Multidimensional human behavior in the complex social environment; decolonizing theories for social work practice: Aguilar, Jemel P. & Counselman-Carpenter, E. (Eds). (2024). California: Cognella Academic Publishing, (344 pp., $94.61 (paperback), ISBN 9781793576866)

The book *Multidimensional Human Behavior in the Complex Social Environment; Decolonizing Theories for Social Work Practice*, edited by Jemel P. Aguilar and Elisabeth Counselman-Carpenter, critically examines human behavior through systems theory, critical social theories, and socio-political framew...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 367 - 373
Autores principales: Delief Laufa, Akurius, Benyamin Menoh, Gusti Arianto
Formato: Book Review
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The book *Multidimensional Human Behavior in the Complex Social Environment; Decolonizing Theories for Social Work Practice*, edited by Jemel P. Aguilar and Elisabeth Counselman-Carpenter, critically examines human behavior through systems theory, critical social theories, and socio-political frameworks to address the complexities of individual and collective experiences across the lifespan. It emphasizes decolonizing social work by integrating cultural competence, intersectionality, and structural analyses of marginalization, trauma, and systemic inequalities shaped by historical and economic forces. Organized by life stages, the text explores themes such as identity development, social hierarchies, and resilience, offering case studies and theoretical insights relevant to social work, psychology, early childhood education, and philosophy. While theoretically rigorous and interdisciplinary, the book highlights the need for culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and socially just practices, though it may present accessibility challenges for some readers and offers limited practical solutions. Overall, it serves as a comprehensive resource for scholars and practitioners seeking to understand human behavior within complex social environments and to promote equity and inclusion in diverse professional contexts.