Introduction

Social Role Valorization is based on the Social Sciences. It draws from Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology etc. and also draws support from less rigorous considerations of human nature - literature and the press and general human experience.

It is specifically science based- it claims to be empirical- that is to say that it makes predictions that can be tested by clear and open methods.

It is specifically NOT an Ideology (an Ideology is a set of rules about what should be done to reach a declared aim). Normalization has many elements of an Ideology about it, but SRV is completely clear of any Ideological content.

It is specifically NOT a Religion - a set of beliefs testable only by faith.

Although many of its proponents in the past and unfortunately also some currently have presented SRV as an Ideology or a Religion, this is not the intent of core SRV or certainly of this proponent!

SRV is also not the sum of Wolf Wolfensberger's teachings - many of his earlier presentations of SRV verged into Ideology and many of his present teaching are outside of the SRV field.

To summarise, SRV is based on and is part of the social sciences. It is empirical and hence falsifiable. It is a science in itself.

Daughter pages below contain further information on this subject that has not yet been interpreted and explained: