Social Work with Groups Practice Flashcards

Flashcards covering the history, theoretical models, group classifications, power bases, and stages of group development in social work practice.

Social group work

A method of social work practice introduced in the first quarter of the twentieth century that serves as a happy medium between individual work and community work.

Mary Richmond

The founder of social casework who, as early as 1920, indicated that social group work was the future of social treatment.

Emory Bogardus

Outlined the Ten Standards for Group Work in 1936, which serves as one of the earliest sets of standards for group practice.

American Association of Group Workers (AAGW)

Formed in 1936 (originally the National Association for the Study of Group Work) to promote professional standards for social group work.

Group (Webster, 1988 definition)

At least 2 people gathered with common purposes or like interests in a cognitive, affective, and social interchange in single or repeated encounters.

Aggregate

A simple collection of people in the same location experiencing common influences without a bond or significant interaction, such as a crowd during an accident.

Social Group

An exclusive self-organizing form of social organization comprised of two or more members who identify and interact on a personal basis.

Primary Group

Typically the family or its surrogate, representing the individual's earliest form of human association where Gemeinschaft relationships (based on common feeling) dominate.

Natural Group

Groups that come together spontaneously based on naturally occurring events, interpersonal attraction, or mutually perceived needs, such as peer groups or street gangs.

Formed Group

Groups that come together through some outside influence or intervention and usually have some sponsorship or affiliation.

In-groups

Social groupings in which the individual feels at home and shares common interests, expectations, and norms.

Out-groups

Social groupings in which the individual does not feel a sense of belonging.

Treatment Groups

Also referred to as small helping groups, these are used as a method of intervention to meet the personal socio-emotional needs of members.

Task Groups

Groups formed and maintained so that specific activities or jobs can be accomplished; also referred to as work groups.

Group as MEDIUM of change

The group is the source of influence used by the social worker to achieve change in the individual member, who is the target.

Group as TARGET of change

The group as a whole or its conditions (size, climate, etc.) must be changed in order to change individual members.

Group as AGENT of change

Efforts aimed at modifying or redirecting forces in the social environment that impose constraints on the group.

Reward Power

Power based on the perception that a person or group has the capacity to deliver positive consequences, such as praise, promotions, or pay increases.

Coercive Power

Power based on the expectation that one will be punished if they fail to conform to required standards, such as being fired or admonished.

Referent Power

Influence resulting from being well-liked or respected, where one individual identifies with another.

Legitimate Power

Power based on the perception that a person has a right to prescribe behavior due to their position in the group or internalized norms.

Expert Power

Power derived from a person's specialized knowledge, expertise, or skill.

Authoritarian Style

A leadership style where leaders have absolute power, set goals and policies, and dictate the activities of the members.

Democratic Style

A leadership style that seeks maximum involvement and participation from members in all decisions affecting the group.

Laissez-faire Style

A leadership style characterized by minimum input or participation from the leader.

Conformity

Yielding to the majority or group pressure due to the need for approval or to achieve group goals.

Groupthink

A problem-solving process where proposals are accepted without careful review because of powerful pressures toward group consensus and loyalty.

Group Cohesiveness

The degree to which members of a group desire to remain in the group; the result of all forces acting on members to stay.

Program Media

The activities, verbal or non-verbal, which the group engages in for the purpose of achieving its goals.

Private Pre-Group Phase

The stage where the idea to organize a group occurs in the mind of the organizer but has not yet been approved or decided.

Convening Phase

The phase when prospective members meet for the first time and 'size up' the situation, often feeling ambivalence or resistance.

Forming (Tuckman)

The stage of testing and dependence where members become oriented to the task and determine what behaviors are acceptable.

Storming (Tuckman)

The stage where members grapple with expressing individuality, resist group structure, and may compete for powerful positions.

Norming (Tuckman)

The stage where conflicts are resolved, a sense of cohesion takes place, and the group refocuses on its goals with open exchange.

Performing (Tuckman)

The working stage where the group focuses on constructive action, experiences safety, and is able to negotiate disagreements competently.

Developmental Approach

Follows Emmanuel Tropp's theory that people are on a scale of social functioning and can move toward self-realization through interpersonal relationships.

Remedial Model

A clinical model by Robert Vinter that focuses on individual dysfunction and treats problems of adjustment through guided group experience.

Interactionist Approach

Also known as the Reciprocal Model, it focuses on the mediating function of the worker between the group and society.

Integration (Psychological Interaction)

Considered the best interaction, it arrives at a solution that satisfies both the individual member and the group as a whole.

Leveling

A technique of saying what you really think when it should be expressed, rather than keeping ideas or feelings to yourself.