Making Human Behavior Theory Real Through the Unreal: Fiction in the HBSE Classroom

Abstract

This article examines the use of fictional literature as a method for helping students apply human behavior theory in competent practice. When students and educators read a poem, short essay, or novel, it allows them the opportunity to join together as an audience as they tease out teachable lessons from the story. The authors posit that when used in human behavior and the social environment courses, fictional literature allows educators and students to experience abstract content as more concrete. Following a brief literature review, we examine one novel through the lens of three different human behavior theories.

Keywords:

• fiction
• theory
• classroom
• social work
• human behavior
• literature
• HBSE