The Sociology of Client Alienation in Relation to Societal Structure

Authors

William D. Poe, Weber State College
Jerry H. Borup, Weber State College

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN

The purpose of the present study is to explore the relationship between client alienation and efforts by the social work profession to intervene in behalf of the welfare poor. Specifically, this investigation focuses on the ideas, proposals, and studies that have appeared in the social work literature that would indicate efforts by social workers to increase or decrease client alienation. Social work is practiced primarily in agency and organizational settings. Attention will be given to the nature of these structures to determine how they affect client alienation and prevent social workers from relieving alienation. The dimensions of client alienation will be discussed using Melvin Seeman's classification of powerlessness and meaninglessness. A further expansion of the concept of client alienation will be obtained by looking for ways to prevent alienation by combining social work concepts with the concepts of micro-macro society as suggested in the writings of Amitai Etzioni.

Recommended Citation

Poe, William D. and Borup, Jerry H. (1973) "The Sociology of Client Alienation in Relation to Societal Structure," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.1003
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol1/iss1/4