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Social Class and Classism in the Helping Professions
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Social Class and Classism in the Helping Professions
Research, Theory, and Practice

  • William M. Liu - Counseling Psychology Program, University of Iowa, University of Iowa, USA


August 2010 | 320 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Provide your students with engaging material on social class and classism

The impact of social class and classism on mental health functioning crosses racial, ethnic, and social lines and significantly contributes to our overall well-being. Any attempt to understand individuals must include an understanding of how economic issues and class have contributed to their difficulties. In Social Class and Classism in the Helping Professions, author William Ming Liu presents theory and research on the impact of classism and social class on mental health. He provides an original framework—the Social Class Worldview Model—for exploring each person's individual and subjective life experiences. These experiences form a perspective that is unique to the individual. The author then helps the reader integrate this realization into the study of poverty, economic inequality, wealth, and the often overlooked implications of greed, materialism, and consumerism for a more complete understanding of social class and classism.


Intended Audience
This text is intended as a supplement for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses that address psychological and counseling theories, multicultural counseling, and research in the helping professions. These courses may be found in departments of counseling, rehabilitation, psychology, education, nursing, and social work.

 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
Chapter 1. Introduction
Definition and Focus

 
The Importance of Social Class in the Helping Professions

 
Research

 
The Helping Professions' Poor Understanding of Social Class and Classism

 
Sociology's Impact on the Helping Professions

 
Social Class, Socioeconomic Status, Social Status, and Classism

 
Social Class and Classism Multicultural Competencies

 
Conclusion and Summary

 
 
Chapter 2. Social Class, Classism, and Mental and Physical Health
The Context of Social Class and Classism

 
The Social Class Health Gradient

 
Social Class and Mental Health

 
Implications for Practice

 
Conclusions and Summary

 
 
Chapter 3. Problems in Social Class Measurement and Research
Problems With Current Methods for Understanding Social Class

 
Categorizing Social Class

 
How Is Categorizing Accomplished?

 
Moving Toward Subjectivity of Social Class and Classism

 
Implications for Practice

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 4. The Social Class Worldview Model
The Context of Economic Cultures

 
Social Class and Classism Consciousness

 
Implications for Practice

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 5. Social Class and Psychotherapy, Counseling, and Career-Related Issues
Counseling, Psychotherapy, and Helping Professionals

 
Social Class and Classism to Inform Our Work With Clients

 
Empirically Validated and Supported Treatments and Common Factors

 
Understanding Our Own Biases and Social Class Experiences

 
Career Counseling

 
Using Social Class-Based Interventions in Counseling

 
Implications for Practice

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 6. The Impact of Social Class and Classism on Healthy Psychological Development
Social Class and Classism and Psychological Development

 
Quality of Child Care

 
Sleep Habits

 
Parent and Child Relationships

 
Impact of Media and Television

 
Social Class and Classism Traumas

 
Into Adulthood

 
Implications for Practice

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 7. Greed, Materialism, and Affluence and Mental Health: The Rich Are Not Immune
Greed, Materialism, and Affluence

 
Consumption and Being Healthy

 
Materialism and Consumerism

 
Other Forms of Commodification and Consumerism

 
Consumerism

 
Affluence and Mental Health

 
Implications for Practice

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 8. Classism, Inequalities, and Poverty
How People Make Meaning of Poverty and Inequality

 
Racism

 
Economic Resources, Economic Privilege, Economic Entitlement

 
The Psychology of Privilege and Entitlement

 
Classisms

 
White Trashism

 
Implications for Practice

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 9. Integrating Social Class and Classism Into Training, Education, and Supervision
Training and Education

 
Upward Mobility Bias

 
Becoming Social Class and Classism Competent

 
Using the Social Class Worldview Model (SCWM-R) as a Training Tool

 
Training Experiences and Supervision

 
Privilege and Power

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 10. Social Class, Classism, Advocacy, and Social Justice
Definitions and Contexts of Social Justice, Advocacy, and Empowerment Work

 
Definitions

 
Social Justice and Social Class and Classism

 
Advocacy

 
Empowerment

 
Conclusion

 
 
References
 
Index
 
About the Author
Key features
Key Features
  • Liu's original Social Class Worldview Model–Revised provides a theoretical framework for integrating each individual's reaction to social class and classism experiences and addressing that worldview within counseling and psychology work.
  • An "Implications for Practice" section at the end of many chapters helps professionals recognize ways to interpret and frame each client's experiences and how to use that knowledge compassionately and effectively.
  • Readers receive guidance in additional ways to act as advocates for their clients—regardless of affluence—through a study of privilege, social justice, empowerment, and competence.

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