Importance of a Group and Knowledge in Group Dynamics - Essay Example

Full Social Policy (Group Work) Introduction Importance of a Group and Knowledge in Group Dynamics This paper aims to show the importance of a Group in every individual’s personal and social well-being (Myers: 597). The social policy of Group work and the theory of Group Dynamics are also the highlights of this paper as they are the main focus of discussion. Moreover, this paper aims to recommend applying the knowledge of the mentioned theories into practice. The Aims of a Group To understand the essence or the meaning of ‘Group work’, the concept of a ‘Group’ must first be defined. In so doing, a group refers to “2 or more individuals” whom by their social relationships are considered to be “connected to each other (Myers: 286).” This definition of a group clarifies its components: that it has to consist the elements of relationship, involved no. of individuals, and connection (4). Moreover, in order to be called a group, the involved members who participate in the activities should have the ff. characteristics: 1) interrelating and interacting with each other; 2) sharing same norms; 3) developing roles or shared set of roles; 4) developing the feeling of sense of belongingness; and lastly, 5) sharing a common goal (Douglas: 13). The aims of a group purports to help its members achieve the goals for each individual members: 1) to enhance individual’s functioning; 2) to enrich every individual’s life; 3) to ameliorate existing problems and to provide solutions for conflicts in the group, community or the organisation; for the ff. desired effects: 1) to produce social change and 2) to promote social justice (Myers: 591). To cite an example, the Parenting group is the best sample for explaining the purposive, basic parenting or leadership styles which are pivotal roles of parents in forming and shaping an individual. The parenting group works to induce change in the individual; however the Parenting group must be consisting of the following SMART characteristics: 1) Specific—a group that defines each members (parents) as the facilitator and leader of change and their children as the students or followers; 2) Measurable—that the parenting group helps its members specify the timeline needed and the tools required to achieve their goals; 3) Achievable—the parents making sure that the children’s goals are doable and feasible; 4) Relevant—that the parenting group makes sure that the goals of their child/ren are rational and reasonable; and lastly, 5) Timely—that the parents ensure that individual and group goals are not obsolete and rather, follows the current trend as demanded by time (Douglas: 200). Definition of Group Work A group work is best described as the ‘means’ in social work, or a method which aims to help its members meet or attain their individual and group goals. Through informal ways, group work aids in promoting change: by shaping and forming their members’ attitudes. Group work also serves to meet inner, individual, and personal needs aside from helping the group in achieving its group and organisational goals and in providing solutions to group conflicts and other prevalent problems. Further, group work is an effective and a vital tool for division of work or labour in a group for increasing motivation among its members and also, to increase productivity—and not just any ordinary term pertaining to teamwork (Doel et. al: 172). Setting up a Parenting Group: Leadership Style In setting up a parenting group, the ff. practical elements should be observed: 1) the time, 2) the venue, and the 3) purpose and style of the social group work. Time should be a Saturday or Sunday when it is usually not a working day for most parents; The venue for executing the group work must be in a room or hall that is free from distractions (conventions could be held in suburbs or urban areas) near the parents’ place. Democratic style of leadership should be utilized in carrying out the group work so that all activities which have to be performed are debriefed or discussed first by the entire group. Last but not the least, advertising invitations using media, text or SMS messaging, ads or posters and letters for the participating parents must contain a brief explanation for the purpose of the parenting group convention (Duffy et. al.: 10). In applying the theory of Group Dynamics into practice, the Parenting Group is the chosen subject as a sample to the essential roles of a group and group work in creating change in the individual and in the entire group. For instance, in the school or work setting, individuals utilize their knowledge, skills, and their experience to those work-based environments—it is therefore even more necessary for the children to develop the skill or the ability of working in groups as it is required by their current situation to do so. Moreover, it is therefore essential for individuals to master the interpersonal and communication skills required of them as they have to relate with their co-members or co-workers in the future—and they could practise these skills in their perspective parenting group. It is the responsibility of the parents to serve as guide/facilitator, the Social Worker, or the leader for influencing and honing the total personality and transformational development of their children (Duffy et. al.: 16). As the parenting group is considered to be a very influential factor to an individual’s behaviour, it is therefore an important aspect of every person’s likelihood to achieve or to deter its goals. Thus the parenting group must execute its role expectations properly in a way that they show their responsibility when