Client Self-Determination in Social Casework: Fact or Fancy? An Exploratory Study

Abstract

An examination of the social work literature revealed that advocates of the client's right to self-determination had departed radically from the literal meaning of the term without any acknowledgment of having done so. This was seen to be related to the failure of social work writers to distinguish between the concepts of positive and negative freedom. It was argued that social work writings revealed a commitment to client self-determination as positive freedom and that this was not a concept of client self-determination at all.