BREAKING INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLES - THEORETICAL TOOLS FOR SOCIAL-WORKERS

Despite the fact that social workers are often asked to intervene with families experiencing intergenerational problems, social work theorie s lack specificity about how to deal with them. Several key intergener ational issues are discussed, including cross-generational discontinui ties, cross-typal transmission, and issues of what is transmitted and how. Six different theories are assessed on their ability to address t hese issues and develop meaningful interventions. They are genetics, s ocial learning theory, Bowen's family theory, attachment theory, self psychology, and Rutter's model of protective mechanisms, Finally, asse ssment guidelines are offered for social workers interested in helping families stop cycles of intergenerational family dysfunction.