The field that I will be going into is not the kind of science similar to anthropology, but it is a social science-social work. While there isn’t a common point of view about evolution discussed among social workers, we do focus on human variation. However the majority of social workers are not religious, so my best guess would be that evolution is believed by a good amount of them. Since this is the class, the videos did not change how I view my field. While they weren’t required for my major, only for the prerequisites, I have studied anthropology before in other classes.

One of the only things that social workers study in regards to evolution is the disease model of addiction. While it is still being studied, a lot of workers, especially in the U.S., see addiction as a genetic issue that the user cannot control and who they are as a person does not play the major role, while other models focus on their morality or personality. There is some component within their genes passed down from their family that makes them more susceptible.

Human variation plays a big role in this field. We have to know about different kinds of religion and what the best approach is to their believers, what communities have bigger roles in addiction, such as the African American and less educated communities, and those who delay seeking help such as the LGBTQ+ community. These are only a few examples. We have to pay attention to how to help different personality types, as well as family structures. We also have to study a variety of mental illness that may more difficult to treat, such as schizophrenia and anti-social personality disorder. We understand that the treatment one person needs will not work for everyone.

Another aspect of human variation that we study is how social class affects our patients. Wealthier people are more likely to be discrete when seeking help, and are able to afford better options. They also tend to look down on the less fortunate people seeking the same kind of help, and are more likely to be in denial. Less wealthy people may take longer to seek support due to costs, lack of known resources, or how their community views their issues. They also may feel more guilty and responsible. Wealthier people tend to be more educated as well, and overall don’t deal with the same issues as severely.

Another is gender. Men are more likely to deal with addiction issues overall, while women are more likely to struggle with mental health issues and eating disorders. Men are also more hesitant to seek help, due to stigma, which can also affect the numbers researchers currently believe.

The types of jobs that social workers go into is also an aspect. There are a variety of jobs a social worker can have, such as working in rehabs, in the justice system, medical social work, teaching, in schools, and more. This is because not just one group needs help, and people need a variety of different kinds of help. Some communities are under served and desperately need more as well as better social workers, such as child protective services.