The document discusses the history and definitions of social group work. It describes how Joseph Pratt in 1905 used group therapy with tuberculosis patients to provide inspiration, support, and encouragement. It then discusses definitions of social group work from various scholars that describe it as a method to help groups achieve goals and enhance social functioning through face-to-face interactions. The rationale and basic assumptions of social group work are also summarized, which include the ideas that groups can effect individual change and offer a sense of belonging through shared experiences and mutual aid.

1. imranahmad131@gmail.com
Lecturer (Social Work),
ISSG, University of Peshawar
Imran Ahmad Sajid

2. 1905—Joseph Hersey Pratt
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
• Psychotherapy Group of Tuberculosis Outpatients
• Problems:
– patients' emotional reactions, their feelings of shame and
discouragement because of their illness, often interfered with their
capacity to adhere to self-care programmes.
– chronic and cyclical conditions of patients often led to personal
discouragement and depression.
• Group as a source of inspiration and support:
– saved time and effort by providing information and encouragement in
a common setting.
– Patients became more concerned with each other overtime, also had
positive influence on each other.

3. 1907—Jesse B. Davis
• Grand Rapids High School, Michigan
• One English class per week for “Vocational
and Moral Guidance”
• Group as an environment in which to learn life
skills and values

4. Definitions and Description
of Social Group Work
• (1). Social group work is “a broad professional
practice that refers to the giving of help or the
accomplishment of tasks in a group setting.
• It involves assisting an interdependent
collection of people to reach their mutual
goals, which may be personal, interpersonal,
or task-related in nature.”
• Association for Specialists in Group Work
(ASGW, 1990)

5. • (2). Group work is method by which the group
worker enables various types of groups to
function in such a way that both group
interaction and programme activities
contribute to the growth of the individual and
the achievement of desirable social goals
(Association for the Advancement of Group
Work-1948)

6. • (3). Group work is a method of working with
people in groups (two or more people) for the
enhancement of social functioning and for the
achievement of socially desirable goals.

7. • (4). Social group work is a “Goal-directed
activity with small groups of people aimed at
meeting socio-emotional needs1 and
accomplishing tasks.2 This activity is directed
to individual members of a group and to the
group as a whole within a system of service
delivery.” Toseland and Rivas

8. • (5). Social group work is a social work method
aimed at helping individuals to enhance their
functioning as social beings through face-to-face
interactions in small groups.
• Members of social work groups seek either to
change their own behaviour1, the behaviour of
other people2, or both3. The social worker in the
group facilitates the way members pursue these
goals by interacting with individuals in the group.
• Charles D. Garvin

9. • (6). Group work is about building bonds
between people which depend on the
establishment of trusting relationships. It is
also about helping to forge connections
between people who may be different or
unlike one another. Fiona McDermott, 2002

10. Rationale for Group Work
in Social Work
• Group provide an environment of mutual aid.
• Gitterman (2006), a social work educator and group work
scholar, has elaborated that
• “as members become involved with one another, they
develop helping relationships and take interest in each
other and participate in the group activities". The mutual
aid processes that unfold in a group context help group
members
– "to experience their concerns and life issues as universal,"
– "reduce isolation and stigma,"
– "offer and receive help from each other," and
– "learn from each other’s views, suggestions and challenges".
sign of social unacceptability
underlying reasons

11. Basic Assumptions
of Social Group Work
The basic assumptions on which group work
practice is found are as under:
1. group experience is universal and an essential
part of human existence
2. groups can be used to effect changes in the
attitudes and behaviour of individuals
3. groups offer experience shared with others so
that all can come to have something in common
with the sense of belonging and of growing
together
(belief without proof)

12. 4. groups produce change which is more
permanent than can be achieved by other
methods and change which is obtained more
quickly also
5. groups assist in the removal or diminution of
difficulties created by previous exposure to the
process of learning
6. groups as instruments of helping others may be
economical in the use of scarce resources, e.g.
skilled workers, time, etc.
7. a group can examine its own behaviour and in so
doing learn about the general patterns of group
behaviour (process).

13. Principles of Social Group Work