Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction
Social case work, a primary method of social work, is considered with the
relations. Better family life, improved schools better housing, more hospitals and
between religious groups help the individual in his adjustment and development.
But his adjustment and development depend on the use of these resources by
existing facilities. In such situations, social case worker helps him. Thus, social
case work is one to one relationship which works in helping the individual for
DEFINITIONS
Social case work may be defined as the art of doing different things for
and with different people by cooperating with them to achieve at one and the
RICHMOND (1917)
Social case work is the art of bringing about the better adjustments in the
RICHMOND (1922)
1
JARRETT (1919)
condition of social disorder into the best possible relation with all parts of his
environment”4
TAFT (1920)
relationships, and to assist him in working out a better social and personal
adjustment.5
WATSON (1922)
Social case work is “the art of untangling and reconstructing the twisted
personality in such manner that the individual can adjust himself to his
environment.6
QUEEN (1922)
LEE (1923)
2
TAYLOR (1926)
REYNOLDS (1932)
Social case work is the process of counseling with the client on a problem
which is essentially his own, involving some difficulty in his social relationship.
10
REYNOLDS (1935)
Social case work is ‘that form of social work which assists the individual
which he struggles to relate himself to his family, his natural groups, his
community.11
KLEIN (1938)
SWIFT (1939)
Social case work is the art of assisting the individual in developing and
making use of his personal capacity to deal with problems which he faces in his
social environment’.13
DESCHWNINTIZ (1939)
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agencies, according to policies established and with consideration of individual
need.14
STRODE (1948)
Social case work is the process of assisting the individual to the best
possible social adjustment through the use of social case study, social resources,
TOWLE
Social case work is one method… by which certain special services are
BOWERS (1949)
between the client and all or any parts of his total environment.17
HOLLIS (1956)
individuals find solution to problems of social adjustment which they are unable
HAMILTON (1956)
In social case work the client is stimulated to participle in the study of his
situation, to share plans, to make an active efforts to solve his problems, using
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his own resources and whatever community resources are available and
appropriate.19
HOLLIS (1957)
individual find solution to problems of social adjustment which they are unable
PERLMAN (1957)
functioning.21
The credit goes to Mary Richmond for defining the social case work
scientifically. In 1915 she said that social case work is an art through which help
is provided to people for their betterment as well as for the betterment of society.
It means that social case work is essential if any country wants to improve and
develop society and community. But this definition was not clear and therefore,
she defines again in 1917 in which she emphasized the specific purpose i.e.
better adjustment in the social relationships. Again in 1922 she told that social
case work is for change of the personality of he individual for proper social
an ego psychology. Total personality appear on the scene of social case work for
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consideration to social workers. Porter Lee also emphasized that the goal of
social case work is to change human personality. Taylor stressed upon the need
for understanding the total personality of the individual for bringing healthy
adjustment in social life. A counseling function was introduced into the case
work definition by Reynolds 1932. Klein also suggested that the social case
work is for helping the client for adjustment. Swifts talks to developing the
linked the social case work with representatives of social agencies and
established policies. The work which is done through the social agencies by the
social case worker comes in the purview of social case work. Strode expresses
his view by saying that social case work uses social resources for helping the
individual to obtain adjustment in social life. Towle made very simple definition
by saying that case work is for unmet needs of the individual. Bowers told two
instruments of social case work, i.e knowledge of the science of human relations
and skill in relationship; which are used to strengthen his capacity for gaining
reinforce the client’s ability to deal with problem rather than to deal with the
Perlman while defining the social case work process the indicated the four
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person with a problem comes to a place where social worker helps him through a
well defined process. The person is a men, women or child, anyone who finds
himself, or is found to be, in need of help in some aspect of his social emotional
receive such help, he is called a client. 22 The problem arises from some need of
these together, which threaten or has already attacked the adequacy of the
person’s living situation or the effectiveness of his efforts to deal with it. 23 The
human welfare agency. It is a particular kind of social problems at large but with
human beings who are experiencing such problems in the management of their
won personal lives. Its purpose is to help the individual with the particular social
handicaps which hamper good personal or family living and with the problems
relationship.
The Process, named ‘social case work’ do denote its centre of attention
professional helper (the case worker) and the client. it consists of series of
end of this process is contained in its means to go influence the client - person
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PURPOSE OF SOCIAL CASE WORK
The basic of social work is to enable the client to enjoy with some degree
social situation in which the finds himself. to achieve this goal efforts are made
strengthening his capacities for coping with it. 26 Its essential task is the
case work is that of helping people to mobilize their capacities for the solution of
the problems that brought them to attention of social agencies.27 the purpose of
social case work is not only to help those troubled in their immediate present but
to help in such a way that each client will, from the experience, be better able to
Most of the writers of social work like moffett. 30 have emphasized that one of
the main objectives of social case work is to bring about an adjustment between
social case work . According to her the ultimate and is the promotion of the
welfare of the individual in the interest of society, the proximate and is the
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according to Perlman, within the boundaries of what the client’s wants, his
capacities, and the resources of skill and material means of the agency (and
community) the specific goal is to help him achieve his previous level of
to solve his psycho – social problems in such a way so that he finds himself
capable of dealing with these problems at present and also may solve in future if
such problems arise. thus social case work has the following objectives.
The term ‘relationship’ in social case work was used for the first time by
Work in 1939. Relationship is the case worker’s responsible and disciplined use
which the mobilization of the capacities of the client is made possible. The
relationship is the medium through which the client is enabled to state his
problem and through which attention can be focused on reality problems, which
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may be as full of conflict as emotional problems. 34 A case work relationship is
the professional meeting of two persons for the purpose of assisting one of
process.37
Hollis38 distinguishes two types of relationship, the basic and the special.
The worker brings to all relationship in his ability to help and function as a
worker. This type of relationship is similar in many ways with some social
relationships.
RELATIONSHIPS
There are five ways in which the professional relationship may differ
is solved
10
2. Time Not limited Limited, according to the
problem
etc
5. Role
client relationship.
situations
stimulation.
11
4. The case worker, too, has relationship, and part of his professional skill in
their management.
specifying just what is meant by the term ‘relationship. Rapport41 explains this
problem thus that ‘Relationship is rather fuzzy concept since we cannot state
with clarity what aspect of relationship, what kind, what symbolic value, what
genuineness.
Accurate Empathy
accurately and with sensitivity both feeling and experiences of client and their
the client as well as that may only be hinted by voice, posture and content ones.
caring, and concern for the client in a non- dominating way. When this
component is at low level the worker evaluates the client and expresses likes,
12
Genuineness
PURPOSE OF RELATIONSHIP
emotions between the case worker and the client, with the purpose of helping the
client achieve a better adjustment between himself and his environment.43 Thus
the purpose of establishing relationship is to help the client with his psycho –
5. Development of personality.
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THE PRINCIPLES OF CASE WORK RELATIONSHIP
There are
1. Individualization
unique qualities and the differential use of principles and methods in assisting
human beings to be individuals and to be treated not just as a human being but as
express his feelings freely, especially his negative feelings. The case worker
these feelings, sometimes even actively stimulating and encouraging them when
4. Acceptance
and deals with the client as he really is including his strengths and weakness, his
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congenial and uncongenial qualities his positive and negative feelings, his
constructive and destructive attitudes and behaviour, maintaining all the while a
sense of the client’s innate dignity and personal worth… The purpose of
really is thus making case work more effective, and to help the client free
himself undesirable defenses, so that he feels safe to reveal himself and look at
himself as he really is, and thus to deal with his problem and himself in a more
realistic way.
