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August, 2010 | SAGE Publications, Inc

Social Class and Classism in the Helping Professions

Research, Theory, and Practice


William Ming Liu - Counseling Psychology Program, University of Iowa
320 pages | August, 2010 | SAGE Publications, Inc
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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

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

The Context of Social Class and Classism
The Social Class Health Gradient
Social Class and Mental Health
Implications for Practice
Conclusions and Summary

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

The Context of Economic Cultures
Social Class and Classism Consciousness
Implications for Practice
Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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
  • 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.