Social Workers endlessly work on the pursuit of this idea of professionalism, where we attempt to increase the status of the profession through the clear demarcations of boundaries identifying specific roles that only social workers can do, building up our own body of specialised knowledge and theories, and clearly identifying the professional credentials that allows one to be called a social worker through the process of accreditation.
However, as we proceed towards clearly defining our roles, I wonder whether these clear fences only serve to create a boundary between us, and the acquisition of skills and knowledge that are currently expanding rapidly elsewhere. This is especially pertinent in the crux of how social work theories cut across the many different bodies of knowledge realms: Economics, Sociology, Geography, Statistics, Public Policy, and many more. And through this process of boundary building, are we then creating further distance between ourselves and our service recipients, the clients with whom we are tasked with the management of dependency in society (Popple, 2011).
I feel that sometimes we may need to undertake some efforts towards knowledge building and sharing (where we should take some time off our busy schedules), through the networking with professionals and experts from other fields, to solve common problems in society.
TED is one such wonderful initiative which serves to provide platforms for the sharing of ideas by key influence makers in areas of technology, design, entertainment, social programmes, and many more. One such great idea I found today is the use of game dynamics to influence people (for better or for worse), which is the next step after the revolution of the social later through networking initiatives such as Facebook (which for me creates another point of whether the profession has kept up to developments in technology).
These dynamics are already being used by advertisers, game designers, and companies to influence human behaviour. How can we then use this knowledge for the purpose of Social Work, to influence our stakeholders?
Let's face it, we can talk about being neutral, and restrained, but being tasked with the role of maintaining social norms and advocating against certain injustices (defined by the role of social workers identified by Popple above), there needs to be some degree of influence that need to be utilised. Such methods are already being used to influence and "manipulate" the masses for potential social difficulties (can someone say: Courts hire purchase schemes?), why not they also be used for the "greater good" (also potentially controversial, as we have heard of the phrase: the worst decisions were made with the best intentions)?
The idea of game dynamics are interesting ones that can be used for social programmes, casework, organisational management, or just to raise awareness of their presence to the social masses.
Game dynamics that can be used to influence human behaviour
- The Appointment Dynamic: To succeed, players must do something at a predefined time at a predefined place.
- Influence and Status: the ability to modify another person's behaviour of another's actions through social pressure
- Progression Dynamic: where success is partialized and measured on a scale through the completion of several tasks
- Communal Discovery: where the entire community can be mobilised and rallied to work together to solve a challenge
So, does anyone have any idea to share?
You definitely pose a really insightful question.
The first thing that comes to mind is leverage websites that are already utilizing game dynamics to some extent already.
Ushahidi.org for instance, a crisis crowdsourcing website, allows people all over the world to tell others about what is happening to them or around them. Originally created after the Kenyan uprisings after the election in 2008, Ushahidi has since covered the Snowmaggedon in D.C., the aftermath of the Chile and Haiti earthquakes, and numerous other crises across the world. It even links survivors of human trafficking.
Ushahidi could start to adopt game dynamics by posing a communal challenge to its users (since information is, after all, the most valuable in a crisis). Subscribers could work together towards a common goal to help solve crises around the world. Whether monetary or more figurative rewards are present to motivate is obviously dependent on the circumstance (are there sponsors, etc. present).
What do you think?
Posted by: Laura | 09/01/2010 at 12:23 PM
Hi Laura, yes I looked through the site you recommended, and indeed i think its really an innovative way to raise awareness of crises happening all over the world, especially in a society where events and crises happening within the more developed societies are able to have more air time due to state of the art resources and "marketing" techniques.
Indeed game dynamics are already being used by profit making companies; hence its time for non profit organisations to be aware of these techniques for the proliferation of social justice. There may also be a need to reconsider the terminologies accorded to "Non-profit organisations" as the lines between these organisations and consumer driven profit oriented movements are beginning to blur.
Posted by: Fareez | 09/19/2010 at 02:43 AM
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a boy throwing starfish from the beach into the sea.
The guy asked "Good morning unknown boy! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The boy said "Throwing starfish into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the guy said, "Eh, there are zillions of starfish on the beach. You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."
"It made a difference for that one" The boy repeated, as if anticipating a reaction from the guy.
Both looked at each other for an awkward minute.
"Hmm"... Said the guy, eyebrows furrowed.
"What?!" Said the boy.
"Well, if you look there, the starfish you just threw earlier has washed up on the shore again. and most likely most of them will wind up here anyway tomorrow or the next day. But of course, I'm sure you're just happy that you made a difference to them today...kekekkeke"
The boy stopped still in his tracks and stared widemouthed at the guy.
"So you're telling me I've wasted my time throwing starfish here the whole day?!?!??!"
"Well..." the guy started, "I guess you probably made some starfish happy, and you're extremely pleased with that of course. But, I'll tell you what we could do. Maybe we can set up a net or something that would reduce the number of starfish that wash up the shore. We probably need to get some friends of yours to come down to help with this set up"
"Hmm that sounds like a great idea!" the boy said, "but its a big beach, and I'm too lazy to get my friends down and do so much work. Anyway it's late and its time for me to go back... BYE!!!!"
"Nice...." Muttered the guy as he continued his leisurely stroll on the beach.
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