is based on a conviction that the case work function excludes assisting guilt on
needs, but does include making evaluative judgments about the attitudes,
standards, or action of the client. The attitude which involves both thought and
the right and need of clients to freedom in making their own choice and
respect that right recognize that need, stimulate and help to activate that potential
for self direction by helping the client to see and use his own personality. The
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for positive and constructive decision making, by the framework of civil and
7. Confidentially
upon a basic right of the client; it is an ethical obligation of the case worker and
is necessary for effective case work service. The client’s right, however, is not
absolute, Moreover, the client’s secret is often shared with other professional
persons within the agency and in other agencies, the obligation then binds all
equally.
a. Generic Principles
1. Differential Principles
loss seems appropriate (not markedly regressive) and who demonstrated the
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possession of a clear perception of the problems and what may be needed for the
inadequacies in current role functions, and whose mode of adoption seems either
either (a) a clear perception of the problems and what may be needed for their
3. With a diagnosis of relatively strong ego- functioning, of some but not marked
performance in key social roles, the case worker may engage himself with
clients in the goal and techniques of clarifying the effects and meaning of the
client’s behaviour.
hindrances and satisfying modes of adaptation and the client’s potential level of
ego- functioning is a high one, the goals and techniques of uncovering the
17
There are three phases of social case work practice: Social investigation or
Nothing happens on this earth without any reason. In other words, every
happening has definite cause. Definite cause does not exist in vaccum rather a
considered the creature, rather a creator as well. This particular change in the
status of man has tempted him to quench his thirst of knowledge not only about
the natural phenomena but today’s man is much interested to understand human
behaviours in a very scientific and precise way. Social case worker is also
inquiry” and ultimately shifted her choice upon the term “Social investigation.”
Social investigation is the foundation upon which the various helping processes,
actions and treatment techniques are built. For every social work activity,
the find out the social realities of the clients and their families, to identify the
social process. It transcends much beyond the assessment of the individual client
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or family. The intra – psychic forces are inseparably linked with social forces.
Perlman46 has given the following contents of the case work study in the
beginning phase:
5. The nature of the solution or ends sought from the case work agency,
6. The actual nature of this agency and its problem solving means in
the problem, causation of the problem, scope of the problem (who are other
Case worker attempts to find out the attitude of the client towards his
problem, the analysis and interpretation made by him about his problem, the
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relationship between client and problem, capacities, competencies and
Social case worker acquires knowledge about the efforts made by the
client to deal with his problems, the help taken so far, help taking organization
and agencies, effects of help, client’s evaluation towards these help receiving
4. Social Conditions
He investigates the clear picture of family, its environment, and its impact
on the client. He also gains knowledge of schools and its effect on client. Apart
from these social agencies, he makes attempts to know the impact of neighbor,
In this area, the case worker gets information about the pre- and post-natal
For the proper diagnosis, the case worker gives much emphasis to gather
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expression of emotions, devotion to work, motivational state, and level of
There are two fundamental techniques of social investigations, i.e, (i) Interview
process of interview. Professional skill in this area requires not only theoretical
knowledge about the psychology of human behaviour but also considerable case
interview is used for securing information about the clients as well as his
problems including his relationship with other persons in his social and personal
inst4rcut and give both the client and others who play significant roles in his life
and attempts to manipulate the environment for the benefit of the client.
playing and polarization of power and authority among the family members who
The following tools are used by social case worker in collecting the
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1. Interview guide and schedule
2. Life chart
I. History of Problem
1. Early development
2. Process of socialization
spouse, with the in- laws and the offspring, sexual gratification, birth of
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Habits:
problems.
8. Sex experience: Sexual perversion if any, failure in love, its effects, etc.
1. Family structure
3. Educational History
4. Occupational History
5. Marital History
7. Family Habits
8. Personality Patterns
9. Interaction Patterns
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11. Existing role structure in family
V. Treatment Plan
SOCIAL DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis like treatment begins with the first glance between the help giver and
for the causes of the problem which brings the client to the worker for help.
tangible fact items and psychological fact items); (ii) an explanation made in the
personality factors which bear a casual relation to the client’s difficulty and the
social or environmental factors which tend to sustain it.50 The diagnostic process
concerning which help is sought or needed for the purpose of understanding the
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Content of the Social Diagnosis
The content of the case work diagnosis falls into the triangular pattern. It
consists of
1. The nature of the problem brought and the goals sought by the client, in
2. The nature of the person who bears the problem (his social and
psychological situation and functioning) and who seeks (or needs) help
3. The nature and purpose of the agency and the kind of help it can offer and
/ or make available.52
data, the diagnostic study, the diagnosis itself or the evaluation, and the
diagnostic product.
Gathering Data
Data are gathered of the interview of the client, reports agency’s records
reports, from other members of the team, other agencies, schools, relatives.
Home visit is also an important source of data collection. The accuracy of data
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Diagnostic Study
The study attempt to identify the problem areas which are important for
Diagnosis or Evaluation
This means finding the nature of the problem, its organization and extent
and who is going to be affected. Factors responsible for the problem may be one
i. Physical – Physical illness or disability, how the sufferer feels, how his
communication.
super ego, consistency of ego and super ego, reality perception, self
discomfort the problem causes him, the nature of desire to change it, the
problem.
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2. Housing – Loan taken, rented, adjustment with landlord/tenant,
etc.
8. Educational problems.
Diagnostic Product
After identification of the problem areas and the factors relating to them,
the attempts are made towards possible solution. But before determining solution
others, the agency and the worker. The client’s work ability (capacity and
motivation) is the base for further determining the treatment techniques and
contacting, etc.
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Social Intelligence Capacity - Perceptivity, attention, communication,
Physical capacity – How much the client has left over work on problem
solving.
Types of Diagnosis
social case work process. These are : dynamic diagnosis, clinical diagnosis and
etiological diagnosis.
1.Dynamic Diagnosis
client and the forces currently operating within the client, within social
question – what is the trouble?, What psychological, physical and social factors
are contributing to it?, What solution is sought? What are the means available
within the client, his environment? What are organized services and resources by
which the problem may be affected? The nature of such diagnosis is changeable
2.Clinical Diagnosis
Under clinical diagnosis, the case worker attempts to classify the client by
clinical diagnosis describes both the nature of the problem and its relation to the
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client and the helping means and goals. Such type of diagnosis is useful only
3.Etiological Diagnosis
and life-history of problem of the client, basically that problem that lies in the
worker with an understanding of what his client suffers from and what the
extend of his coping ability is like to be.55 Etiological diagnosis is more useful in
explaining or rigid reactions. When in spite of the fact that the client’s present
problems are in the centre of attention, the clients responses are not in
accordance with, the past history and its appraisal in the light of client’s current
capacities goals and problems are used for the treatment. This type of diagnosis
person who has the problem, and the ways and means can be anticipated as
helpful.
The data for diagnosis can be collected by at lease three primary means:
1.Interviews
Interview guides are used for collecting information. There are a number
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Goldfried and Davison56 having the categories of information: Client’s
The following inventories may be used: The Fear Survey Schedule (of
3.Direct Observation
Steps in Diagnosis
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and deficits. He evaluates client’s personal strength as well as of his
environment.
down complex behaviors into their component parts, being as clear and
manageable and allows both client and worker to channel their energies
into one area. It is the best of handling and proper use of available
resources.
