UNIT-V, Social Group Work-D. Sreenivasa Reddy

Introduction:
Human being is a social animal they can’t live without the social interaction, and community life. Social interaction is one of the indirect ways learning by doing. The establishment of satisfying group life outside the family is pre- requisite for effective social living, which every individual must accomplish though out his life. All human beings do not live alone and group life is basic for every human being. Another important area of social work is social group work, which deals with the individuals as a member of the group.

Social Group: Social group in the ordinary sense means that any collection of more than one individual, but sociologically it is a collection of individuals interacting with each other under a recognized structure. A social group is always motivated by some common goals and interests, characterized by some rules and regulations (formal and informal), which regulates the behavior of its members.  Ogburn defines it: The group in a statement “We feelings”. We feelings mean that the members of the group develop basic responses for each other. The following are some of the essential characteristics, which distinguish a group from a non-group: 

1. Collection of individuals
2. Psychological interaction.
3. Common goals and interaction.
4. Group norms. 

Group work is a method of social work practice by which individuals are served within and through small face to face groups, in order to solve their problems and bring about desired changes at the individual, group and community level. It recognizes the strength of the social forces that are generated within small groups and seeks to mobilize them for change in the client. Group work is a conscious attempt to help people to become more effective in group situations and to find common interests and mutual satisfaction in doing so.

Genesis of Group Work:
Social group work began as 'group work' with its own unique history and heroes. It was not part of the mainstream of professional social work, which in the early days was synonymous with casework, as far as the method was concerned.

• The ideological roots of social group work were in the self-help and informal recreational organisations, such as YMCA, YWCA settlement, scouting, Jewish Centres in U.S.A. and democratic ideals that all should share in the benefits of society following the Industrial Revolution.
• Social group work was also influenced by progressive education as it developed in Europe and stressed the use modern and liberal techniques in group learning. 
• The major thrust of early group-serving agencies was toward the normal rather than the maladjusted person who would seek service primarily during his 'leisure' hours. He came for recreation, education, enjoyment and the development of special skills and interests. 
• Group work was then not geared towards individuals with particular problems. The person with severe problems who appeared in the group was incorporated as much as possible with his peers or was referred for individual attention to a casework agency or psychiatric clinic. 
• The first course in group work was offered by the Western Reserve University in the U.S.A. in the early 1930s. There was then great preoccupation and focus on the activity and programme of the group. This, unfortunately, in many ways held back the flowering of group work as a theoretically sound method within social work. 
• In 1935 Grace Coyle, as the Chairman of the newly established section of social group work of the National Conference of Social Work, began to clarify that group work was a method within social work and that recreation and education were other fields (professions) which might include group work as a method.
• The focus then gradually moved from doing activities to talking activities which was understood at that time as leading more quickly towards self-understanding, insight and behavioural change.
• In the 1940s, with the efforts of persons such as Grace Coyle, Clara Kaiser, Wilber Newsetter, Gertrude Wilson and Helen Phillips, group work was more fully rooted within the profession of social work and began to be taught in many more schools in the USA.
• By the early 1950s the method developed its own distinctiveness and was introduced in most schools of social work throughout the U.S.A., Great Britain, Canada and other parts of the world. 
• Social group work now wrested itself from the field of social psychology and also distinguished its methodology from group psychotherapy. It moved into many 'specialized' settings previously reserved for the practice of casework to serve problem clients. 
• It developed a refined and sophisticated set of techniques as the National Association of Social Workers and the Council of Social Work Education produced new documents and publications in group work. Gisella Konopka, William Schwartz and Dorothea Spellman were the new group work writers. 
• They urged that group work cease following the path of casework development and move to identify and elaborate its own therapy and practice. 
• Thus group work obtained a new depth and vision. Its competence is reserved neither for dysfunctioning individuals alone nor for the range of services to maximize potentials; it can be used for a range of services.
• In the late 1960s, Ruth Smalley's new text book "Theory for Social Work Practice" whose uniqueness rests in the fact that it is the first book to present a unified theory applicable to casework, group work and community organisation, made a breakthrough in social work education by emphasizing the commonalities of the three methods.
• The seventies and eighties saw the method of group work being utilised in new innovations such as the laboratory method, sensitivity training, encounter groups and many movements like transactional analysis, gestalt therapy and so forth.

