities”, sociopolitical factors are explored and juxtaposed to the lack of inclusion in the human development narrative, othering [emphasis added] the communities excluded and characterizing those communities as deviant. This chapter showcases the importance of social workers to commit to the profession's goal of diversity and social justice to “…redress this exclusion” (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024, p. 113).

The next phase of development, older children and early adolescents, is traversed in an intimate way with a narrative perspective from one of the authors who tells her story of being biracial with a marginalized identity in chapter five. She uses her story to explore how development during adolescence is complex and not independent of socio-contextual factors such as identity, trauma, parenting, sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, and puberty. In this chapter it is urged that social workers move from linear perspectives of development to a systems perspective that embraces decolonial and liberating practices (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

Adolescence to young adulthood is explored in an intriguing way in chapter six. The authors explore the needs of individuals between the ages of 16–25 years old and provide ways for social workers to move beyond managing symptoms within educational systems. The school-to-prison pipeline and its impact on Black and brown communities is discussed, as well as the importance of restorative justice within the school systems. The authors demonstrate how schools can be a source of healing and provide examples of restorative justice as well as what it means to engage in liberation-centered social work practice. Limitations to this approach, which include resistance and gatekeeping, are discussed, which is an important acknowledgement of what many social workers may experience in host settings (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

Chapter seven explores the relationship between intersectionality and development as they relate to transitioning into emerging and young adulthood. The authors provide working definitions for young adulthood and emerging adulthood and dissect how development in these stages is influenced by individualistic and collectivist cultures. Additionally, the authors review theoretical frameworks and their applicability to the discussed stages of development as well as discuss identity formation through multiple lenses (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

The reading then segues nicely into a discussion around “Marginalized Social Identities and Locations in Middle Adulthood” and intergenerational influence on human development. The authors assert, “Many traditional HBSE theories lack a critical analysis that takes power and privilege into consideration, presenting a one-dimensional understanding of development” (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024, p. 184). To offer alternative understandings of human development in the social environment, the authors focus on critical frameworks and apply a critical lens which demands perspectives that expand on existing and prevalent thought within the field. The conversation around middle adulthood and human development amongst historically marginalized groups continues in chapter nine, with a focus on applying critically affirming frameworks (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

Attention shifts to that of “Marginalized Social Identities and Locations in Later Adulthood” in the tenth chapter. An in-depth overview regarding the vulnerability of adults within this stage of development was provided by analyzing the connection and difference between social isolation and loneliness, and their implication for the socioeconomically disadvantaged, LGBTQIA + older adults and their unique challenges and other disenfranchised populations. The authors discuss the importance of interventive care planning for older adults to address social isolation and loneliness, which are tied to poor health outcomes and implications for healthcare systems and the United States economy (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

The final chapter of the book addresses end-of-life processes and the struggles faced by those with multiple marginalized identities. This included defining what is meant by a good death and the authors submit “…it is a privilege to have a good death in the United States; it is not a right” (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024, p. 273). An overview of relevant end-of-life theories, including their usefulness and challenges, is provided. The authors also call attention to the overrepresentation of people who identify as White in the research around end-of-life care and the lack thereof for non-White individuals. Additionally, the importance of interventions and the vital role of hospice and palliative care social workers during this stage of life, and implications for social work practice and increasing competency around end-of-life care were stressed (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024).

Degree of Empirical Support

While critical of theory and sufficient in providing implications for practice within the field of social work, the authors of Multidimensional Human Behavior in the Complex Social Environment: Decolonizing Theories for Social Work Practice, do not provide empirical evidence to support many of their claims. The authors provide theoretically derived material through a decolonial, liberation and social justice lens however, top-quality empirical research is not illustrated throughout the text that demonstrates that their theoretical perspective is generalizable to most or all marginalized groups and communities. Nevertheless, the authors do offer practical applications of theory which may be useful for its readers. Their frameworks and perspectives also provide a valid and adequate starting point for researchers interested in diversifying social work research and applicability with marginalized and minoritized individuals, families, groups, and communities.

Applications to Social Work Practice

The book offers compelling applications to social work practice by examining the flaws and exclusionary undertones of traditional HBSE textbooks and theories while juxtaposing relevant theories that consider the social context of diverse peoples with more inclusive connotations. The concept of working within a social justice framework and perspective seems to be the theme throughout the book; urging social workers to be mindful of the harm that has been committed by profession in the past to preserve our profession's present, in the hopes of rectifying the future. The intended audience for this book is BSW and MSW students, as well as social work practitioners and policy analysts working with and for minoritized and marginalized individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

The authors shared their goal of reviewing traditional theory and highlighting nuances when applied to diverse groups. The authors claim, “…we did not attempt to step away from classical theories and their ideas, which heavily inform practice, but instead we aimed to weave together these theories, like a tapestry or quilt, with critical theories/frameworks in order to unveil the complexity. In doing so, we highlighted the limitations of traditional theories and incorporated a critical lens that thoughtfully considers and more deeply integrates the impact of the larger sociopolitical context when working with clients” (Aguilar & Counselman-Carpenter, 2024, p. 203). The recommended practice applications in the book are relevant to social work students working with marginalized clients in field placements/internships and studying human behavior in graduate and undergraduate level courses, social work case managers working with minoritized groups in hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory/outpatient settings, and clinical social workers providing direct mental health support to racially and ethnically diverse populations in private practice and community based health centers.

Conclusion

For those interested in expanding your understanding of how exclusivity within existing theories in the field of social work continues to present limitations in practice with clients from disenfranchised groups, Multidimensional Human Behavior in the Complex Social Environment: Decolonizing Theories for Social Work Practice is an insightful place to begin. The book is a cohesive, intellectually stimulating read, which provides a high-level overview of bio-psycho-social factors affecting marginalized people through historical and structural lens, and we recommend it, unequivocally.