SOCIAL TREATMENT
environment.60 Generally, two types of efforts are required for social adjustment
case work treatment was placed on modification through the environment. Later
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intensive and direct treatment techniques. Now the aim of social case work
this capacity in order that he may achieve at one and at the same time his own
services directed towards helping an individual with a problem. The focus is the
relieving of the immediate problem and, if feasible, modify any basic difficulties
Thus the objective of social case work treatment is to alleviate the client’s
enhance the client’s comfort, satisfaction, and self – realization. This may
require enhancing the adaptive skills of his ego and the functioning of the
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Social Case Work Treatment Process
Social case work treatment process begins with the initial contact with the
client. The process of treatment passes through many phases, i.e.,(i) Initial
phase, (ii) Motivation and role induction, (iii) primary contract, (iv) diagnosis
and assessment, (v) establishing treatment goals, (vi) developing treatment plan,
(vii) preparation for actual treatment, (viii) treatment in practice (ix) monitoring
I.Initial Phase
The main task of social case worker in the initial phase is to examine how
the problem was brought to his attention. He would attempt to focus on various
aspects of the problem that seem fit to case work treatment. Here the decisions
of the worker are tentative. The initial phase of social case work treatment will
conditions.
2. The participants understand the nature and meaning of the problem with
the setting.
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Social case worker develops a preliminary understanding of the problem and
of the client. He also provides psychological support and help to the client and
initial process of treatment, client may learn that he really does not need further
help as the problem has been sufficiently clarified and explained. It is also
possible that the agency may not have concrete service to the client and the case
worker may become bound to refer the case to the particular agency. If the case
One of the most important tasks of social case worker at the beginning of
between himself and the client. Workers’s empathy, warmth and genuineness
feelings are high motivating force for the client to take part in the therapeutic
terminations and enhance motivation to continue the treatment. At this phase the
worker find the resistances of the client, and its genuineness. He explores
client’s perception of why he is involved in the treatment and how he feels about
being in the agency. He also encourages the client to specify his expectations of
treatment and feelings about seeking help. He attempts to clarify the roles and
responsibilities of both himself and the client. He also clarifies about the type of
services agency can offer and extends the boundaries to those services. These
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activities and role of social case worker help to engage the client in therapeutic
planning.
client. This contract may be oral or in writing. The case worker thus by making
psychological contract (relationship) sets the stage to move towards more formal
assessment.
treatment. Social case worker provides detailed information about the problem
situation that will help in establishing the treatment goal, a strategy of treatment
and selection of specific procedures of treatment. The case worker assesses the
problem. He classifies the excesses and the deficiencies in his behavior, and
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V. Establishing Treatment Goals
Social case worker after diagnosis and assessment of the problems of the
client establishes goals for the solution of the problem. He selects any one or
more goals of the following: (i) prevention of breakdown, (ii) ego strengthening,
experience, (vii) change in the environment. Social case worker along with this
work, points out the negative and positive result that may come out due to
manipulation. Though the client has the major say in deciding on goals the case
worker plays an important role by clarifying a variety of alternative goals for his
consideration.
evaluating the impact of the treatment programme. Social case worker decides
the key roles of case worker are most suited to the particular problem. The entire
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Preparation for Actual Treatment
Preparation for actual treatment phase involves several specific steps such
to increase the probability of getting desired result, make an attempt to make the
new behaviour acceptable to the client and to provide high level of close
In order to achieve the goals set by the case worker, conventionally the
3. Direct treatment.
1. Administration
The client is extended help to choose and use the social resources
afforded by the community. Porter Lee66 was the first social worker. Who
Administration of practical service means to help the client in such a way that he
could select and use the resource available in the community. Social case
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services is essential to solve any kind of problem and if the problem is of social
nature, then it becomes more essential for the worker to help the client in this
direction. These services take the form of treatment as they satisfy his needs and
give satisfaction. The client knows the type of services he need but he does not
know how to reach these services. It is the job of case worker to take the client to
the resources. Money, medical care, nursery schools, scholarships, foster homes,
legal aid, recreational facilities, etc., are such type of services that any person
conditions of the client so that he may be relived from excessive stresses and
strains. The case worker suggests as to what steps may or may not help the client
interview is used in this method but the man emphasis is laid to change in his
conditions. When social resources and systematized social conditions are used as
main sources for the solution of the problem, it becomes social treatment. Home
livelihood and other activities of adjust mental nature are such type of
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Social case worker organizes such type of activities through which the
client’s experiences help in his personality growth and adjustment in the society.
Through practical services are also made available but eh focus is always on
change in conditions. Attempts are also make to change and modify the attitude
the case worker only when environmental pressures upon the client are beyond
3. Direct Treatment
way in which the client can work over his problem, his relation to it and possible
solutions. Here case worker exerts his influence directly on the client. Direct
treatment techniques are used where the clients needs direction because of his
ignorance, anxiety, and weaken of his ego strengths. The degree of influence, the
case worker I able to exert, may depend on the relationship between himself and
the client.
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Counseling: is a personal help directed toward the solution of a problem which
a person finds that he cannot solve himself and on which he, therefore, seeks the
help in which information and clarification are used for making the client aware
about the problem. It is always used for some particular purpose like marriage
unconscious, social case worker applies the techniques of free association, dream
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Clarification: it is also a kind of counseling through which clarification of
clients himself, his environment and the public with whom he is associated is
made. Social case worker gives such an understanding to the client that he
environment or people in the environment, which he does not posses and without
impossible without the deeper perception. Social case worker interprets the
factors of the problem, related fact, attitude of client and unconscious feelings in
relation to the reality situation. He helps the client to an awareness of his strong
projection of his inner needs and his subjective responses upon the outer world.
69
Insight development is always accompanied by some degree of clarification
Psychological Support:
encouraged to express his feelings. Case worker accepts him and his feelings,
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and shows keen interest in him. He clarifies the problem and encourages him to
take his own decision. Social case worker, though psychological support does
not develop understanding in the client but applies reinforcement for his ego
and advice.
Monitoring provides the crucial feedback to case worker and the client
are necessary and whether the client is being helped in real sense. Social case
worker evaluates the content of the programme and its effectiveness inner
strength gained by the client and success of himself in helping the client.
first, perhaps alter two weeks, then a month hence then three months, six month
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BASIC CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL CASE WORK
his capacities and capabilities so that he may realize satisfaction and happiness.
To achieve this goal, case worker studies social and psychological conditions of
each client. The problems generally arise when an individual fails to fulfill his
satisfactory. Both the situation make the process of adaptation difficult for the
individual. Thus, the case worker studies social roles of the clients’ adaptation
level and ego functioning to put clear diagnosis for proper treatment. These
The term role is used to designate the sum total of the cultural patterns
associated with a particular status. It thus includes the attitudes, values and
behaviour ascribed by the society to any and all persons occupying this status…
behaviour, attitudes and other attributes for the occupant of a given position in a
43
75
social system. Every society is composed of familial, educational, economic,
and every member of society. the ensue proper and continuous functioning of
When there are period of sharp transition either in individual’s life cycle
understanding his role. If he find position and status in society otherwise he will
no longer enjoy the same position is the social system. And because of lowering
of social position, he suffer from stresses and strains. When this kind of problem
occurs social work may provide services which enable the person to reassume
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BEHAVIOUR AND SOCIAL ROLE
The person’ ‘being and becoming’ bahviour is both shaped and judged
by the expectations he and his culture have invested in the status and the major
society. he has status in lieu of certain major functions which he fulfils. Every
status is associated with certain expectations. For example, a man in the role of
further is supposed to act in a certain way toward his children, a women in the
role of wife to behave in certain ways towards her husband. Such types of
ROLE CONFLICT
every day. He may feel difficulty in doing so because of the lack of training or
knowledge or skill and thus conflict occurs within the person himself. On other
expectation inherent in status and role. Conflict may also arise when a person
has not adequate opportunity to learn the roles. Sudden new situations also bring
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When a person’s feelings and ideal of himself are compatible with each
other and with the social reality, and when he is clear about permissions and
frustration in other aspects of his life. But when he fails or feels disturbance and
The person who is in trouble approaches the social case work agency for
help. He needs help because he is unable to carry on one or more of his roles
realistically, the role’s requirements are, its firm requisites, and the range of
variations permissible within it. Then, within this objective frame of reference,
the individual client’s behaviour must be viewed and assessed as to the nature of
the maladaptation whether it stems from conflict between what he wants and
what he can be or between what he wants and what he must be, from some
supports. 78
46
THE CONCEPT OF EGO
functions: (1) the life emerges that seek satisfactory outlets;(2) the check system,
their ends acceptable to their owner and his environment; and (3) the organizing
and governing operations that control the negotiations and balance within the
person himself, as between himself and his physical and social environment the
names Freud gave to these are the ‘Id’, ego’, the super – ego.
Ego is the sum total of the integrating efforts of the personality, the sum
total of all the mechanisms of dealing with conflicts. The functions of ego are
engages himself with his reality that process is the way by which a person feels
with his encountered problems, whether those problems are in the nature of
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pleasure to be gained or unpleasantness to be avoided. 80 Ego qualities are many;
control (too little, too much), and executants ability ( can they do things organize
ego, these functions may not be fulfilled satisfactorily and the person may feel
incapability in problem solving. The job of the case worker is to deal whose ego
functions either are undeveloped or are under the excessive anxiety, strains and
conflict.
The problem under great stress and strains due to failure of ego –
the ego. These defenses may be rational or irrational. Irrational defenses are
unstable techniques for adjustment as they create more problem. Social case
worker analyses other defences and tries to know how the client perceives his
current situation, utilizes knowledge gained in past experiences and how he tries
to solve his problems. He thus, by studying functioning of the ego, obtains the
the basis of this knowledge he prepares plan for his treatment or help.
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THE CONCEPT OF ADAPTATION
ones. If he faces a stress situation for which existing categories are inadequate,
or only mildly menacing, he is likely to deal with it in terms of old patterns that
require little thought or effort. On the other hand, if he anxiety and to interrupt
other ongoing activities and focus on coping with it. The individual’s threat
appraisal may be in error. He may perceive danger where none exists, fails to
task oriented i.e., aimed primarily at dealing with the requirements of the
adjustive demand. He offers the bet channel for using and coordinating resources
in constructive action, but if he faces severe stress and feels incapable of meeting
thus its is quite clear that adaptation to stressful situation is made basically on
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The first level of adaptation gives satisfaction and new energy to the
person but others two are harmful for he proper growth an development.
either (a) appropriate (not markedly regressive), or else, at the other extreme. (b)
either (a) a clear perception of the problems and what may be needs for their
of some but not marked regressive modes of adaptation, and of rather satisfying
and effective performance in key social roles, the case worker may engage with
clients in the goals and techniques of clarifying the effects and meaning of the
client’ behavious. 82
WORK
Psycho - analysis. The credit for giving shape to these thoughts in the form of a
school goes to Mary Richmond who wrote a first book on social case work i.e.,
50
influenced by the happening of the world and growth of personality and social
therapy.
Gordon Hamilton, a teacher and writer, others were Bertha Reynolds, Charlotte
Towle, Florence Day, Lucille Austin, and Annette Garrett who contributed by
1. Principles of Diagnosis
individually and his problem. It is essential because it gives a realistic basis for
differentiation and gives a base for the improvement of the client’s social
83
situation and personal satisfaction and adjustment. In 1922 Marry Richmond
pointed out that the case work involved two types of insights, one into the
individually and another into the social environment, and two types of action,
one through direct action of mind upon mind and another through indirect action
complex and the trouble concerning which help is sought or needed for
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the purpose of understanding the nature of the difficulty with increasing
5. In the initial stage also, relieving of pressure of stresses and strains on the
gain some knowledge of his current capacity to work and to recognize the
2. Principles of Treatment
and decreasing the malfunctioning in the person – situation system. The above
52
objective is achieved by enhancing the adaptive skills of his ego and functioning
2. Nature and extent of both the social and psychological factors differ in
each situation, treatment goals and techniques are planned after the
relationship purposefully.
5. Social therapy and psycho – therapy are the two broad classifications of
3. Use of Techniques
53
4. Use of Relationship
enabled to find new ways to perceiving his problems and of handling himself. It
gives the client a sense of being listened, being given importance. The case
provide some gratification, protection, an guidance to the client when his ego
need support, and at the same time to help the client marshal strength to meet his
life situation. 85
FUNCTIONAL SCHOOL
Functional School social case work is a method for engaging a client through a
relationship process, essentially one to one, in the use of a social service toward
86
his own and the general social welfare. Function case work is a method of
helping people through special services given by social agencies, in such a way
that the constructive. 87 Thus the functional approach of social case work has two
inseparable aspects,
54
services, the kind of service an agency gives and its purpose remain the
same.
Diagnosis
specific service an which is developed in the course of giving the service. This
school does not recognize the significance to understand total situation of the
plan with a specific kind of service or plan on the basis of firm diagnosis by
diagnosis each individual makes his own diagnosis of himself and revises that
human relationship process which frees the help seeker to determine his own
goal for himself. He himself is the cantre for change capable of continuous
55
Treatment
Functional School
reaction to the analyst which repeats the patient’s reactions to a person who has,
fanatics of vital interest to himself, and when these are told, the listener is
gradually invested with some of the emotions which accompany them. The
patient gradually begins to feel that the sympathetic listener is loved or hated, a
friend or an enemy, one who is nice to him or one who frustrates his needs and
punishes him. The feelings toward the listener becomes more and more like
those felt toward the specific people the patient is talking about, or, more
exactly, those his unconscious “is talking about”. This special of object
56
the worker was some person in the client’s previous experience, is frequently
used to refer any positive or negative feelings of the client for the worker. In this
insulate himself or herself from any true reactions and personally meaningful
97
interactions with the client. A from a home where his father was an arrogant
and domineering person. As a man the client has never been able to get along
with his boss or any other figure of authority. In the case work situation, he
transfers to the case worker hostile feelings of the type of he originally felt
toward hi father and accuse the case worker of the same arrogant treatment at the
TYPES OF TRANSFERENCE
but with the child’s (client) interest at heart, he will transfer a desire for help,
If during client’s early development the parents had not shown interest in him
and were indifferent, then the client will transfer feeling of unfriendliness,
help can be given more quickly and easily. When the transference is negative,
then part of the work of the case worker is to help the client understand the
origin of he negative feelings and work toward making them more positive.
57
COUNTER TRANSFERENCE
but operate with force. Therefore, it is the job of case worker to recognize his
USE OF TRANSFERENCE
There are three stages in dealing and using transference in social case
58
relationship between a case worker and a client which allows for the utilization
The interpretation of the transference, that is, confronting the individual with
defense.100
The person who comes for help, knows external factors of hi problem and
has little resistance discussing them. In such case a positive reality relationship is
sufficient for diagnosis. When the emotional factors are involved in the problem,
the client will not like to disclose them easily and most of the time will avoid on
that particular issue. In such cases transference becomes necessary because apart
from the resistance due to personal reasons due to personal reasons involved in
the problem, he is not fully aware about its existence in him. Transference
diminishes these resistance to some extent and thus helps him to talk more freely
and friendly. It is the transference which gives clues by which social gives an
insight into the client’s personality and helps in identifying his weakness as well
as his strengths an ego functioning. On the basis of the understanding of the ego
strength, social case worker prepares treatment plan for the client.
59
In case work, transference is developed in terms of psycho – social
interaction to reveal specific relationship and situations rather than being held
101
within the worker client focus, as such. Transference is designed to free the
patient sufficiently so that he may think and feel more realistically about his
problem is being shared and case worker is genuinely interested in his welfare.
