Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Interweaving the Inner and Outer Worlds (Social Work Practice in Action) - Hardcover

Esther Urdang, PhD, formerly Adjunct Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Field Education, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work; Research Advisor, Adjunct Associate Professor, Smith College Graduate School for Social Work; Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, Wheaton College (Spring 2007). She is a licensed independent clinical social worker with over 35 years of experience in the field and holds a Diplomate in Social work from NASW. The author or co-author of numerous articles, Dr. Urdang has also written the first edition of Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Interweaving the Inner and Outer Worlds (Haworth) and Becoming a Social Worker: The First Year.

“Social work students who have the good fortune to have this book as a text for their Human Behavior and the Social Environment class will actually enjoy this very readable overview of numerous theories and their application in case examples. Grounded in a bio-psychosocial perspective, this INCREDIBLY COMPREHENSIVE book emphasizes the psychodynamic understanding of human behavior through examples from novels, biographies and autobiographies in addition to newspaper and magazine articles. . . . BREATHES LIFE INTO THE THEORIES AND MANAGES TO CONVEY THE VAST COMPLEXITY OF LIFE FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD. Learning exercises at the end of each chapter help the student integrate the concepts into a social work practice framework. . . . A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION.”

Nancy Boyd Webb, DSW, Distinguished Professor of Social Work, Fordham University

 “True to its title, this work offers A RICH, INCLUSIVE, UP TO DATE REVIEW of the many formulations that help to reveal the person in the environment. More importantly, it identifies converging understandings that bridge separate lines of that work. It thus offers an image of the increasingly comprehensive understandings that are within our grasp and invites our participation in that exciting enterprise.”

Roger R. Miller, DSW, Professor Emeritus, Smith College School for Social Work

“ENGAGING AND LUCID. . . . Presents a balanced view of human behavior theories, successfully shedding light on the age-specific needs, abilities and challenges of individuals over the course of their lives. Drawing on a biopsychosocial perspective, Urdang successfully integrates psychodynamic theory with other theoretical perspectives. . . . SHOULD BE WIDELY USED IN SOCIAL WORK AND RELATED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CURRICULA.”

Eric Kingson, PhD, Professor of Social Work, Syracuse University

"What an absolute fantastic summary of theories most used in social behaviour assesments! So easy to read and understand, especially Freud which can be so difficult. A highly recommended text."

-- Colleen Ballard, (endorsement from Amazon.com)