Theories of group work Systems theory Talcott Parson

Systems theory Talcott Parson Basic assumption: Social system is a set of interdependent elements

3 things to be made clear: 1. Distinction between structural & functional 2. Distinction

Act of survival depends upon 4 basic functions: • • Integration: Integrating members by

• Pattern maintenance: Development of norms and guidelines to regulate its activities and

Robert bales (1950): Survival of groups depends on two central tasks: • Instrumental problems

Implications for group work • The way survival functions are addressed is important for

Field Theory: Kurt Lewin Basic assumptions: • A group has a life space and

Basic Concepts: • Roles: Status rights and duties of group members • Norms: Rules

T- groups • He developed a theory that people change when they see their

Conflict Theory Lewis Coser Two types of Conflicts- • Realistic conflicts: Conflicts arising on

Ways of dealing with conflict Closely built groups are likely to suppress the conflict.

• Conflicts within a group helps to revitalize existing norms and to help

Exchange theory: • Exchange theory considers social behaviour is an exchange of goods, material

Power dependence relations: Emerson • Emerson sees power as bound with ties of mutual

Some important features of theory are: • • conformity varies directly with motivational investment

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Theories of group work

Systems theory Talcott Parson Basic assumption: Social system is a set of interdependent elements trying to function as a unified whole to maintain order and a stable equilibrium to survive

3 things to be made clear: 1. Distinction between structural & functional 2. Distinction between the dynamic processes – maintaining system equilibrium & structural change in the system 3. Hierarchy of relations of control

Act of survival depends upon 4 basic functions: • • Integration: Integrating members by achieving individual and group goal matching Adaptation: Capacity to make changes to adapt itself to outside demands like that of community and with the internal dynamics as it changes with time.

• Pattern maintenance: Development of norms and guidelines to regulate its activities and well defined objectives, identity and procedures, that are able to sustain these over time. • Goal attainment: Reaching the goal.

Robert bales (1950): Survival of groups depends on two central tasks: • Instrumental problems related to task or goal oriented functions • Socio – emotional tasks related to interpersonal relationships between members; members and leader etc.

Implications for group work • The way survival functions are addressed is important for a group to function successfully: • Survival functions act as guide lines of evaluation during the times of introspection. • Clarity of the distinctions mentioned above will help realize the source of conflict when conflicts arise in the group. • Understanding what type of problems are faced by the group the resolutions can be worked out

Field Theory: Kurt Lewin Basic assumptions: • A group has a life space and it has movement. • Behaviour of the individual member and the group itself must be seen as a product of totality of the group situation or coexisting facts. • These coexisting facts make up a dynamic field (the state of any part in the field depends on every other part of it) • Behaviour depends on the present field rather than on the past or future.

Basic Concepts: • Roles: Status rights and duties of group members • Norms: Rules governing the behaviours of group members • Power: The ability of member to influence one another • Cohesion: The attraction group members feel towards one another and towards the group • Consensus: The degree of agreement regarding goals and other group phenomenon. • Valence: The potency of goals and objects in the life space of the group.

T- groups • He developed a theory that people change when they see their behaviours as others see it, thus leading to development of feedback method where by the group members and the group leader provide feedback to the individual as how her/his behaviour was affecting them

Conflict Theory Lewis Coser Two types of Conflicts- • Realistic conflicts: Conflicts arising on account of non-fulfillment of specific demands. • Non-realistic conflicts: Rooted in the need for tension release and not oriented towards achievement of any specific demand.

Ways of dealing with conflict Closely built groups are likely to suppress the conflict. The feeling of hostility tends to accumulate and intensify and when it breaks out it will be intense. Two reasons: Primarily it will not aim at resolving the immediate issue as all accumulated grievances will come to fore. Secondly it is because of total personality involvement of the group members.

• Conflicts within a group helps to revitalize existing norms and to help develop new norms.

Exchange theory: • Exchange theory considers social behaviour is an exchange of goods, material and non-material, such as prestige or approval etc. • Persons those give to others try to get something in return, and persons who receive from others are under pressure to give in return. • This process of exchange tends to create equilibrium to balance the exchange

Power dependence relations: Emerson • Emerson sees power as bound with ties of mutual dependence. The ways of coping with power is emotional withdrawal and extending social network.

Some important features of theory are: • • conformity varies directly with motivational investment in the group conformity varies inversely with acceptance in alternative groups conformity is high at both ends i. e. the highly valued and lowly valued members coalition of week members in inevitably formed to control the strong with in a coalition

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