This feeling of the client makes him easy, calm, less burdened with anxiety and
The feeling of sharing of the client is his identification with the worker
of ways.
1. The mature ego strengths of the worker serve to reinforce the weak ego
5. The worker , when he does not respond neurotically, helps the client to
6. Identification with the worker gradually helps the client to strengthen his
ego power and capacity for reality testing and problem solving.
60
The effects of transference are many but it is the leaven of treatment, not
COUNSELING
person finds the cannot solve himself and on which he therefore. Seeks the help
training, skill or confidence vested in him by the other, one person helps the
second person to face, perceive, clarify, solve, and resole adjustment problem.
107
The process by which the structure of the self is relaxed in the safety of the
relationship with the therapist, and previously denied experiences are perceived
107
and then integrated into an altered self is called counseling. It is a warm,
therapist and patient discuss the effective behaviour of the latter, including his
ways of dealing with his emotionally toned needs and the situations that give
61
Counseling aims at enabling individuals to solve present problems to
prepare themselves for future tasks, to attain higher standards of efficiency and
(a) The client’s realistic acceptance of his own capacities, motivations and
self – attitude
through the client becomes aware of certain attitudes, feelings, reality versus
subjective concept and permits him to see himself and his environment in a more
analyzing its issue, and analyzing the steps involved in a course of action.
Social case worker not only offers financial relief, help in getting work,
medical and the like to his clients but in addition to these he also provides
counseling help. While the term counseling is used very little in case work
62
circles. It is used here precisely to emphasize the fact that in giving the client an
problems. The case worker is utilizing the same process a the one used by the
other professional individual described.11 Social case worker in all settings gives
much emphasis on the process of counseling for realizing services are burden
i.e., anxiety and strains. Mostly counseling services are rendered, sanatoria,
individual needs. The tension and stress so created are greater than the
adequate ability and stability to exercise some control over the element
alter them.
through other media. A conscious desire for help is advantageous, but not
entirely necessary.
63
5. He is reasonably independent either emotionally or spatially, of close
family control.
organic nature.
The purpose of social case work is to help an individual client to solve his
dealing with these problems at present and also may solve in future if such
problems, to prepare themselves for future tasks and to attain a higher degree of
64
The ‘client’ is a man, woman, or child, anyone who finds himself, or is
found to be, in need of helping some aspect of his social – emotional living,
The problems within the purview of social case work are those which
vitally affect or are affected by person’s social functioning. The client of the case
worker sees his problems as lying in some interacting relationship between himself an
some other persons or between himself and his environment. Help is provided to the
client for some readjustment of the self in relation to the demands and expectations of
the social role he plays. Help is also directed to the readjustment of some parts of his
social environment. If the client finds that his inner problems exert such pressure over
through which help is provided to the client. It is the channel of the entire case
work process and counseling process through which the mobilization of the
Case work and counseling treat the client as an individual who has right
to get help and reorganize as a person of worth and dignity. He has every right to
65
6. Both have common Principles
all clients irrespective of their similarities in the problems. Both accept the client
counselor do not give their own judgment to the clients. Client has every right to
determine his own path for his easy recovery from malfunctioning.
whereas the main base of help in social case work is social service.
there as various counseling agencies but in case work client is studied and
understood as a whole.
66
HISTORY AND GROWTH OF SOCIAL GROUP WORK
work, the club and recreation movements of the nineteenth century and early
Social group work, has developed as a method from two sources, the
and Settlements. YMCA was established by George William in 1844 with the
realized that women and girls were in need of opportunities for recreation,
Roberts decided to bring two organizations – prayer Union and Coneral training
In America, the first YWCA was formed in Boston in 1866 with the
objective of the temporal, moral, and religious welfare of young women who
2. SETTLEMENT MOVEMENT
Jane Addams was one of the founders of settlements for the purpose of
formation of clubs through the residents of the area could share the cultural
settlement workers with the life of the area, and the responsibility of the same
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group for social reform.14 These objectives were based on the philosophical
tenets. Of (i) the advantages to those who have not the sharing experiences, (ii)
In 1885, Mariezakrzewska, who had visited Berlin where she had seen
children playing in sand piles in public parks, opened a sand garden in Boston.
The movement was first confined to the summer months but later on it become a
provide the opportunity for self expression and from them derive pleasure and
relaxation.
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4. INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION
simply to be postponed.
terms of equality.
4. The free play of intelligence is our final resource to tell us what to think
5. Society can no longer run itself on the individidualistic basis of each man
5. INFLUENCE OF SOCIOLOGY
in social Discovery, Mary P. Follett in ‘the New State’ and other writers study
human conduct in society, especially in relation to groups. Their thesis is that for
69
based on principles derived by Kilpatrick and social Organizations through
integral part of social group – work, S.R. Slavson in ‘An Introduction to Group
Therapy’ writes: “In group therapy we work with children who are directly
coddling, as a result of which they are unable to get on with their contemporaries
an with adults. These children are actively hostile and destructive or reject the
existence.
2. That group can be used to affect changes in the attitudes, and behaviour
of individuals.
70
3. That groups provide experience which can be monitored or selected in
some way for beneficial ends. Life outside the group is in no way
4. That groups offer experiences shared with others so that all can come to
together.
also.
8. That a group can examine its own behaviour and in so doing learn about
2. The group worker brings an insight to his job. The group worker always
the one hand, he sees the programme activities and their progress, games
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On the other hand, he sees an interplay of social relationships which make
the group.
individual. This involves, in the first place, keeping his relation to the
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
to find them in the most fruitful forms they need to understand behaviour.
group experiences.
experiences.
desires.
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8. Group work always focuses its attention on two types of activities-
group members.
activities.
12. Knowledge of social sciences is essential for working with the group.
13. Professional knowledge and skills are essential for working with the
group.
trying to do in group work.21 Objectives are not merely goals; they are
motivating forces for action, and we move toward them or retreat by concerted
22
action. The objectives should be clear because they help the worker in the
determination of the kinds of programmes need for the fulfillment of the group
goals. They provide the guidance through which the group worker proceeds in
way that both group interaction and programme activities contribute to the
73
growth of the individual, and the achievement of desirable social goals.23
According to Wilson and Ryland, social group work has two objectives: (1) to
balanced, intellectually free and physically fit persons, (2) to help groups
24
achieve ends desirable in the economic, political and social democracy.
Trecker’s view is that the purpose of social group work is to bring about the
the democratic ideals. Specht thinks that social group work brings change in
74
Heap 29 has mentioned different objectives on the basis of the type of groups.
and increasing self esteem. This is a common aim of work with the aged
3. Other groups are mainly intended to contribute to the social learning and
and development. This kind of social group work is most often found in
environment.
75
In general social group work fulfills the following needs of the human being.
1. Social group work fulfills human needs such as need of love, affection,
especially in urban areas where man lives among thousands but feels
alone.
4. The feeling of being accepted is satisfied with the help of group work
activities. Evidences have proved that in the becomes either a mental case
other role. Thus, the essential element of life is again re-charged in group
members.
76
7. Sometimes due to physical injury or congenital deformities, one becomes
feels disgusted, isolated and helpless creature. Social group work gives an
9. Psychosocial problems are solved and managed through the group work
services.
11. Social group work is the best method for proper development of
personality.
performance”. Virginia Robinson refers as “the capacity in such a way that the
change that take place in the material is affected with the greatest degree of
consideration for and utilization of the quality and capacity of the material.31
Trecker defines method and skill: “Method means the purposeful use of insights
and understandings based upon a body of knowledge and principles. Skill is the
77
32
capacity to apply knowledge and understanding to given situation. Method is
1. To exchange ideas among the members freely and clearly, using language
hurting feelings.
