CHAPTER 1 - Introduction

Abstract

The social worker is concerned with man, kinds of groups, whether as leader or member, as insider or outsider. This chapter discusses the behavior in groups and the vicissitudes of group process, its value, and its problems. It also discusses the varieties of group with which the social worker is concerned, and his role in each kind. Social workers work not only with groups of clients, but also in interdisciplinary groups with colleagues. They work with, for, and in opposition to groups of elected or appointed officials who have administrative responsibility for various social services. Social workers provide preventive, treatment, and rehabilitative service to the groups whose members have certain psycho-social problems or disadvantages in common. Such activity is called either social group work or social work with groups. Social work with groups is a manifold activity, which embraces numerous techniques. Its objectives are diverse. Its sphere of application includes the whole range of existing social work services. The organizational and political trend in the profession's present development suggests that it would play an important role in tomorrow's social work.