The social worker becomes a leading organizer to generate a strategic direction in the context of goals identified and defined by the group and that the group works toward. It has been suggested that groupthink was involved in a number of well-known and important, but very poor, decisions made by government and business groups, including the decision to invade Iraq made by President Bush and his advisors in 2002, the crashes of two Space Shuttle missions in 1986 and 2003, and the decision of President John Kennedy and his advisors to commit U.S. forces to help invade Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro in 1962. Time to consider the issues fully also allows the group to gain new knowledge by seeking information and analysis from outside experts. Benefits of Working. Social Group Work Social group work is a method of social work which helps individuals to enhance their social functioning through purposeful group experiences, and to cope more effectively with their personal, group or community problems. Facilitator techniques for inducing regression may be used to access and “map” psycho-emotional trajectories and locate their origins in time.4, An HIV support group I co-facilitated at a health outreach agency is another ready example of a psychotherapeutic group. Looking at social group work from a political/economic per-spective helps clarify the role of group work in the larger or-ganization of social work. 157–169). European Journal of Social Psychology, 36(1), 31–48. Consider a time when you worked together with others in a group. Benefits of group work Good group work has great potential for the following reasons: • Students are encouraged to become active rather than passive learners by developing collaborative and co-operative skills, and lifelong learning skills. In addition, once a group makes a decision, the group will normally find it easier to get other people to implement it, because many people feel that decisions made by groups are fairer than are those made by individuals. When creating the group, not only the roles of each one must be explained, but also concepts such as commitment, involvement or team spirit . Friedlander has mentioned the following basic principles of social group work. Groups take longer to reach consensus, and allowing plenty of time will help keep the group from coming to premature consensus and making an unwise choice. Groups promote social skills. Groupthink is more likely to occur in groups whose members feel a strong group identity, when there is a strong and directive leader, and when the group needs to make an important decision quickly. New directions in goal-setting theory. Figure 14.17 Causes and Outcomes of Groupthink. For the worker working with a group entails ‘thinking group’ (McDermott 2002: 80-91). Group Work Activates Different Learning Styles. 221–256). The groups discussed in this writing are 1) task, 2) counseling, and 3) psychotherapy group work in social work as distinguished by R.K. Conyne.1. The deliberate study of group work in social work reveals that many spheres of our personal and professional lives are comprised of groups. Distraction/conflict theory: Progress and problems. Part of teaching is reaching as many different learning styles as possible. Kravitz, D. A., & Martin, B. Advantages and Disadvantages of Group Work in a Classroom Situation. The social psychology of jury deliberations: Structure, process and product. Groups provide a safe place where individuals can gain support and understand that their struggles are common. It is a good piece of write up with crux of social media benefits at work. 8. Task groups tend to be more formal in their structure and decorum and focus on goal-setting, objective outputs, problem-solving, and decision-making around principal tasks to which their personal growth or well-being are secondary. Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of working together in groups to perform tasks and make decisions. The tendency for group members to overvalue the productivity of the groups they work in is known as the illusion of group productivity, and it seems to occur for several reasons. 1. Task groups are designed with the primary goal of accomplishing a single actionable goal or fulfilling a series of identified objectives within an established goal, i.e., tasks. Counseling groups tend to be occupied with themes and tasks of growth, enhancement, prevention, and development in the here-and-now, whereas psychotherapy groups may be more invested in treatment, remediation, and transformations in personality structure, with goals surrounding the alleviation of psychological problems and working with both the past and present.1. 6 Benefits of Group Work 1. The deliberation process seems to cancel out many individual juror biases, and the importance of the decision leads the jury members to carefully consider the evidence itself. So right it’s wrong: Groupthink and the ubiquitous nature of polarized group decision making. Please share your supplementary material! 2. Leading on from this, social events also give staff members the ability to network with each other and make new connections. Groups are the basic expressions of human relationships; in them lies the greatest power of man. Group Sessions are led by a supervisor or a consultant to address the learning needs of a group of social workers. Groups that set specific, difficult, yet attainable goals (e.g., “improve sales by 10% over the next 6 months”) are more effective than groups that are given goals that are not very clear (e.g., “let’s sell as much as we can!”; Locke & Latham, 2006). A common conceptualization of the small group drawn from the social work literature is as a social system consisting of two or more persons who stand in status and role relationships with one another and possessing a set of norms or values which regulate the attitudes and behaviors of the individual members in matters of consequence to the group. According to Beebe and Masterson (2003), there are advantages and disadvantages to working in a group. While group work comes with many benefits, it’s important for businesses to avoid the pitfalls of working in a team. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(5), 643–650. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 55(6), 918–926. Robert Zajonc (1965) explained the observed influence of others on task performance using the concept of physiological arousal. Assigning group roles can be a beneficial strategy for successful group work design for a number of reasons: Group roles offer an opportunity for high quality, focused interactions between group participants. Yet good social work leadership is hugely important to the effectiveness and impact of social care services. ) The group work results in a report, which is often presented to families and the wider community and may include practical recommendations on ways to address the problem. Konopka has outlined the essential parts of the social group work methods as follows:- Janis, I. L. (2007). as well as by the group process—that is, the events that occur while the group is working on the task. Figure 14.15 Drive-Arousal Model of Social Facilitation. Bringing staff members closer together will bring benefits to their day to day work life, and encourage more friendships to be made. In terms of individual group characteristics, people who have already served on juries are more likely to be seen as experts, are more likely to be chosen to be the jury foreman, and give more input during the deliberation. 