Social workers have derived most of their knowledge of human functioning and human problems from psychological models. Unfortunately, this knowledge has limited workers' understanding of the social casualties labeled 'institutionalized,' 'chronic,' and 'hard core,' and of the role component of being mentally ill, retarted, a welfare recipient, and criminal. The process model, in which a person moves from merely having a problem to actually accepting the deviant role, indicates that different factors are significant during the process of becoming deviant. For example, helping professionals may reinforce a client's movement towards the deviant role by excluding the person who seeks help from the treatment planning process or by rewarding the client's dependence on the helping professional. The process model implies that social workers can unlock clients from their deviant identities by recognizing the responsibility assumed by clients in treatment decisions. Social workers should also continue their efforts to develop preventive programs and policies. Twenty-one notes and references and a chart on the deviant process are included. (Author abstract modified)