Social work with groups
Social work with groups refers to the practice of social workers engaging with multiple individuals simultaneously in various settings, such as families, classrooms, or community organizations like the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs. This area of social work has evolved from foundational movements, particularly the settlement house movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which aimed to bridge social divides and foster interdependence among community members. Each group presents unique challenges as individual participants bring their own issues, necessitating an understanding of group dynamics, which can influence the effectiveness of the meetings.
Key dynamics to consider include communication processes, interpersonal attraction, social integration, power dynamics, and cultural contexts. Effective social work with groups requires attentiveness to how members interact and communicate, how relationships form within the group, and the impact of shared norms and roles. Social workers must also navigate the balance of power within the group, recognizing both perceived and actual leadership influence, while fostering a sense of belonging among diverse participants. By addressing these complexities, social workers can help groups achieve their goals despite the inherent challenges of working with varied backgrounds and experiences.
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Social work with groups
Social work with groups is a broad term for the job done by a social worker with multiple people in a particular setting. The term can apply to a social worker meeting with a family of three or four people or to a large college class or seminar. In addition, social work with groups can also apply to the social work done by organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), scout groups, and others. Various organizations such as these are often called social agencies because they serve as a place for community members to get access to information and other resources.
Background
Social work is a broad profession that promotes change, problem solving in relationships, and empowerment to enhance or help change someone's life or situation. Social work itself has a deep history, and likewise social work with groups also has a solid foundation. Some of the earliest forms of group work came out of the settlement movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This was a social movement in England and the United States with a goal of getting the rich and poor in a society to live closer together in an interdependent community. The movement had a focus on bridging the divide between social classes to create change not only for individuals but also for communities as a whole.
When group work was introduced into social work education in the early 1920s, many social agencies were already serving groups of people. For example, the YMCA was introduced into the United States from England in the early 1850s. These social agencies exhibited the kinds of traits that later grew into the discipline of social group work. Organizations like the YMCA and the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) provided mutual aid, group participation, group self-government, volunteer work, activities, and more.
Early social group workers emphasized the need to understand and respect the cultures of the people who were in each group. They tried to preserve the values and traditions of ethnic groups in their neighborhoods and attempted to better their relationships with them. Until about the mid-1950s, most of the practice of social work with groups was done with children and youth agencies. The profession, however, has grown and changed over time to include work with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Overview
Social work with groups involves a social worker meeting with a number of different people at one time. This is not always an easy task, as there can be any number of different factors at play. Each member of the group is bringing his or her own problems and experiences to the table, and this can lead to conflicts within the group. This is why it is important for a social worker to understand the dynamics of the group. Failure to pay attention to these group dynamics can lead to unproductive meetings and dissatisfied group members.
To be effective in a group setting, social workers should be able to understand not only the dynamics of the group but also the impact of those dynamics on members of the group who may be from different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Social workers must also be able to assess the impact of dynamics that emerge as the group is meeting, and then guide the development of those dynamics to enable the group to achieve its goals. There are five main group dynamics to consider:
- communication processes and interaction patterns
- interpersonal attraction and cohesion
- social integration and influence
- power and control
- culture
Communication processes and interaction patterns are the components of social interactions that influence the behavior and attitudes of those in a group. A social worker must take into account how the group is interacting and communicating, and in what ways the communication is being sent. For example, a group meeting face-to-face would experience both verbal and nonverbal communication.
Interpersonal attraction can lead to smaller groups forming within a larger group, adding to the level of cohesion of the group as a whole. If bonds are made and small subgroups of friends form, they can work together to better support the larger group.
Social integration refers to how those in a group fit together and are accepted within the group. It is a dynamic in which all members participate in the group to help achieve its goals. An understanding of the norms, or shared beliefs, roles within the group, and status of the group members help promote social integration by influencing how the members of a group will behave. Together they help to avoid conflict and unpredictability, which can lead to the group straying from its end goal.
Power and control refer to the impact the designated leader of a group can have on a group as a whole. Two main types of power, attributed and actual, should be considered by the social worker. Attributed power refers to the perception of people within and outside the group about the leader's effectiveness. Actual power refers to the leader's resources for changing conditions both inside and outside the group.
The culture of a group is made up of the values, beliefs, customs, and traditions that are understood and shared by all group members. These can develop within the group and emerge through interaction over time. Even though members of a group can come from many different backgrounds, as they meet they explore their value systems and styles while searching for a common ground to relate to one another.
Social work with groups has a rich history and can be very complex. The very nature of group work, bringing people together from various backgrounds, can be challenging and can lead to conflict. If a social worker can keep the dynamics of the group in mind, however, everyone involved can work to reach the goals of the group.
Bibliography
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Garvin, Charles D., et al., editors. Handbook of Social Work with Groups. Guilford Press, 2006.
Gitterman, Alex, and Robert Salmon, editors. Encyclopedia of Social Work with Groups. Routledge, 2009.
Glisson, Charles A., et al., editors. Social Work Practice with Groups, Communities, and Organizations: Evidence-Based Assessments and Interventions. John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
Lane, Sam. “Taking Action for Athlete Wellbeing: Strengthening Psychosocial Support through Interactive Group Work.” Social Work With Groups, vol. 48, no. 1, 2024, 22–38, doi:10.1080/01609513.2024.2341441. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Lindsay, Trevor, and Sue Orton. Groupwork Practice in Social Work. 3rd ed., Learning Matters, 2014.
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Sullivan, Nancy E., et al. Social Work with Groups: Social Justice through Personal, Community, and Societal Change.Routledge, 2003.