The reason why I started this blog is briefly summarised in the "about me" section. As mentioned I have been increasingly intrigued by chaos theory and this blog is an attempt to put my thoughts down in a forum that hopefully can evoke some debate.
I have found traditional theories underpinning social work practice to be limited in their scope when one tries to understand the complex, often unpredictable and chaotic nature of human behaviour and the social systems one works within. Social work practice in my experience has largely been prescribed by an increasing application of State regulations and procedures in both assessments and interventions.
I have undertaken some considerable amount of reading on the chaos theory, and still am in the process of getting my head around most of what has been written. The theory is relatively difficult to understand, partly because it is originated from some heavy, abstract and academic thinking in mathematics, physics and other hard sciences and partly because it is still a developing theory in the social and human sciences.
Nonetheless, from what I have read, the theory (or more accurately the concepts developed within this and complexity theory) appears not only to provide much greater insights as to how complex human and social systems work in reality but also can equip some unique intellectual tools to inform practice and interventions.
Chaos theory as I understand it, embraces not only the complexity in working with vulnerability, conflict and violence inherent in human nature (if a radical perspective is taken) but also uncertainty, the power of change, adaptation and sometimes the need for transformation. It also challenges professional preconceptions and even boundaries by placing practitioner's own experiences, values, skills and ways of working, and the system which we work within, as part of understanding clients and interventions that may be necessary.
I did attempt to undertake further studies in conventional academia but found a lack of post graduate courses that could facilitate this kind of research within my financial means. This blog therefore is an attempt for me to explore the concepts in a blog format that could achieve the same objective.
