,BSW2602 Assignment 2 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2025
(192465 ) - DUE 21 July 2024; 100% correct solutions and
explanations.
QUESTION 1 [50] 1.1 1 Compare and describe the difference
between the western and African worldviews. 2 Name the
different ecological systems and the different subsystems they
represent. 3 What is he difference between risk factors and
protective factors? 4 Describe the family cycle perspective and
the developmental tasks of each stage. 5 Describe the various
assessment tools a social worker can use when practicing family
interventions. 6 Name the nature of types of gender-based
violence that a social worker in practice may encounter. 7 What
types of programmes will you run on micro, meso and macro
level in the community to deal with violence? 8. Identify and
explain five (5) functions and responsibilities of social workers
in the field of occupational social work. (10)
1.1 Western vs. African Worldviews
Western Worldview: Often rooted in individualism,
Western cultures tend to emphasize personal autonomy,
individual rights, and self-reliance. The approach to life is
typically more linear, with an emphasis on achieving goals,
progress, and success. Western thought often prioritizes
rationality and science as the main way to understand the
world, with a focus on materialism and a secular approach
to life.
African Worldview: African worldviews, in contrast, often
emphasize communal living, interdependence, and
collective well-being. Relationships with family, ancestors,
, and nature are viewed as interconnected. There is a greater
emphasis on spirituality and the role of the community in
shaping individual identity. African cultures are generally
more holistic, viewing life as cyclical, where past, present,
and future are interconnected, and rituals, traditions, and
oral history are vital.
2. Ecological Systems and Subsystems
Ecological systems theory, developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner,
describes how different levels of environmental systems
influence an individual. The levels include:
Microsystem: The immediate environment (family, school,
peers).
Mesosystem: The connections between the microsystems
(e.g., relationship between family and school).
Exosystem: External environments that indirectly affect the
individual (e.g., a parent's workplace).
Macrosystem: The broader cultural and societal context
(e.g., social norms, economic systems).
Chronosystem: The dimension of time, considering
changes over the life course.
3. Risk Factors vs. Protective Factors
Risk Factors: These are conditions or variables that
increase the likelihood of negative outcomes or harm.
Examples include poverty, trauma, poor education, and
substance abuse.
Protective Factors: These are conditions or variables that
help to buffer or mitigate the impact of risk factors.
(192465 ) - DUE 21 July 2024; 100% correct solutions and
explanations.
QUESTION 1 [50] 1.1 1 Compare and describe the difference
between the western and African worldviews. 2 Name the
different ecological systems and the different subsystems they
represent. 3 What is he difference between risk factors and
protective factors? 4 Describe the family cycle perspective and
the developmental tasks of each stage. 5 Describe the various
assessment tools a social worker can use when practicing family
interventions. 6 Name the nature of types of gender-based
violence that a social worker in practice may encounter. 7 What
types of programmes will you run on micro, meso and macro
level in the community to deal with violence? 8. Identify and
explain five (5) functions and responsibilities of social workers
in the field of occupational social work. (10)
1.1 Western vs. African Worldviews
Western Worldview: Often rooted in individualism,
Western cultures tend to emphasize personal autonomy,
individual rights, and self-reliance. The approach to life is
typically more linear, with an emphasis on achieving goals,
progress, and success. Western thought often prioritizes
rationality and science as the main way to understand the
world, with a focus on materialism and a secular approach
to life.
African Worldview: African worldviews, in contrast, often
emphasize communal living, interdependence, and
collective well-being. Relationships with family, ancestors,
, and nature are viewed as interconnected. There is a greater
emphasis on spirituality and the role of the community in
shaping individual identity. African cultures are generally
more holistic, viewing life as cyclical, where past, present,
and future are interconnected, and rituals, traditions, and
oral history are vital.
2. Ecological Systems and Subsystems
Ecological systems theory, developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner,
describes how different levels of environmental systems
influence an individual. The levels include:
Microsystem: The immediate environment (family, school,
peers).
Mesosystem: The connections between the microsystems
(e.g., relationship between family and school).
Exosystem: External environments that indirectly affect the
individual (e.g., a parent's workplace).
Macrosystem: The broader cultural and societal context
(e.g., social norms, economic systems).
Chronosystem: The dimension of time, considering
changes over the life course.
3. Risk Factors vs. Protective Factors
Risk Factors: These are conditions or variables that
increase the likelihood of negative outcomes or harm.
Examples include poverty, trauma, poor education, and
substance abuse.
Protective Factors: These are conditions or variables that
help to buffer or mitigate the impact of risk factors.
