Presents a brief overview of four sociological theories concerning rural-urban differences: classical, determinist, compositional, and subcultural. Draws implications and applications for social workers and human service personnel. Suggests development of a typology which would include such components as theoretical orientation, roles of workers,…

Considers natural, informal, and formal rural helping systems in an effort to clarify and elaborate concepts that are useful in understanding the context of rural practice. Describes and gives examples that influence available services: functionalist, historicist, acculturation, exchange, and ecological effects. (NEC)