2. To examine objectively how well the group and its members are working.
3. To share the leadership jobs among the group members and to become
4. To accept new ideas and new members into the group without irreparable
conflict, and to discipline itself to work toward long range objectives, and
5. To think clearly about its own problems, finding causes and working
6. To adjust its procedures and plans to meet the feelings and the desires of
the members.
group itself, when the need is passed. 33 Trecker 34 has listed the following
78
1. SKILL ESTABLISHING PURPOSEFUL RELATIONSHIP
(a) The group worker must be skillful in gaining the acceptance of the group and
(b) The group worker must be skillful in helping individuals in the group to
group to determine what the level is, what the group needs, and how
quickly the group can be expected to move. This calls for skill in direct
b) The group worker must be skilful in helping the group to express ideas,
work out objectives, clarify immediate goals and see both its potentialities
79
4. SKILL IN DEALING WITH THE GROUP FEELINGS
a) The group worker must be skilful in controlling his own feelings about
the group study each new situation with a high degree of objectively.
b) The group worker must be skilful in helping groups to release their own
conflicts.
programmes which they want as a means through which their needs may
be met.
a) The group worker must have skill in recording the development processes
b) The group worker must be skilful in using his records and in helping the
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1. Skill in using agency function
The skillful worker carries the function in himself, not needing to protest
it by words but directing all of his efforts consistency toward what the agency is
The worker who meets the applicant, while carrying out the agency’s
procedures for intake, will discuss with him what he particularly wants from the
agency as well as what is available there for him to consider both the privileges
The worker relates the group more firmly to the agency by helping it to
understand what the agency stands for and what kind of responsible behaviour is
Since the function of the agency includes helping group units to develop
primarily within the group process, part of that help may be given through
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individual contacts with members, to the end that they may make better use of
community services for help with problems that cannot be dealt within the group
3. Group feelings
The interaction of each member to the others and to the worker produces
some group feelings. This worker helps the groups in understanding their
82
IV skill in stimulating and using Group Relations
1. Group relations as the focus for social group work process. Social
group work has focused its efforts on understanding and using the
and take his part in the whole, in relationship with other members.
group relations but not the members, by enabling them to take their
of groups as groups.
and weaknesses.
between members.
83
6. Appropriate modification of the group process.
solving.
14. Warm human and disciplined use of self on the part of the group
worker
1. All individual have common human needs which they seek to satisfy in
groups.
84
2. The primary objective of social group work is the development of the
3. In social group work, the group work process, the dynamic interaction
among the members of the group and the worker and the group is the
which should be derived from the basic needs an interests of the group.
group work.
group worker is essential to the group work process and he is necessarily one
who has knowledge, understanding and skill in the art of helping people related
Friedlander38 has mentioned the following basic principles of social group work:
85
1. The function of the social group worker is a helping or enabling one. This
means that his goal is to help the members of the group and the group as whole
2. In Determining his way of life, the group workers uses the scientific method –
3. The group work method requires the worker to form purposeful relationship to
group members and the group. This includes conscious focusing on the purpose
4. One of the main tools in achieving such a relationship is the conscious use of
basaic respect and love for people, a warmth relating to their strength as well as
6. Starting where the group is. The capacity to let groups develop from their own
86
7. The constructive use of limitations: They must be used judiciously in relation
to individual and group needs and agency function. The forms will vary greatly.
The group worker will mainly use himself, programme materials, interaction of
8. Individualization
verbal material.
groups must be aware of the factors inherent in the group situation that
make the given group a positive potential for individual growth and for
87
must be established between the worker and the group members based on
the worker’s acceptance of the group members as they are and upon the
is recognized that groups are different and that individuals utilize group
primary source of energy which propels the group and influences the
members. The group worker influence this interaction by the type and
work, the group must be helped to make its own determine its own
capacity and ability. The primary source of control over the group is the
group itself.
the process through which the worker guides the group in setting up
88
encouraged only as it meets a felt need, is understood by the members and
89
VII. DEFINITION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE GROUP
WORKER
A National Committee of the American Association of Group Workers60
way that both group’s interaction and programme activities contribute to the
other persons, to groups and to society, and the motivation of the individual
toward the improvement of society, the recognition by the individual of his own
rights, limitations and abilities as well as his acceptance of the rights, abilities,
Through his participation the group worker aims to affect the group
process so that decisions come about as a result of knowledge and a sharing and
90
community and a participation in the constant improvement of our society
The guiding purpose behind such leadership rests upon the common
democratic society.
On the basis of this knowledge the group worker contributes to the group
with whom he works skill in leadership which enables the members to use their
capacities to the full and to create socially constructive group activities.
According to the interests and needs of each, he assists them to get from
the group experience and satisfactions provided by the programme activities, the
enjoyment and personal growth available through the social relations and the
opportunity to participate as a responsible citizen.
The group worker makes conscious use of his relation to the group, his
knowledge of programme as a tool, and his understanding of the individual and
of the group process and recognizes his responsibilities to individuals and groups
with whom he works and to the larger social vales he represents.
91
In general, Social group worker performs the following activities:
2. Programme Planning
Though group members plan and organize activities for themselves but
the worker is the key factor in making these activities lively. He guides and
directs the group so that the maximum creative effects may come out room these
activities and group may avail full benefit out of these activities. He is more
involved in children’s activities. If he works with socially handicapped or
mentally retarded people, he dicides himself most of the activities.
The worker keeps his eyes on the interaction process of the group. If may
member is not taking interest or not participating as he is desired, the worker
helps him. He resolves group conflicts and directs them for healthy interaction.
92
The following conditions show the nature of belongingness; member accepts the
objectives of the group, interprets them and shows interest in achieving them. He
fulfils his roles and helps others in doing so. He believes in healthy criticism.
The social group worker accomplishes the following activities to gain
responsible participation: He selects only those individuals who want to avail the
facilities in a real sense. He provides them full information above the
programme, facilities in the agency and working methodology. He directs the
group activities keeping in view the needs and desires of each member. He
develops leadership qualities in them so that they take leadership in their hands
and direct their activities. He does not allow any member to dominate the group
and individualizes each member regularly.
The basic function of social group worker is to direct the interaction process of
the group. He watches the activities and behaviour of every member of the group. He
keeps his eyes on member’s participation, its frequency, time, duration, order of
forms of conflict and apathy. Group work resolves such problems with the help of his
professional skills.
5. Development of Leadership
Group members differ in their talents and abilities. Some are more capable in
the realm of leadership than others. Groups worker’s job is to locate those individuals
who show signs of being able to assume leadership responsibilities thus, the worker on
one hand, finds it necessary to work with these members who are carrying on
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leadership duties, and on the other hand helps every member to try our his specific
strengths.
1. He makes aware each member about the aims, objectives, resources, facilities of
the agency.
3. He advises each member to fulfil his responsibilities and helps in his tasks.
4. When any member fails to fulfil his responsibilities and feels difficulty, the
worker develops an insight and brings the factors to lights which are responsible
7. Evaluation
purposes.
group.
94
4. Keeping of full records of individual and group behaviour.
reached.
Group worker is an employee of the agency and therefore, he uses his knowledge and
skill as a representative of the agency. He must have the following knowledge about the
agency.
1. Aims and objectives of the agency.
6. The worker tries to change the group according to the policies of the agency.
1. Conflict or night
3. Inadequate decision-making 42
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1. Problem of Conflict or Fight in the Group
situations:
7. Members feel that the group does not have the know-how or experience to get
anywhere,
8. Members feel that the group cannot go ahead it is too large or too small,
10. Members accuse one another of not understanding the real point, of issue
1 Every suggestion made seems impossible for The group may have been
them.
96
4 Members are impatient with one another
group is supposed to do
organization.