Basic Assumptions of Social Group Work:
Douglas has mentioned the following basic assumptions upon which group work practice is founded.

• That group experience is universal and an essential upon of human existence. 
• That group can be used to affect changes in the attitudes, and behaviour of individuals. 
• That groups provide experience which can be monitored or selected in some way for beneficial ends. Life outside the group is in no way neglected the ‘here and now’ situation within the group. 
• That groups offer experiences shared with others so that all can come to have something in common with the sense of belonging of growing together. 
• That groups produce change which is more permanent, that can be achieved by other methods and change which is obtained more quickly also. 
• That groups assist in the removal or diminution of difficulties created by previous exposure to the process of learning. 
• That groups as instruments of helping others may be economical in the use of scarce resources, e.g. skilled workers, time etc., 
• That a group can examine its own behaviour and in so doing learn about the general patterns of group behaviour (process). 

Coyle has narrated basic assumptions of group work as :

• A firm conviction of the value leisure time educational and recreational activities can yield both to the individual and to society. 
• The group worker brings an insight to his job. The group worker always is aware of two simultaneous streams of activity within the groups. One the one hand, he sees the programme activities and their progress, games discussion, business meetings, dramatics or ceramics as the case may be. On th other hand, he sees an interplay of social relationships which make the group.
• The programme must be viewed always in terms of its effect of individual. This involves, in the first place, keeping his relation to the group person centered and not activity centered. 
• The group worker is aware of the emotional, social as well as physical and intellectual aspects of the lives of those with whom he works as well as their leisure time pursuits related to their work situations, their family relations and their community attitudes. 
• If group workers are to help individuals seeking recreation and education to find them in the most fruitful forms they need to understand behaviour. 

In general, social group work is based on the following basic assumptions:

• Man is a Group animal, 
• Social interaction is the result of group life, 
• Man’s achievements can be increased, changed and developed through group experiences. 
• The capacity to solve problems may be increased through group experiences. 
• Group experiences change the level of individual’s aspirations and desires. 
• Group recreational activities are beneficial to both individual and society. 
• Group experiences have permanent impact on individuals. 
• Group work always focuses its attention on two types of activities-programme and social relationships in the group. 
• Social group work believes in the principle of ‘whole man’ 
• Evaluation of programme activities is done on the basis of its effects on group members. 
• Individual member may be fully understood and helped in group activities. 
• Knowledge of social sciences is essential for working with the group. 
• Professional knowledge and skills are essential for working with the group. 

Definitions of Social Group Work:
In Indian context, Social Group Work refer to working with a small group (members ranging from 7-10) to a medium size group (members ranging from 10-20) for a variety of purposes beginning from recreation to behaviour modification on the one hand and accomplishing tasks including social change and development on the other, with a variety of clients ranging from children to elderly. The worker makes use of the expertise in human relationships to help these groups to achieve the group goals in a participatory manner while paying adequate attention to individual needs and social norms (H.Y. Siddiqui -2008).

Skidmore (1988) defined that “Social Group Work is used for the purpose of reducing or eliminating roadblocks to social interaction and accomplishing desirable social goals”.

According to Balgopal & Vassili (1983) “Group Work include both improving the normal functioning and neutralizing the abnormal functioning of individuals”.

Sallie Bright (1955) defined “Group Work can address the two fold objectives of providing therapeutic services and also the political goal of strengthening democratic functioning”.

According to H. B. Trecker (1955) “Social Group Work is a method through which individuals in groups and in agency settings are helped by a worker who guides their interaction in programme activities so that they may relate themselves to others and experience growth opportunities in accordance with their needs and capacities to the end of the individual, group and community development”.

G. Konapka (1963) defined “Social Group Work is a method of social work which helps individuals to enhance their social functioning through purposeful group experiences and to cope more effectively with their personal, group or community problems”.

In view of Hamilton (1949) “Social Group work is a psychosocial process which is concerned no less than with developing leadership ability and co operation than with building on the interests of the group for a social purpose”.

Coyle (1954) defined “Group Work is used within group experience as a means to individual growth and development, and that the group worker is concerned in developing social responsibility and active citizenship for the improvement of democratic society”.

