Re-viewing the Social Context of Occupation through a Theoretical Lens: Social Capital, Social Identity and Social Support – Bourdieu, Holland, and Putnam
Occupational therapy is rooted in several philosophical traditions that conceptualize human action as inherently social and inextricable from social fields (i.e., structured social spaces in which people relate and position themselves using capital). Occupational therapy can add a unique and critical lens to interventions directed at social forces e.g., policy, culture, and social identity, that impact health, wellbeing, and disparities. However, addressing social determinants of health requires practitioners to understand the social field and how occupation unfolds through the intersection of various social contexts. This chapter will focus on social theories that have been frequently cited in the literature to elucidate occupation and understandings of justice, equity, and belonging. These theories have been used as a foundation to enhance extant occupational therapy practice and to further incorporate complex understandings of how occupation is expressed through social fields. Specifically, this chapter will present social capital, social identity, and social support theory through the works of Pierre Bourdieu, Robert Putnam, and Dorothy Holland. Further, we will provide examples of how these theories can be applied to contemporary occupational therapy practice including how they can support practitioners in addressing micro, meso, and macro barriers to occupation.