1) The function of the social group worker is a helping or enabling one. 37, pp. Science, 149, 269–274. Coordination costs represent time and energy that group work consumes that individual work does not, including the time it takes to coordinate schedules, arrange meetings, meet, correspond, make decisions collectively, integrate the contributions of group members, etc. Group members will work harder if they feel that their contributions to the group are known and potentially seen positively by the other group members than they will if their contributions are summed into the group total and thus unknown (Szymanski & Harkins, 1987). Share diverse perspectives. You Can Specialize. Recognizing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Review the factors that can increase group productivity. Indeed, studies show that they value it more highly than the ability to work independently. Groups provide a safe place where individuals can gain support and understand that their struggles are common. What Types of Jobs Can You Get with an MSW? The mutual aid processes that unfold help group members "to experience their conce… Leaders must work to be sure that each member of the group is encouraged to present the information that he or she has in group discussions. Chapter 14: Psychology in Our Social Lives, 14.1 Social Cognition: Making Sense of Ourselves and Others, 14.2 Interacting With Others: Helping, Hurting, and Conforming, 14.3 Working With Others: The Costs and Benefits of Social Groups. A great deal of experimental research has now confirmed these predictions. In N. L. Kerr & R. M. Bray (Eds. Thinking group. However, although at least some member characteristics have an influence on jury decision making, group process plays a more important role in the outcome of jury decisions than do member characteristics. Groupthink. Part 2. To try to work with them in a disciplined way is like trying to har- ness the power of the elements and includes the same kind of scientific thinking, as well as serious consideration of ethics. Group culture In-depth knowledge of group dynamics is essential for understanding the social structure of groups and for developing beginning-level skills in group work practice. A rock band that is writing a new song or a surgical team in the middle of a complex operation may coordinate their efforts so well that it is clear that the same outcome could never have occurred if the individuals had worked alone. Rewarding employees and team members with bonuses will increase their effort toward the group goal. It is mainly concerned with the study of social problems and social interventions. (1965). Group process losses can also occur when group members conform to each other rather than expressing their own divergent ideas. The biggest advantage of group work is that in a group more than one brain is working and when many people think about the same subject than chances of getting the best possible solution for a given problem increases massively. The problem is that groups suffering from groupthink become unwilling to seek out or discuss discrepant or unsettling information about the topic at hand, and the group members do not express contradictory opinions. Group work is an effective way of learning and cooperation with others, and the aim is to learn through group cooperation and encourage all students to participate in the learning process. Another benefit of getting a master’s degree in social work is that you will have more career options to choose from and job opportunities. Group work can help accelerate job completion, help supervisors recognize their employees’ individual talents and reveal the direction for future work assignments. ), The psychology of the courtroom (pp. In modern life most individuals spent time working in cooperation and collaboration with others. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 53(5), 891–897; Geurts, S. A., Buunk, B. P., & Schaufeli, W. B. The tendency to perform tasks more poorly or more slowly in the presence of others is known as social inhibition. Some of the readiest examples of task groups students may expect to be a part of our group project assignments in an academic program, from jointly constructed papers to active reading partners to class presentations. One of the most compelling benefits of a career in social work is making a difference in the lives of individual clients and the community. Yalom, in his book, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, states some of the benefits of group therapy as follows: Furthermore, group members often don’t realize that the process losses are occurring around them. Despite the many benefits of group work, there are challenges that accompany the process for students and nursing educators. It has also been found that status matters; jury members with higher status occupations and education, males rather than females, and those who talk first are more likely be chosen as the foreman, and these individuals also contribute more to the jury discussion (Stasser, Kerr, & Bray, 1982). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 936–941. The dynamogenic factors in pacemaking and competition. The benefits of group work include the following: Students engaged in group work, or cooperative learning, show increased individual achievement compared to students working alone. Networking. The ability of a group to perform well is determined by the characteristics of the group members as well as by the events that occur in the group itself—the group process. Keep group member contributions identifiable. One group process loss that may occur in groups is that the group members may engage in social loafing, a group process loss that occurs when people do not work as hard in a group as they do when they are working alone. Participating in a group provides you with an opportunity to be with people who are likely to have a common purpose and likely to understand one another. In my paper, I will be shari… Receive social support and encouragement to take risks. Kenneth E. Reid explores a pivotal time in the development of the theory and practice of working with groups within social work. Evidence-based practice is the conscientious decision to use the best evidence available when making a decision about an individual's care. As you can see in Figure 14.16 “Group Process Loss”, although larger groups pulled harder than any one individual, Ringelmann also found a substantial process loss. In an early social psychological study, Norman Triplett (1898) found that bicycle racers