 According to Wilson & Ryland (1949), “Group Work as a social process and a method through which group life is affected by a worker who consciously direct the interacting process toward the accomplishment of goals which are conceived in a democratic frame of reference”.

Social group worker does not concentrate on individual alone. It helps in educational development and cultural growth of the members of the groups. The worker is interested in helping the individuals through guided group interaction.

Aim and Objectives of the Group Work:
The success of the group work depends on the creative abilities, skill, and attitude of the worker. Workers conduct him in such a way as to enable to group to achieve its objectives. He plays as the role of helper, and enabler. Cementing force, keeping the group intact, and giving their activities proper direction with the help of group. Their further job is to stimulate the initiative, the group consciousness and self-direction in the group.

In the words of H.B. Trecker: “social group work is not only a matter of what the worker does but also a matter of how the worker does it and why does it that way. Truly, the key to social group work is the worker. The worker is an, ‘enabler’ rather than the ‘group leader’. They are interested in seeing to it that groups are helped to a greater independence and self reliance.”

Social group work has many objectives to help the individuals of the groups and community. The following are some of them:

• growth.
• To To teach the individuals to live and work together and to participate in the activities of a group for their intellectual, emotional and psychological solve problems of adjustment by developing personality of individuals through group process.
• To give opportunity to those who have potentialities of leadership.
• To make the best use of leisure time of the people.
• To learn the division of Labour and specialization of roles.
• Group therapy helps patients who are in need of physical, mental and emotional adjustment.
• To prepare the people for social change.
• To transmit knowledge, experience and skill to one another.
• To encourage the individual as member of the group to express their feelings, ideas and desires.
• To reduce isolation.
• To create group feelings and sense of belongings in the members of the group.
• To establish social relationship among them.

In short, social group work provides a training ground for democratic life. Thus, social group work has proved equally beneficial to individuals, groups and community.

Goal/Purpose of the Group Work:
The broad objectives of the group work are similar to social work profession as a whole. Social group work tries to enrich community life by helping individual learn how to take responsibility for their own behavior and how to take to become participating members of the group. Thus the member of the group become socially mature and learns how to work as a team. The programmes must be based on social needs and support of the community. Participation in-group activities lead to their personal satisfaction and social advancement.

Group work seeks to provide opportunities for planned group experiences that are needed by all people. As a specialized technique, group work seeks to provide a group setting in place of old institutions like joint family and neighborhood etc. that once used to provide a healthy group life experience so essential for the development of an integrated personality.

Here the object of social group work is to provide a kind of experience in a controlled environment, which enables the members to participate freely and effectively in varying group situation. Social group provides a training ground for democratic life .The group members imbibe democratic values and get experience in conducting themselves in a democratic way. Democratic experience has educative and liberalizing effects on the participants, which is likely to make them democratic in outlook. Group work has a preventive aspect also. The problem of delinquency (criminal behavior) is most due to poor unhealthy conditions. So that it is important to start preventive programme in order to check the occurrence of several social problems. Group work activity is integral part of such programme. Prevention is better than cure. So group work has proved equally beneficial to individual, grouped and communities.

Functions of Group Work:

• Group works mainly sees the situation & the needs of all the individuals & try to solve the problems of the individuals. For every individual the group is the main source of strength & renders everybody helping hand. 
• A group fulfil the social desires and need of each individual in the group. 
• Group work is carried on with voluntary group in the setting of social agency.
• Group workers take care of social agencies in many fields as education, religious & recreational field. 
• It is a helping process with dual purpose of individual & group growth. 
• The function of the group work is always for the betterment of the individual as well as for the growth of the entire group. 
• Group worker plays role of enabler & helping person, by earning an effective group. The group worker. 

Principles of Social Group Work:
The group worker must understand the basic principles of social group work and must be guided by them in his professional practice. Principles are guiding statements that have come from experience or research. Their generalizations are based upon what has been observed good practice with groups in different situations. The purpose of these principles is to guide the group worker who needs knowledge of the individuals and groups’ behavior and social conditions as well as the ability to work efficiently with the group of people. H. B Trecker in his masterpiece “Social Group Work – Principles and Practice” has given the following principles of social group work:

1.  Principle of planned group formation: The group is the basic unit through which individuals are helped to grow physically, socially, culturally and psychologically. The first task of the group worker is to form a group. The group workers should be aware about the needs and resources of the group and also their potentialities limitations and the cultural values of the areas.

