REPORT ON THE ORIGIN OF THE GROUP METHOD

Group social work, like the case method, begins with an intervention practice that is systematized over
time, until establishing common purposes and criteria for the organization and leadership of the groups
that give it the character of a group. personality.
Previously, this method was aimed at seeking the development of the individual's personality for purely
personal purposes; But currently it is considered a process that through experiences seeks to enable the
individual to know reality, provide solutions to their problems and improve their personal relationships
within a community or society where they are located.
The meaning and value of group work lies in the relationship established by the members of the group
among themselves, which act as a context and means of help for the individual and for the group itself.
Participation in a group is offered to people who have a situation, a problem or a common interest, so that
through the group and with the help of a professional, in this case a social worker, they can improve their
personal situation and can also increase the ability to modify social aspects that they consider negative or
that could be improved; Here the role of the social worker comes to play as the coordinator, the educator,
counselor, guide, etc.
There are two ways of conceiving the method: as a method and as a process, in the first we refer to the set
of rules that direct a process and a set of knowledge that explain its scientific content; We can say that this
is responsible for the socialization of man, and for social participation; and in the second it focuses on the
development of the individual's personality through their voluntary association.
Within group social work we find two processes which fulfill an objective, among these are: the...

 Give a brief review of the origin of the group Social Service method, based on the

experiences of Slavson, Lieberman and Newstetter.

Samuel Richard Slavson began his work (Brooklyn 1912) forming clubs for working people. Its
objective was to educate by entertaining and provide opportunities for development of the
personality of each of the participants through the exchange of life in a group. He also dedicated
himself to working with children and in 1916 he met Joshua Lieberman, who shared his interest in
these social activities and had organized unions. Together they created the "Pionner Youth of
America" for boys and girls to provide them with opportunities to live outdoors in groups. They
continued this work for six summers and Lieberman compiled and published their experiences in the
book titled "Creative Camping."

Wilber Newstetter, for his part, acquired knowledge in group work in a summer camp and in a
neighborhood center in which he participated with the collaboration of students and doctors. I try to
establish principles and techniques and provide experiences to my collaborators, psychiatrists, in
problems related to mental hygiene.

 What is the difference between the group social method and the social case method.

Group Social Service differs from the Individual Social case in that its action is not always aimed at
solving situations of maladjustment or personal problems related to economic deficiencies. Its
objectives are educational and social and it is considered a method through which social workers
train various

groups to act so that both the interaction of the group and the activities it develops contribute to
individual improvement and the achievement of useful and convenient social objectives.

 Definition of group social service according to: Samuel Richard Slavson and according to
Wilber Newstetter.

According to SLAVSON, it is a method of social education in which the participants are at the same
time students, teachers and didactic material acting in relationship.

According to Wilber Newstetter , group social service "is a socio-educational process that aims at the
development of personality and social adaptation of individuals through associations as a means to
achieve other socially desirable ends."
 What is the basic concept of this method.

The basic concept of this method is to consider man as a social being who depends largely on his
peers to achieve the integral development of his potential . Individual characteristics and qualities
must be used for the common good and be respected by others for the benefit of the whole, of the
social group.

 What are the professional goals and purposes of group social work.

The professional purposes of working with groups are to encourage each participating member
towards personal improvement and to ensure that the group has effective value for the members and
for the entire community.

The goals of group social service are achieved through a psychological and educational process. The
succession of stages during which an activity is carried out with a specific purpose is called "process".
Within the technical group process there are certain work procedures, of initial approach, which
begin, as in any organization, with the clear definition of the social objectives that are desired to be
achieved. Among these objectives, the following can be noted: Taking advantage of free hours,
recreation, improvement of neighborhood relations, participation of groups in community
organization works (neighborhood meetings, sports or cultural clubs), family education through
mothers' centers, clubs of teenagers, etc.

 How important is the home visit in this method.

The home visit is one of the tools that the Social Worker has for forming groups. One of the
objectives of the home visit is to register future members and awaken common interest that leads to
voluntary meetings and prior propaganda. On the other hand, it also serves to get to know future
members more directly; This visit should be brief, it has no other objective than to present the goals
of the future group.

 Explain the 3 main relationships that exist between groups.

Relationship of the individual with the group.

Relationship between group members.

Relationship of the group with other associations

In the relationship between the individual and the group, the entry requirements must be
reasonably established, avoiding arbitrarily; provide assurance that everyone will have the right to
choose and be elected; define the responsibilities of those who perform functions; respect the
authority of the leader who has been elected; recognize the authority of ideas that rests with the
social worker who is concerned to obtain the modification of his role as technical advisor.

The relationship between group members must be based on mutual respect, understanding and
good will. When resistance, criticism or ridicule occurs with respect to certain individuals, it is the
social worker who is responsible for obtaining the modification of these negative attitudes. It is also
his responsibility to instruct those who lead and those led to avoid hostilities and promote
understanding between rivals until the cooperation of all is achieved.

The group's relationship with other associations can be established through artistic, sporting
activities or simply through social interaction. It is very convenient that the groups have these
contacts with the outside to strengthen the unity of the association and achieve participation that
means true social solidarity with the environment.

 Definition of leader according to R. b. Roony and what type of leadership the Social
Worker exercises.
 "He is a person who knows where he wants to go and knows how to do it, who goes by himself and
also who shows the way to others who follow him."