1 Ideas are attacked before they are completely The main concern of
the group
problem
points
subtle ways
No
97
1 The goal is stated in very general, non-operational Members are loyal to
conflicting interests.
beginning
98
Symptoms Possible diagnosis
1. There is a goal which members The fight being expressed is constructive,
understand and agree to; members feel involved and are working
2. 2. Most of the comments are hard on a problem.
relevant to the problem;
3. Members frequently disagree to
one-another’s suggestions;
4. Comments and suggestions are
made with a great deal of
vehemence;
5. There are occasional expressions
of warmth;
6. Members are frequently impatient
with one another;
7. There is general movement
towards some solution of the
problem.
2. Apathy
Apathy may be expressed in the form of the indifference to the group task, lack
of genuine enthusiasm for the job, lack of persistence, satisfaction with poor work, etc.
The following symptoms are generally seen: frequent yawns, dozing off, no point of
discussion, low level of participation, conversation drags, members coming late and
arrangement for the next meeting, reluctance to assume any further responsibility.
99
Symptoms Possible diagnosis
1. Questions may be raised about:
- What is their job?
- What do they want us to
do?
2. Members fail to follow through
decision;
3. There is no expectation that
members will contribute
responsibility;
4. Confused irrelevant statements are
allowed to go without question;
5. Members wonder about the reason
for working on this problem;
6. Suggestions are made that we
work on something else;
7. The attitude is expressed that we
should just decide on anything;
8. The decision does not really
matter;
9. Members are inattentive seem to
get lost and not to have heard parts
of the proceeding discussion;
10. Suggestions frequently plopped are
tot taken up and built on y others;
11. No one will volunteer for
additional work.
1. Point are made over and over; Inadequate problem solving procedure.
2. Appears to be unable to develop
adequate summaries;
3. Little evaluation of the process;
100
4. Little attention to fact finding or
use of special resources;
5. Complaints are made that the
groups’ job is an impossible one;
6. Subgroups are formed;
7. No follow-through on decisions or
disagreement or what the decisions
really were;
8. Always demand for leader’s
decision.
1. Two or three members dominate Conflict among few members is creating
all over the discussion, but never apathy in others.
agree;
2. Conflict between strong members
comes out no matter what is
discussed, dominant members
occasionally appeal to other’s for
support, but otherwise control
conversation.
3. Decisions are made by only two or
three members.
3. Inadequate decision-making
101
1. There are long delays in getting Though goal is important but members
started much irrelevant preliminary fear working toward the group-goal.
conversation;
2. Embarrassment or reluctance in
discussion the problem at hand;
3. Members emphasize the
consequences of making wrong
decisions, imagine dire
consequences which has little
reference to ascertainable facts;
4. Members make suggestions
apologetically;
5. Members are over-tentative and
hedge their contributions with
may, if’s and but’s;
6. Solutions proposed are frequently
attacked as unrealistic;
7. Suggestions are made that
someone else ought to make the
decision – the leader, an outside
expert, or some qualified person
outside the group;
8. Members insist that they have not
enough information or ability to
make a decision and appear to
demand an unrealistically high
level of competence;
9. Humorous alternative proposals
are suggested, with the group
completely unable to select among
them.
1. No one is able to suggest the first
102
step in getting started toward the
goal.
2. Members seem to be unable to stay
on a given point and each person
seems to start on a new track;
3. Members appear to talk of the past
to misunderstand one another and
the same;
4. Discussion wanders into
abstraction.
1. Lack of clarity about decision; Decision may be threatening because of
2. Disagreement as to where unclear consequences, fear or of reaction
consensus is; of others or fear of failure for the
3. A decision is apparently made but individuals.
challenged at the end;
4. Group members refuse
responsibility;
5. There is continued effort to leave
decision-making to leader,
subgroup or outside source.
Social group work is a professional service which aims to work generally with
the normal people to develop and strength their abilities to establish and maintain
group situation ship and problems with a view to satisfy the group needs and achieves
satisfying group participation and growth. Persons poorly adjusted in a group are simly
those with poor adjustment in their social life. They have not learned to capitalize
103
suitably their own potentials. They are relatively static in the face of obstacles or retreat
When group work is used as a therapy, its objectives are different. It is mostly
used dealing with functional illnesses which aims at (1) to relieve tensions and
anxieties in the patients, (2) to help patients resolve some of their conflicts, (3) to assist
patients in arriving at a clear understanding of some of their trouble, and (4) to enable
which have been chiefly which are satisfying and acceptable for those which have
chiefly defensive.
TREATMENT METHODS
No specific method have been developed in social group work because its main
members avail of this opportunity if they find the atmosphere of the group congenial
and interest promoting. Group worker’s success depends on the degree of rapport he
own. The job of the works is to study the group members and mobilize them in
such a away so that they may develop members mobilize them in such a way so
that they may develop an insight of the problem. The worker express this
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Genuineness means the appropriate methods and media for the group activities
2. Self - Discloser
The worker express his own experiences before the group members. It helps
understanding their problems and learn to ease from tension and anxiety. The
time, content and nature of self-disclosure one important and the worker must
says. For example, he says that he is not angry with anybody in the group but is
voice and word expression show that he is angry. They job of the worker is to
clarify these situations and warn members not to allow to happen such
situations.
4. Investigation
The group worker prepares an interview schedule for the group members in
order to know the internal and external and feelings of the members. This helps
5. Support
power in the members of the group. The worker provides an opportunity to the
group to express its feelings and clarifies the positive and negative aspects of
these feelings. He takes interest in group activities and helps at the time of need.
105
He enables the group to take its own decision for the programme and its
implementation.
6. Cognitive Restructuring
emotional sets, which seem to impede the group member’s abilities to changes.
Sometimes group fails to arrive at a such help so that it may perceive the reality.
7. Role Playing
Role playing is such a method through which group members gain knowledge
of their roles and other’s roles. Through role playing a member expresses his
8. Partialization
Group worker divides the whole problem into many parts and takes up one for
enables the group to work in such a way so that it does not have unnecessary
tension. This process helps the group to understand that the problem can be
solved.
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3. The discriminate use of programme activities related to the needs of the
The worker must have necessary knowledge of human and group behaviour, skills,
techniques, and problem solving capacity. The success of the group work depends on
him. If he is skilled, the group will certainly achieves its objectives. He contributes
1. Establishes purposeful relationship with group, agency and the community and
2. Participates in the activities f the group, agency and approach and evaluates
4. Develops self control, patience, tolerance in himself and works with group in
healthy atmosphere. The basic need for relationship is contact. Group members
and the worker have emotional and psychological variety of tools. They affect
another due to contact interaction. The interaction process donated the fact that
members and they in their turn act toward the worker and group. Stability of
The members reveal their personally patterns through the away in which they are
possible for the worker to understand the needs so expressed and to help the members
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meet these needs through the programme to the group if it is possible to do so. There
are many programme media which are used according to the need of the group. There
are games, play, dance, music, story, telling, drama, arts, crafts, etc.
Growth and development in the group are the result of natural interaction among group
members. In the beginning phase of the group activities, group shows the
Members take interest in their talks. The social group worker develops a common wish
or desire and increased later on. In general, group interaction has six stages.
4. High level of group feelings are found and objective are achieved.
5. Members start taking less interest, low level of interaction gradually appears.
6. Group is dissolved.
Process are the ways of dong things, the approaches one takes and the steps are
followed to reach one’s goals. Democratic group process occurs when there is a
group process:
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4. The group formulate goals.
thinking, group discussion, group planning, group decision, group, group action and
group evaluation.