it comes to major planning and decision-making in the family. In other words, every parenting group must be set up in a manner that its members display quality or desired behaviour when it comes to their interaction skills and outcomes of every tasks given to them by their parents (Douglas: 15). At best, a good parenting group considered to be a good set-up is more likely to produce responsible child/ren that become responsible and concern citizens in the society. At worst, a parenting group which does not discipline one’s child/ren is most likely to produce irresponsible, unconcerned individuals who may even turn out as delinquents or social deviants. Of course, when this case of social deviants increases, it also has a major effect in the society: as it reflects and accounts poor leadership among the parents and poor leadership of the government who is in charge for providing solutions to such social conflicts and community problems. To be more concrete, apparently there are a lot of instances of school dropouts in every community across the globe and results of the studies show that parenting group plays an impact on predicting a child’s success not only in academics but also with guiding a child to attain her goals in life: in becoming a fully-functioning person with regard to one’s individual and social functioning. The case is worse for those neglected children by their parents who will rather not invest for their child or their children’s education (Duffy et. al: 197). Working on Groups: The Application of Group Dynamics in Parenting Group At home, the family is the basic source of social support group where every individual can derive its necessities: socio-emotional, physical, and cognitive needs. Each members of the (family) group must feel that they supported and loved by their members—especially their parents. But this does not mean that the productivity of the family depends on the parents alone just because they are the leaders and facilitators, each individual must learn ‘how to work in a group’ by participating with the planning, monitoring, and maintenance of the tasks or responsibilities allotted by parents so that every family member is helping each other succeed in the attainment of their personal and group endeavours. In this way, the child/ren is likely to develop social and interaction skill which may be even more helpful to his/her future incoming relationships or groups to form. (Douglas: 9). Recommendation This paper highlights the importance of a group and cites the Parenting group as the application of the theory of Group, Group Dynamics, and Group work. Therefore, in order for an effective group work to take place, knowledge in Group Dynamics Theory and the essence of leadership has to be learned and maintained. An average parenting group must consist of both the male and female parents of a child/ren and of course, the children—as the members of the family. Those students without parents showing poor performance and poor conduct must be put into the custody of a school counsellor. On the other hand, those dropouts or youth delinquents (especially those minors without parent/s or guardian) must be referred to the community’s Social Work Department or other concerned agencies of the government (or police authorities) whose task is to protect the citizens and provide them welfare for safety and security. Advertisements on television, newspapers, posters, are also recommended to be utilized for the purpose of helping those kinds of deviant individuals in the society (Duffy et. al.: 55) The children needs responsible parents as their leaders for aiding them in selecting effective ways of attaining the following goals: 1) improving one’s social and coping skills; 2) for initiating innovation to increase the child’s motivation to succeed; 3) building a feeling of sense of maturity among its members by exercising initiative and freedom sometimes, to commit mistakes on their own for them to develop a sense of trust, responsibility, and autonomy to choose one’s destiny. Thus, the parents should participate in the practicalities and benefits provided by a parenting group—a group which exists to develop a child to grow as a fully-functioning person who has actualized its full potential (Doel et. al: 8). Conclusion Parenting Group is the best example where theories of Leadership and Group Dynamics are best applied ton practice. Effective leadership of parents is parallel to a successful and spontaneous group dynamics wherein the leader or the facilitator of change (the parents) purport to make its (family or child/ren) members enrich their lives, to aid in producing responsible individuals who could produce social change and the same time promote social justice. Like a leader and a facilitator, the parenting group must prevent its members to fail in achieving their goals. In setting up a parenting group, the day, time, venue, purpose and leadership style must be put into account before execution of the activities. Parenting group must encourage participation of every family members for brainstorming of ideas and suggestions of alternatives in case a proposed plan did not quite work out well, and must help the members of the family in finding solutions in case there is an instance of mistake (Doel et. al: 95). Works Cited Doel, M. & Sawdon, C. The Essential Groupworker. London: Jessica Kingsley, 1999. 8-172. Douglas, T. Basic Groupwork. London: Routledge, 2000. 9-200. Duffy, Karen G., and Frank Y. Wong. Community Psychology. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson Education. 2000. 10-197. Myers, David. Social Psychology. 1221 Ave., NY: McGraw-Hill Co. Inc., 2005. 4-597. Read More