The social worker, that is, the professional leader, has the role of educator compared to the natural
leader. You must cultivate in these people tolerance, equity and all those qualities favorable to the
group. Among them we can mention the capacity for organization, help, harmony, loyalty, and
acceptance. It will also promote activities, enthusiasm for carrying out programs, good judgment and
oral expression.

 Definition of the social group and its characteristics (list).

Social group can be defined as the set of human beings who have relationships with each other. The
reasons for cohesion between the members of a group can be very diverse depending on whether
they are primary, natural groups, such as the family, or secondary, formed groups, such as the "scout"
organization.

Characteristics

Permanence and continuity that ensure the stability and frequency of contacts between members,
whose repetition over a long time is necessary for the interaction that derives from mutual influence
and dependence to exist.

It is an organization based on the division of functions of the members. These functional norms are
established as the group continues its social life and refer to the division and assignment of
responsibilities, to establishing conditions for admitting new members, to regulating the conduct of
participants in relation to the group, that is, to creating regulated government for life as a whole.

Development of traditions and customs . In this aspect, there is a tendency to remember

and commemorate certain acts that are significant for the group, to respect certain forms of action
and to exalt praiseworthy events that form the common heritage.

Interaction with other groups . It is the tendency to relate to other groups to expand social life,
without losing the union and cohesion of the group of origin.

Development of group spirit . It is the phenomenon of collective activity, that is, a certain way of
thinking, feeling and acting that is not equal to the sum of the individual way of being of the people
who make up the group, but rather diverse and super-individual. This phenomenon produces the
affirmation and preservation of the group and keeps the members at a higher level of behavior than
they would achieve if they did not belong to the group.

 Explain the classification of groups according to Slavson.

Mandatory group: Mandatory groups belong to someone else's will or due to various
circumstances , for example, family or school. Adaptation within these groups is good when they
offer emotional, security or habit stimuli. Adaptation can be deficient when they lack such positive
elements and the results are manifested in attitudes of rebellion or rejection.

Motivated group: Motivated groups are entered for various reasons, for example, the search for the
approval of others, social prestige, following a boss or personal interest. Professional
associations, political groups, or those that have influence and prestige within a community can be
included among motivated groups.

Volunteer group: In voluntary groups people participate simply for the pleasure of attending , by
friendly association with the people who form it or by desire to collaborate in the activities to
which they are dedicated. This free concurrence of individuals and the relationship that occurs
between them offers many educational opportunities to the people who are part of such groups.

 List the subdivision of voluntary groups and explain the therapeutic group.
Groups with homogeneous culture.

Homogeneous interest groups.

Multiple activity groups.

Therapeutic groups Therapeutic groups are voluntary associations for children with irregular
behavior. Its participants must be of the same sex and it is necessary that there be a certain similarity
between them in relation to the behavioral problem that affects them. For example, a shy and
inhibited child should not be part of a group in which the others are angry and aggressive. The
activities carried out in therapeutic groups are, in general, manual and social work is carried out with
curative purposes through association within the group. Even though these groups have usually
worked with children

SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS

CONCEPT: IT IS A METHOD OF SOCIAL SERVICE THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS TO IMPROVE THEIR

SOCIAL FUNCTIONING THROUGH INTENTIONAL GROUP EXPERIENCES AND TO HANDLE MORE
EFFECTIVELY WITH THEIR PERSONAL GROUP AND COMMUNITY PROBLEMS.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

PRE-SCIENTIFIC STAGE: IN THE YEAR OF 1884 CLERGYMAN SAMUEL BARNNET CREATES THE
FIRST COMMUNITY SOCIAL CENTER. THE GOAL OF THIS MOVEMENT WAS TO IMPROVE THE
STANDARD OF LIVING OF THE POOR IN LONDON.

DON BOSCO THE OBJECTIVE THAT HE INTENDED TO ACHIEVE WAS THROUGH A FRIENDLY
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, FOCUSING HIS ACTION ON A SYSTEM
BASED ON REASON, KINDNESS AND RELIGION.

IN 1907, IN ENGLAND, COLONEL ROBERT BANDEN POWELL, STARTED A MOVEMENT THAT EVEN
TODAY IS CHARACTERISTIC OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, WE
REFER TO THE BOYS SCOUT CORPS. HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE WAS IN A CAMP ON BROWNSEA
ISLAND.

THE FIRST THEORY OF SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS CORRESPONDS TO SAMUEL SLAVSON,
BASED ON PSYCHOANALYSIS. IT IS IN 1916 WHEN HE MEETS JOSHUA LIEBERMAN, WHO
APPLIED WORK WITH GROUPS IN CHILDREN'S CLUBS, BOTH CREATED THE “PIONEER YOUTH
OF AMERICA” IN CHARGE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR CHILDREN. LIEBERMAN POINTS OUT
THAT THE SOCIAL WORKER IS A LEADER WHOSE MISSION IS TO HELP THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PERSONALITY.

WILBUR NEWSTETTER WORKS NEXT TO THEODORE M. NEWCOMB ACHIEVING SIGNIFICANT

ADVANCES THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY TO SOCIAL GROUP WORK.

SCIENTIFIC STAGE: THE REAL ATTEMPT TO FORMULATE A PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ARE

FOUND UNTIL THE 1920S AND 1930S.

IN 1936 THE NATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTREAL,
CANADA, FOUNDING THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF GROUP SOCIAL WORK.
IN 1946 IT BECAME A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS BASED IN THE UNITED
STATES. IN 1958 THIS ASSOCIATION PUBLISHED THE...