Annotation
Groups at risk and deviant behaviour (lecturer: PhDr. K. Večerka, CSc.)
The course focuses on the basic challenges social workers encounter in finding solutions to problems among socially marginalised people. Theoretical notions of normality and social pathology are considered, and differing perceptions of these concepts and how they apply to target groups are explored.
The lectures then turn to selected areas of study, in particular various forms of addiction. Such behaviour is often linked to serious social maladjustment, and its emergence and development is explored within an aetiological and epistemological framework. So, too, are the related issues of prevention and rehabilitation. The analysis is not confined to substance dependence (such as alcoholism or other kinds of drug addiction), but also examines such aberrations as atypical work dependence, involvement with anomalous religious sects, and out of control gambling.
In addition , complications resulting from coexistence within families are considered, especially those that necessitate qualified intervention by social workers. Of specific interest in this context are issues of domestic abuse and child neglect, as well as mistreatment of defenceless seniors. The lectures also cover the situation of vulnerable pupils in an educational setting, and the practice of bullying by both peers and teachers.
Other themes addressed are the effects of long-term unemployment, the devastating impact of homelessness, and the prejudices members of disadvantaged social groups (e.g., Romany, migrants, international refugees, and the like), are often confronted with.
Student assessment will be based on a final examination and the preparation of seminar work on listed topics.
