TOO CLOSE IN OR TOO FAR OUT — LEARNING TO HOLD THE ROLE OF OBSERVER: TUTORS' INTRODUCTION TO A SOCIAL WORK STUDENT'S REFLECTIONS ON HER EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING THROUGH CHILD OBSERVATION

Linnet McMahon; Stephen Farnfield

TOO CLOSE IN OR TOO FAR OUT — LEARNING TO HOLD THE ROLE OF OBSERVER: TUTORS' INTRODUCTION TO A SOCIAL WORK STUDENT'S REFLECTIONS ON HER EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING THROUGH CHILD OBSERVATION

Linnet McMahon, Stephen Farnfield

School of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In this and a second linked paper (Natasha Quitak ‘Difficulties in Holding the Role of the Observer’), social work tutors and a former student examine the learning which can come from the experience of infant and child observation in social work qualifying training. The ability to hold the role of observer is an essential skill for social work which can to a large extent be learned. It involves finding a distance close enough to experience the feelings involved in the child's relationships but far enough out to be able to think about them. Difficulties in managing the anxieties involved in the task may be linked to students' own familial and cultural patterns of relating. Attachment theory and psychodynamic thinking provide the theoretical underpinning for learning.

This first paper is written from the perspective of the social work tutor.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	239-246
Number of pages	8
Journal	JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Volume	18
Issue number	2
Publication status	Published - 2004

Keywords

observation, learning, attachment, reflection, anxiety, culture

Cite this

@article{53edc282159349dea96e9dc069707840,

title = "TOO CLOSE IN OR TOO FAR OUT — LEARNING TO HOLD THE ROLE OF OBSERVER: TUTORS' INTRODUCTION TO A SOCIAL WORK STUDENT'S REFLECTIONS ON HER EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING THROUGH CHILD OBSERVATION",

abstract = "In this and a second linked paper (Natasha Quitak {\textquoteleft}Difficulties in Holding the Role of the Observer{\textquoteright}), social work tutors and a former student examine the learning which can come from the experience of infant and child observation in social work qualifying training. The ability to hold the role of observer is an essential skill for social work which can to a large extent be learned. It involves finding a distance close enough to experience the feelings involved in the child's relationships but far enough out to be able to think about them. Difficulties in managing the anxieties involved in the task may be linked to students' own familial and cultural patterns of relating. Attachment theory and psychodynamic thinking provide the theoretical underpinning for learning.This first paper is written from the perspective of the social work tutor.",

keywords = "observation, learning, attachment, reflection, anxiety, culture",

author = "Linnet McMahon and Stephen Farnfield",

year = "2004",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

pages = "239--246",

journal = "JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE",

issn = "0265-0533",

publisher = "Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - TOO CLOSE IN OR TOO FAR OUT — LEARNING TO HOLD THE ROLE OF OBSERVER

T2 - TUTORS' INTRODUCTION TO A SOCIAL WORK STUDENT'S REFLECTIONS ON HER EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING THROUGH CHILD OBSERVATION

AU - McMahon, Linnet

AU - Farnfield, Stephen

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - In this and a second linked paper (Natasha Quitak ‘Difficulties in Holding the Role of the Observer’), social work tutors and a former student examine the learning which can come from the experience of infant and child observation in social work qualifying training. The ability to hold the role of observer is an essential skill for social work which can to a large extent be learned. It involves finding a distance close enough to experience the feelings involved in the child's relationships but far enough out to be able to think about them. Difficulties in managing the anxieties involved in the task may be linked to students' own familial and cultural patterns of relating. Attachment theory and psychodynamic thinking provide the theoretical underpinning for learning.This first paper is written from the perspective of the social work tutor.

AB - In this and a second linked paper (Natasha Quitak ‘Difficulties in Holding the Role of the Observer’), social work tutors and a former student examine the learning which can come from the experience of infant and child observation in social work qualifying training. The ability to hold the role of observer is an essential skill for social work which can to a large extent be learned. It involves finding a distance close enough to experience the feelings involved in the child's relationships but far enough out to be able to think about them. Difficulties in managing the anxieties involved in the task may be linked to students' own familial and cultural patterns of relating. Attachment theory and psychodynamic thinking provide the theoretical underpinning for learning.This first paper is written from the perspective of the social work tutor.

KW - observation, learning, attachment, reflection, anxiety, culture

M3 - Article

SN - 0265-0533

VL - 18

SP - 239

EP - 246

JO - JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

JF - JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

IS - 2

ER -