who were competing with other bicyclers on the same track rode significantly faster than bicyclers who were racing alone, against the clock. Do you think the group experienced group process gains or group process losses? This led Triplett to hypothesize that people perform tasks better when there are other people present than they do when they are alone. Taken together, working in groups has both positive and negative outcomes. Tackle more complex problems than they could on their own. Dr Bilash in education.alberta.ca suggested that pair work, group work and individual work can all be effective, if used at the right times and if structured in an appropriate way. In M. P. Zanna (Ed. The benefits of group work Whatever form the group work takes on your course, the opportunity to work with others, rather than on your own, can provide distinct benefits. (1983). Furthermore, it helps social workers become more prepared and articulate in bringing the group’s attention to that process in the present, which may empower members to recognize and operationalize the group as more than just a device for their relief, but a living system of recovery and healing within a culture they co-create. A masters in social work degree will help you move from a general grey area of social work into a very specific work … Zajonc argued that when the task to be performed was relatively easy, or if the individual had learned to perform the task very well (a task such as pedaling a bicycle), the dominant response was likely to be the correct response, and the increase in arousal caused by the presence of others would create social facilitation. Just as our primitive ancestors lived together in small social groups, including families, tribes, and clans, people today still spend a great deal of time in groups. Stasser, G., Kerr, N. L., & Bray, R. M. (1982). Although the arousal model proposed by Zajonc is perhaps the most elegant, other explanations have also been proposed to account for social facilitation and social inhibition. Gitterman (2006), a social work educator and group work scholar has elaborated on the role of mutual aid in the small group noting that “as members become involved with one another, they develop helping relationships and become invested in each other and in participating in the group" (p. 93). This concept teaches diversity, communication, and compromise. Sources: Szymanski, K., & Harkins, S. G. (1987). We study together in study groups, we work together on production lines, and we decide the fates of others in courtroom juries. New York, NY: Academic Press. Core Benefits of Group Work. Taken together, working in groups has both positive and negative outcomes. The notion of a “trial by one’s peers” is based on the assumption that average individuals can make informed and fair decisions when they work together in groups. Group performance is increased when the group members care about the ability of the group to do a good job (e.g., a cohesive sports or military team). By doing so, we are getting students to work with people they may never have chosen to work with. However, despite these concerns, the evidence suggests that juries may not do as badly as we would expect. Such a situation is conducive to terrible decision-making and resulting fiascoes. Support Groups Support groups help individuals who are coping with a situation or condition in their lives--for example, divorce, depression, cancer or other diseases. Social groups fulfill one of the basic psychological needs for survival: a sense of belonging. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 24(21), 1871–1890; Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2006). Yalom, in his book, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, states some of the benefits of group therapy as follows: Working in a group enables you to examine topics from the perspectives of others. By understanding the benefits and potential pit- falls, a group can capitalize on the virtues of group work and minimize the obstacles that hinder success. A social-work group creates a protective environment in which individuals confronting some of the same issues can have their needs addressed in a group setting. Social Group Work in India Group work as a method of social work came to India with the introduction of professional social work education in 1936, a decade after it was acknowledged as formal method of practice in the West. Task groups are generally structured within professional, academic, political, or advocacy parameters and not designed to meet the socioemotional needs of members. Group work usually leaves most people feeling frustrated at the end of the day. The presence of others did not influence joggers’ performance when the joggers were facing in the other direction and thus could not see them. The tendency to perform tasks better or faster in the presence of others is known as social facilitation. Davis, J. H., Stasson, M. F., Ono, K., & Zimmerman, S. (1988). You improve your vocabulary Workers who feel that their rewards are proportional to their efforts in the group will be happier and work harder than will workers who feel that they are underpaid (Geurts, Buunk, & Schaufeli, 1994). Social group work principles 1. Group work – expansion and professionalism, 1937 – 1955. This type of process loss, in which group productivity decreases as the size of the group increases, has been found to occur on a wide variety of tasks. ‘Thinking group’ means focusing on the group as a whole – ‘considering everything that happens in terms of the group context (also the wider context in which it is embedded –social, political, organizational) because this is where meaning is manifest’ (op. welfare of the group. Effects of straw polls on group decision making: Sequential voting pattern, timing, and local majorities. Potential Benefits of Using Assigned Roles in Group Work. This approach is defined in the classroom as a group (Usually 2-6 people). Group work has demonstrated to be generally superior to individual work due to five main reasons shown in Box 1. A., Stroebe, W., & Lodewijkx, H. F. M. (2006). Figure 14.15 “Drive-Arousal Model of Social Facilitation”, Figure 14.17 “Causes and Outcomes of Groupthink”, Figure 14.18 “Results From Stasser, Kerr, and Bray, 1982”, Table 14.5 “Techniques That Can Be Used to Improve Group Performance”, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. An example of a counseling group might be a life-adjustment group offered by a college wellness center for students who are coping with living away from home, making new connections, and new responsibilities and independence. Figure 14.17 “Causes and Outcomes of Groupthink” summarizes the basic causes and outcomes of groupthink. The tendency to perform tasks more poorly or more slowly in the presence of others is known as social inhibition. According to him pair and group work first came into usage in the 1970s when teachers first noticed that more than 80% of all classroom talk was teacher talk. 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