Social Class and Classism in the Helping Professions: Research, Theory, and Practice / Edition 1

by William Ming Liu

Overview

In this text 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. 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. 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412972512
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	08/31/2010
Pages:	299
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

William Ming Liu
Professor
N328 Lindquist Center
Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
Iowa City, IA 52242
Affiliations within the College
Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
Counseling Psychology Program

Academic History
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, University of Maryland, 2000

Expertise
Multiculturalism, Social Class, Men and Masculinity

Research Interests
Social Class, Men and Masculinity, Multicultural Competencies

Professional Experience
Program Coordinator, Counseling Psychology Program, University of Iowa

Professional Service
Committee Assignment, Asian American Psychological Association, 2009-current.
Committee Assignment, Division 17, Society of Counseling Psychology, 2009-current.
Journal Editorial Board, Men and Masculinities, 2008-current.
Journal Editorial Board, Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 2007-current.
Committee Assignment, American Psychological Association, 2006-current.
Committee Assignment, Division 51 Member at Large, elected position, 2006-current.
Manuscript Reviewer, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2006-current.
Manuscript Reviewer, Journal of Career Development, 2006-current.
Manuscript Reviewer, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 2006-current.
Committee Assignment, Diversity Advisory Board, Belin Blank Center, 2005-current.
Manuscript Reviewer, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 2005-current.
Manuscript Reviewer, Sex Roles Journal, 2005-current.
Editorship, Editorial Board Member, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 2000-current.
Committee Assignment, Dean's Search Committee, 2010-2011.
Editorship, American Psychologist, Ad hoc reviewer, 2004-2007.
Committee Assignment, Graduate College, 2007.
Committee Assignment, National Multicultural Conference and Summit (NMCS) 2007, American Psychological Association, 2005-2007.
Committee Assignment, Office of the Vice President for Research, 2007.
Committee Assignment, Office of Student Services, 2006.
Committee Assignment, College of Education, 2006.
Committee Assignment, Division 17, Program Committee Member, 2003-2006.
Committee Assignment, Oberman Center, 2006.
Committee Assignment, Iowa Testing and Measurement Foundation, 2006.
Committee Assignment, Vice President for Research, 2006.
Committee Assignment, Advisory Committee on Diversity, Belin and Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, 2005.
Editorship, The Counseling Psychologist, Editorial Board, 2005.
Committee Assignment, Diversity Review Task Force, 2004-2005.
Editorship, Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 2003-2005.
Editorship, Clinicians Research Digest, 2003-2005.
Committee Assignment, Division 17, Hospitality Suite Committee Member, 2003-2005.
Committee Assignment, Division 45, Society of the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues, APA, 2001-2005.
Committee Assignment, Search Committee Member, University Counseling Service, 2004.
Professional Board, Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) for the Knowledge Application Program (KAP), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) (2003), 2003-2004.
Committee Assignment, School Psychology Search Committee, 2002.
Committee Assignment, Post-Doctoral Search, 2002.
Committee Assignment, Multicultural Education Certificate Program, 2002.
Committee Assignment, Post-Doctoral Search Committee, 2001.
Editorship, Ad hoc manuscript reviewer, Journal of College Student Development, "On Campus Section. ", 1995-1997.

Professional Activities and Membership
American Counseling Association
American Psychological Association
Asian American Psychological Association
Division 17, Counseling Psychology of APA
Division 45 Ethnic Minority Issues in Psychology of APA
Division 51, Men and Masculinity of APA

Licensure and Certifications
State of Iowa, Psychology License, Board of Psychology, State of Iowa

Awards and Professional Recognition
Lodge Project Advisory Board,
Board of Directors
Award for Emerging Leadership
Dean's Scholar Award
Emerging Young Professional
Collegiate Teaching Award
Public Interest Directorate for the American Psychological Association, Taskforce Member, Socioeconomic
Researcher of the Year, Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity, American Psychological Association
Taskforce on Socioeconomic Status
Program Committee
Audrey Qualls Commitment to Diversity Award

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xvii

1 Introduction 1

Definitions and Focus 4

The Importance of Social Class in the Helping Professions 5

Research 7

The Helping Profession's Poor Understanding of Social Class and Classism 9

Sociology's Impact on the Helping Profession 16

Social Class, Socioeconomic Status, Social Status, and Classism 17

Social Class and Classism Multicultural Competencies 20

Conclusion and Summary 22

2 Social Class, Classism, and Mental and Physical Health 23

The Context of Social Class and Classism 25

The Social Class Health Gradient 29

Sense of Control 30

Environmental Toxicity, Health, and Social Class 32

Social Class, Malnutrition, Obesity, and Health 34

Social Class and Mental Health 39

Implications for Practice 43

Conclusions and Summary 44

3 Problems in Social Class Measurement and Research 46

Problems With Current Methods for Understanding Social Class 48

Categorizing Social Class 52

How Is Categorizing Accomplished? 53

Income 54

Occupation 57

Education 59

Wealth 60

Summary 61

Moving Toward Subjectivity of Social Class and Classism 62

Implications for Practice 67

Conclusion 67

4 The Social Class Worldview Model 75

The Context of Economic Cultures 79

Human Capital 81

Social Capital 82

Cultural Capital 82

The Worldview 83

Classisms 86

Social Class and Classism Consciousness 87

How the Worldview Operates 95

SCWM-R Example 95

Implications for Practice 97

Conclusion 98

5 Social Class and Psychotherapy, Counseling, and Career-Related Issues 100

Counseling, Psychotherapy, and Helping Professionals 101

Social Class and Classism to Inform Our Work With Clients 102

Empirically Validated and Supported Treatments and Common Factors 108

Understanding Our Own Biases and Social Class Experiences 109

Career Counseling 111

Using Social Class-Based Interventions in Counseling 113

Participants 114

Procedure 115

Measures 115

Results and Discussion 117

Implications for Practice 121

Conclusion 122

6 The Impact of Social Class and Classism on Healthy Psychological Development 134

Social Class and Classism and Psychological Development 136

Quality of Child Care 139

Sleep Habits 140

Parent and Child Relationships 141

Impact of Media and Television 142

Social Class and Classism Traumas 145

Into Adulthood 148

Implications for Practice 152

Conclusion 154

7 Greed, Materialism, and Affluence and Mental Health: The Rich Are Not Immune 155

Greed, Materialism, and Affluence 157

Consumption and Being Healthy 158

Materialism and Consumerism 165

Other Forms of Commodification and Consumerism 169

Consumerism 170

Affluence and Mental Health 173

Implications for Practice 176

Conclusion 177

8 Classism, Inequalities, and Poverty 178

How People Make Meaning of Poverty and Inequality 180

Racism 186

Economic Resources, Economic Privilege, Economic Entitlement 190

The Psychology of Privilege and Entitlement 195

Classisms 199

White Trashism 202

Implications for Practice 203

Conclusion 205

9 Integrating Social Class and Classism Into Training, Education, and Supervision 207

Training and Education 208

Upward Mobility Bias 213

Becoming Social Class and Classism Competent 216

Using the Social Class Worldview Model (SCWM-R) as a Training Tool 218

Training Experiences and Supervision 226

Privilege and Power 228

Conclusion 230

10 Social Class, Classism, Advocacy, and Social Justice 235

Definitions and Contexts of Social Justice, Advocacy, and Empowerment Work 237

Definitions 239

Social Justice and Social Class and Classism 241

Advocacy 245

Empowerment 247

Conclusion 250

References 251

Index 285

About the Author 299