Explanation, Comparison and Analysis of the Process of Social Work Theories Formation (a Systematic Review)

At present، theories play a role in all human sciences، including social work but، the social work theories have not been comprehensively compared and analyzed. This review investigates and compares the most important social work theories. Relevant electronic databases (Pub Med، Elsevier، Google Scholar، Critical Social Work، SID، SAGEPUB، CIVILICA and Science Direct) were systematically searched using Social Work and Theory Key Words and the specific names of theories. Then the documents were extracted that they had explained، compared or analyzed social work theories. Theories were compared and analyzed based on reason and date of development، goals، target population، social worker’s role، and method، duration and time concentration of intervention. Twenty-five social work theories were compared. According to the development process of the social work theories، three main waves for the individual social work، two waves for family social work and four waves for community social work have been introduced. Most of the social work theories have been presented in order to complete the previous theories and focused on present and insight- driven interventions. Moreover، they mostly have been paid attention to individual intervention and their environment. Global events such as world wars، social movements like feminism، globalization، technology advancement and internet had been very effective in changes of social work theories. In many cases، social workers attempt as advocators، enablers and programmers for social justice. It is predictable that global and international phenomenon will have enormous effect on the changes of social work theories in future.