2.  Principle of helping or enabling function: The function of the group worker is helping or enabling function. So, he should solve his problems on self-help basis. The objective should be according to the wishes and capabilities and help them for the solution of their problems within their own resources through self-help basis.

3.  Principle of purposeful relationship: Group work method requires the worker to form purposeful relationship with group members, which means that they should focus on the needs of the people, which are expressed by the members. We can achieve such relationship through self-knowledge and self disciplined.

4.  Principle of organization: The organization of the group should be flexible, should be adjustable in various situations. It should change with the needs of the group and according to the change situations for the smooth function of the group.

5.  Principle of self decision or planning: The group must be helped to make its own decision, its own planning and programmes and the members should take the responsibility according to their ability.

6.  Principle of programme acceptance: the members of the group according to their capabilities, educational level, needs, experience and socio-economic level should accept Programme of the group. These programmes should progress in relation to the developing capacity of the group.

7.  Principle of people: Without acceptance this programme by the people it cannot give the good results. The social group worker should convince the people to accept this programme, which is aimed at the solution of their felt needs. They people should accept the advice to solve their mutual respect and love increases the good relationships, which helps in understanding of social group worker and group and for the solution of the problems and for the development of the programme.

8.  Principle of best utilization of resources: The group and community resources should be utilized in relation to the group and individual needs for the benefits of the group as a whole.

9.  Principle of individualization: The individual should be convinced in a way that he should feel to contribute to the group welfare. However the individual and the group should feel for the development and new changes in the community.

10.     Principle of evaluation: The continuous evaluation of the group work process and the progress is essential. The group worker should evaluate the progress in accordance with the prescribed standard. In Pakistan, social group work method is used incommunity centers, hospitals, and educational and other institutions. The principles of social group work can successfully apply not only in the limited fields but also in the larger fields of social welfare and even in working withother political, social and religious group.

In addition to the above principles given by H. B Trecker, other social science experts like Douglus & Tom has mentioned 14 Principles of Social Group Work. Terence J. Cooke in his book ‘Basic Principles of Social Group Work’ mentioned 4 Principles of Group Work and Walter A Friedlander in his book ‘Concepts and Methods of Social Work’ mentioned 10 principles of Social Group Work.

Characteristics of Social Group Work:
Group work is essential to work with a systematic plan having understanding, we feelings and concentration. Group workers are viewed as helping persons whose job is to help people by identifying her/his problem, skill and ability.

1. Group work practiced by group itself 
2. It is based on humanitarian philosophy 
3. It gives aspiration to help each other 
4. Group work provides more information and more skill 
5. It develop human personality 

There are specific characteristics of group work which are distinct from those of the other methods of social work.

1. Group work makes use of multiple relationships and a multi-person process (worker to member, worker to group, member to member and member to group) whereas casework relies on the interview, a two-person process. The latter also sometimes utilises joint interviews as well when there are multiple clients in family casework in which case knowledge and use of group theory and dynamics are used.

2.  The group is an instrument for meeting basic needs and strengthening human capacities. It promotes identification of participants with one another and provides freedom to relate as and when the client is ready for it.

3. A unique characteristic of group work is its use of programme media such as play, discussion, arts and crafts, music, dance, drama, role play, outings and parties which facilitate mastery of skills and serve as a vehicle for fostering human relationships.

4. Programme activities offer scope for utilisation of non-verbal communication, a particularly valuable tool for clients who cannot articulate their needs and problems.

5. Membership in the group, exposure to its influences, participation in its activities and acquisition of a role and status within it can have potent effects for individuals.

Skills of Social Group Worker:
The worker in the group have different role to play at a time, before starting an activity he must be aware the group dynamics, interaction, environment and interest of the group to achieve the set goal and objectives. For that, he must have some skill in hand in order to implant the project according the expectation of, first group and second the community for him/her if working.

• He /she must be skilful to gain first the confidence of the group using his/her professional skill. 
• He must also try to bring cohesion and unity on the part of other members in the group. Needs, resources with in-group should be clear to the group worker, to mobilize the group with prevailing resources for a particular problem.
• He/she must define his/her own role with further work with the group members for participation and developing leadership. There are positive and negative feeling developed when the group interacts.

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