Theorising the development of individual interests in policy change promotion: inspirations for social work education

This article advances a theoretical account of individual interest development as a central yet underexamined driver of social workers’ engagement in policy change promotion. Challenging prevailing concepts of political or policy interest, it conceptualizes individual interest as a dynamic, content-specific, and action-oriented phenomenon that bridges motivation and practice. Drawing on psychological and educational theories of interest formation, as well as sociological conceptions developed by Weber, Habermas, and Bourdieu, the article integrates personal, relational, and structural dimensions into a coherent analytical perspective. This perspective is articulated through a developmental framework comprising initiation, development, and operation phases. Such a framework elucidates how fragile situational interest can evolve into enduring individual interest capable of sustaining action despite organizational and institutional constraints. The article addresses a significant conceptual gap in social work education, where insufficient theoretical tools have limited students’ preparation for policy practice. By applying the framework to pedagogical design, the article demonstrates how social work education can more effectively cultivate students’ professional identities as agents of change, linking personal commitment with professional responsibility. The concept of individual interest development is presented as a useful theoretical tool, with implications for social work education and future empirical research.