Social group work principles

Social group work principles
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 commoninterests 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
organizations, such as YMCA, YWCA settlement, scouting, Jewish Centre’s 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.
H.B. Tracker: “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 utilization 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.
Mohammad Habeeb (MSW 2nd Semester)

Social group work principles

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Social group work principles