GROUP THINKING
It means group intelligence in working process. It shows the ability to work out means
GROUP DISCUSSION
the group and passes from one to another. Questions stimulate group thinking.
discussion: (1) each person should express his views, (2) no debate but cooperative
talk,
arrive at a decision, failure to use member potential, inability to use resources, inability
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GROUP EVALUATION
Group evaluation techniques are concerned with the following aspects of evaluation.
1. Evaluation of leadership,
XII. EVALUATION
the processes of social group work designed to meet the objectives of the group. It is
essentially the study and review of past operating experience. According to Trecker,
“Evaluation is that part of social group’s experience in relation to the objectives and
function of the agency. Evaluation may be centred upon individual growth, programme
to discover to what extent group has achieved its objectives. Evaluation enables the
group to see both strengths and weaknesses and is enabled to discover points at which
group members need to alter their procedures. Well planned evaluation help to
formulate new objectives and to renew unsuited objectives. It further directs the worker
to adjust and modernize his methods of working with group. Evaluation can be
process because its very nature is scientific and its aim is educational. 50
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CONTENT OF EVALUATION
because of certain needs and desire. Therefore, the main objective of social group work
is to fulfil these needs and desires in accordance with the prescribed rules and
procedures. But how can the worker be able to know the level of fulfillment of their
needs without evaluating their growth process. The worker evaluates the presence of
Sometimes it happens, that the member because of difficulty in adjusting himself in the
group, remains usually absent giving one or the other reason. The worker evaluates the
gained by the member through the group experience. The chart (A) has been prepared
parts
progress Progress
1 2 3 4
1. Attendance
2. frequency of participation
4.Self- esteem
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5.Reliability
6.Emotional control
8.Frequency of responses
9.Behavioral dynamism
10.Tolerance
11.Leadership qualities
12.Sensitivity
15.Capacity of problem
solving
16.Discussion and
conversation
18.New Knowledge
19.Status in group
20.Breakdown prejudices
individual growth. These are : (1) encourages, (2) agrees, (3) arbitrates, (4) proposes
action, (5) asks suggestions, (6) gives opinion, (7) asks opinion , (8) gives information,
(9) seeks information. (10) Poses Problem, (11) defines position, (12) asks position,
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(13) routine direction. (14) depreciates self, (15) autocratic manner, (16) disagrees, (17)
and growth of group as a whole. The group worker evaluates the group organization, a
social responsibility fulfilled by the group, maturity that has achieved, skillfulness, and
expertness has developed, the techniques of problem solving have been learned and
Bernstein 52 has developed the chart (B) for evaluation of the progress in the group.
Progress Progress
1 2 3 4 5
1. Attendance
2.Group Organization
3.Group Standards
4.Wider Horizons
5.Social responsibility :
(b) To agency
(c) To community
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6.Enriched Interests
7.Handling conflicts
8.Leadership and
participation
9.Cooperating planning
10.Group thinking
12.Acceptance of differences
Douglas53 has prepared the following yardstick for measuring the growth of a group.
1. No apparent goals
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3.How sensitive and perceptive are group members?
4.How much attention was paid to process? (The way group was working)
1. No attention to process
2. Made by a few
3. Majority vote
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7. How well were group resources used?
The focus here is on the contribution of the member to the development of the
group, not on his total personality. This calls for an assessment at the end of each
meeting. Bernstein has prepared the chart (C) for this purpose.
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(C) Chart for Evaluation of Member’s Group Contribution
participation
of something comparable.
responsibilities, etc.
Destructive Participation
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XIII. IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL GROUP WORK
IN MODERN TIMES
He has on existence far from group life. In modern times group life has
materialistic outlook. Man, though lives among thousands yet feels alone.
3. Every human being has the basic desire of having importance, worth,
respect and a place in the society. Social group work keeps the members
busy by providing them worth, dignity, place keeps the members busy by
4. Modern age is affecting our adaptation abilities. Old techniques are not as
suited as those were in the times. Man has to learn new techniques of
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behaviour for the proper adjustment in the various fields of life. Social
development. In social group work, each member plays his role and thus
learns to fulfil his obligations of life without taking help from others.
6. Social group a new hope to the physically handicapped disable and aged
persons.
mentally healthy.
9. Human capacities and abilities are strengthened through the group work.
For the worker to keep an accurate, honest and thou ghtful account of the
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Recording extends and supplements or memory recall, thus increasing the
individual’s activities, his relationship with the group. Social group worker
writes about the individual members and their responses to one another, their
change in individual and group and his own role in the group processes.
Preparing records is essential because (i) records help the group work to
understand individuals in the group; (ii) help the worker to understand the group
as whole; (iii) provide cvidences of growth and change in the members and in
the group worker himself; (iv) help the worker to do more effective job with his
groups; (v) the worker can see merging and changing interests of individual
knows the emergence of group consciousness; (ix) he record provide content for
supervisory conference (x ) they are the source of future planning; (xi) they are
source of information for other workers; and (xii) the records provide a
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CONTENTS OF RECORD
2) Time of meeting.
3) Place of meeting.
7) Important observations.
1) Role perfumed.
2) Conversation did
3) Talks began.
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3) Participation of group members – mostly all/few members talk and
2) Arrangement made.
4) Suggestion given.
1) Member’s name.
2) Problem.
3) Nature of assistance .
7. Evaluation:
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2) Evaluation of the group member’s participation.
The acceptance of this principle means that the group worker recorder as
a disciplined professional. As the nature and objectives of the agency and the
group change, the worker records accordingly and gives emphasis on the other
aspects.
his own enabling contributions and skills and techniques applied in the group
processes.
form, in language, in length. Records, must have face sheet, presenting a brief
outline of the factual data. If records are detailed, brief summaries should be
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4. The Principle of Confidentiality
One of the basic principles of recording in all social work is that records
are written on the premise that they will be held in confidence. If records are
used for other purpose such as training all names and other identifying
responsibilities.
If the decisions are not suited for action, the process of changing
PROGRAME MEDIA
Programme media are tools which are used within the group setting to
help individuals and the group as a whole achieves desirable personal and social
goals. Many media such as games, social recreation, dances, music, story telling,
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dramas, arts and crafts, drastic arts of cooking, sewing, photography, discussion,
There are the elements of programming process, the members, the social
group working and the programme content. The members join the group having
The worker has his norms, values, working methodology, and its variety of rule,
Wiilson and Ryland59 have narrated the following role of the group
The social group worker help the group member to plan their own
The social group worker observes the actions and words of the members
as they make use of programme media, reveal their needs and interests. He is
sensitive no only to the actual words but to the way in which they are spoken.
The worker picks up conversations in the midst of activates and helps the
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(b) Analyzing and Recoating
The workers makes ‘on the spot’ analysis which change his procedures
with the group. Through the records, he remembers and sees the events of the
meeting and the members’ reactions in a little different light and finds new leads
for programme related to the needs of the members and the group as a whole.
By another way the worker discovers needs and interests is through his
contacts with the family, the school and the community resources. He counsels
such a way that the members enjoy participating in them. The worker his focus
of individuals at various age levels, the worker can assume that a group
composed of members having the ordinary development for a certain age will
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Various devices are used to empress their interests. It is worker’s
words. Group worker analyses these interests and brings them on conscious level
of the group.
pool, game room, record player, library, kitchen, craft, shop, etc. to enrich the
activities
4. Using Limitations.
available materials, rules and procedures, resources and facilities. He also limits
In groups in which some or all of the members are handicapped. The worker’s
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REFERENCE
5) Coyle, Grace: Social Group Work Social Work Year Book, National
Boson.1947.p.61.
7) Hamilton,G. op.cit.p.19.
8) Coyle, C:’Social Group Work Social Work Year Book, AASW, New
York, 1954.p.480.
Ciffs, 1963.p.29.
11)Trecker. H.B.op.cit.p.3.
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