Question 1

How would you describe a human service worker who is said by his or her colleagues to be "burnt-out"? How might he or she act? What might he or she be experiencing?

Accepted Answer

The worker might seem listless, as if the spark in the personality had gone out. He or she might also be experiencing difficulty in sleeping, irritability, upset stomach, headaches and shortness of breath. It has both physical and emotional symptoms.

Question 2

When analyzing the phenomenon of burnout, some theorists look at it from an individual psychological perspective, while others examine it from a sociological perspective. What do those who examine it from an individual psychological perspective emphasize?

Accepted Answer

They emphasize being alert to the responsive chords that the clients' problems might provoke in the worker's own remembrances of growing up, having similar problems, etc. The worker can thus re-experience some of his or her own pain.

Question 3

"Social workers are caught between the privatization of profits and the socialization of the costs from that profit making." What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

The human service profession is built on a humanitarian ethos, but everyone in our society does not fully subscribe to it. Communities rarely provide the full resources of money, time, and caring to allow the human service worker to do the kind of job that needs to be done. Workers face not only a lack of resources outside the agency; but also sometimes a lack of support within the agency; the pressure exerted by clients, stigma, discrimination, status ranking; occupational hazards of the work. Workers are continually in conflict about whether to help clients or to make the client more "obedient" in order to fit better into the agency's way of "helping". The recession has made this worse due to cutbacks in human service programs, which has led to even fewer resources.

Question 4

In your own words, give an example of how a worker might over-identify with a client.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In your own words, give an example...

Question 5

Name some of the human services that are not reimbursable by insurance companies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Name some of the human services that...

Question 6

How do the requirements of insurance companies and funding agencies affect treatment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do the requirements of insurance companies...

Question 7

What are some techniques used to help a worker avoid the burnout that comes with not putting realistic limits on oneself?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some techniques used to help...

Question 8

Given all the potential frustrations of the field of human services, what are your reasons for choosing this field?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given all the potential frustrations of the...

Question 9

In its advanced stages, burnout can lead to a human service worker no longer caring about, or actually disliking, his or her clients.

Accepted Answer

Burnout in human service workers can lead to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment, which may manifest as a lack of empathy or negative feelings towards clients.

Question 10

If a worker cares enough, works hard enough, and is conscientious enough, there is no reason why all of his or her clients shouldn't improve their life conditions.

Accepted Answer

Improvement in clients' life conditions depends on various factors including the client's willingness to change, external circumstances, and resources available, not just on the worker's effort and attitude.

Question 11

In human service work, it is often very frustrating when clients are feeling or acting better and we do not learn about their positive developments.

Accepted Answer

Human service workers often invest emotionally in their clients' progress, so not being informed about positive developments can be frustrating as it leaves them uncertain about the effectiveness of their interventions and the client's well-being.

Question 12

In the human services there is a sharp distinction between a professional organization and a union.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the human services there is a...

Question 13

The process of relating so completely to another person's feelings and/or experiences that one cannot separate oneself from the other person is called:

Accepted Answer

Over identification is the process where an individual relates so deeply to another's feelings or experiences that they lose the distinction between their own emotions and those of the other person, leading to a blurring of emotional boundaries.

Question 14

Some human service agencies respond to a lack of resources by sacrificing their original service goals in order to meet their administrative needs.

Accepted Answer

Many human service agencies, when faced with insufficient resources, may prioritize administrative needs or shift their focus away from their original service goals to ensure the organization's survival, often due to funding constraints or operational pressures.

Question 15

Workers have found that rotating tasks within an agency is a useful burnout protection.

Accepted Answer

Rotating tasks within an agency can help prevent burnout by providing variety, reducing monotony, and allowing employees to develop new skills, which can increase job satisfaction and engagement.

Question 16

Placing a child in a foster home cannot be reimbursed by an insurance company.

Accepted Answer

Insurance companies typically do not cover the costs associated with placing a child in a foster home, as this is generally considered a social service rather than a medical or health-related expense.

Question 17

A "60-day miracle cure" refers to the fact that some insurance companies will not reimburse for in-patient psychiatric care after 60 days.

Accepted Answer

Some insurance companies do not reimburse for in-patient psychiatric care after 60 days.

Question 18

An effective supervisor gives a lot of autonomy to workers.

Accepted Answer

An effective supervisor often gives a lot of autonomy to workers as it can lead to increased job satisfaction, creativity, and productivity by empowering them to make decisions and solve problems independently.

Question 19

There is research evidence that shows that helping others improves people's mental health, physical well-being, and longevity.

Accepted Answer

Numerous studies have found that engaging in acts of kindness and helping others can lead to significant improvements in a person's mental health, physical well-being, and even increase their lifespan. This is often attributed to the positive emotions, sense of purpose, and social connections that come from altruistic behaviors, which can contribute to lower stress levels, improved mood, and overall better health outcomes.

Question 20

Karl Marx said that when work does not belong to the worker, he does not feel content.

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx argued that under capitalism, workers are alienated from their labor because they do not own what they produce, leading to a lack of fulfillment and contentment.

Quiz 14: Avoiding Burnout