Social work with groups has played an important role in transforming the way we think about clients and about the helping process. Science has made the discovery that infants who are isolated from other human beings succumb to inattention. Psychologists have observed that learning can actually be enhanced by associations with others. It is a well documented fact than many of the physical and mental illnesses of people are caused by social and emotional malaise and that social needs bring people to the office of social workers, psychologists, and marriage counselors. People not only need to be loved, they need to know that they are wanted and understood. Human beings are strongly dependent on interactions with other humans. Social work practice with groups builds on the important impact of groups on individuals and utilizes group processes to accomplish individual and group goals.

IntroductionSocial group work is based on the idea of man as a constantly developing human being in necessary andSignificant interactions with other men. He is shaped by others and also shaping others. Apart from basic needs, he needs to belong, to be an important individual, and to participate. Every human being requires help to fulfill needs, and to deal with dissatisfactions and frustrations in life. Social group work practice facilitates the development of the individual’s personality through guided group interaction. Help is possible only when there is utilization of group potentialities through interaction. Thus, understanding group behavior is indispensable and has utmost importance in the group. Theories in social group work help to understand this group behavior. Since a particular way of group behavior is the main modality for fulfilling needs or in other words for bringing change in the environment or in the member’s intrapersonal or interpersonal relationships, social group work uses various models or approaches to accomplish group goals. The present endeavor, hence, in this chapter will be to discuss various theories and models of social group work.

Definitions of Social Group Work

Group work is method by which the group worker enables various types of groups to function in such a way that both group interaction and programme activities contribute to the growth of the individual and the achievement of desirable social goals (Association for the Advancement of Group Work-1948)

Group Work is used within group experience as a means to individual growth and development, and that the group worker is concerned in developing social responsibility and active citizenship for the improvement of democratic society (Coyle -1954)

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 (Konapka -1963)

Group Work include both improving the normal functioning and neutralizing the abnormal functioning of individuals (Balgopal & Vassili -1983)

(In Indian context) Social Group Work will refer to working with a small group (members ranging from 7-10) to a medium size group (members ranging from 10-20) for a variety of purposes beginning from recreation to behaviour modification on the one hand and accomplishing tasks including social change and development on the other, with a variety of clients ranging from children to elderly. The worker makes use of the expertise in human relationships to help these groups to achieve the group goals in a participatory manner while paying adequate attention to individual needs and social norms (H.Y.Siddiqui -2008)