Mutual Aid in Social Work Groups

This is from Wikipedia's entry on Social Work with Groups: "Mutual aid as group work technology can be understood as an exchange of help wherein the group member is both the provider as well as the recipient of help in service of achieving common group and individual goals (Borkman, 1999; Gitterman, 2006; Lieberman, 1983; Northen & Kurland, 2001; Schwartz, 1961; Shulman, 2006, Steinberg, 2004; Toseland & Siporin, 1986). The rationale for cultivating mutual aid in the group encounter is premised on mutual aid's resonance with humanistic values (Glassman, 2002) and the following propositions: 1) members have strengths, opinions, perspectives, information, and experiences that can be drawn upon to help others in the group; 2) helping others helps the helper, a concept known as the helper-therapy principle (Reissman, 1965) which has been empirically validated (Roberts et al, 1999); and 3) some types of help, such as confrontation, are better received when emanating from a peer rather than the worker (Shulman, 2006).

Mutual aid is often erroneously understood as simply the exchange of support. Mutual aid is better conceptualized as multidimensional with at least 10 types of processes or activities that occur amongst and between members, including: sharing data, the dialectic process, discussion of taboo topics, the all in the same boat phenomenon, developing a universal perspective, mutual support, mutual demand (including confrontation), rehearsal of new skills, individual problem solving, and the strengths in numbers phenomenon (Gitterman, 2004; Shulman, 2006; Steinberg, 2004)." Mutual aid transactions that occur amongst and between members stimulate cognitive and behavioral processes and yield therapeutic, supportive and empowering benefits for the members (Breton, 1990;Northen & Kurland, 2001; Shulman, 1986, 2006).

Mutual aid based group work draws upon the strengths possessed by the group's membership. A social worker invested in potentiating the group's capacity for mutual aid views the group as an enterprise in mutual aid; helps group members identify common ground; views her role as a mediator of the individual/group connection; helps the group understand the benefit of mutual aid; helps the group work through conflict rather than avoiding it; and supports the group in identifying and removing obstacles to mutual aid (Schwartz, 1961; Shulman, 2006). A social worker invested in being the expert, having control over the group process, and engaging in casework in the group setting is likely to truncate the emergence and power of mutual aid (Kurland & Salmon, 1992; Steinberg, 1992, 1993). In structured groups wherein the worker is called to share her expertise, in order to qualify as social work with groups the worker seeks to integrate opportunties for mutual aid (Middleman & Wood, 1990). When the small group engages in an exchange of mutual aid not only are individual members strengthened but so is the group as a whole (Reissman, 1965).

Mutual aid based problem solving has been posed as an approach that considers the needs of the individual and the group simultaneously (Kurland & Salmon, 1992). Drawing upon the problem solving process proposed by progressive educator John Dewey, Kurland and Salmon (1992) have presented an eight step model for mutual aid based problem solving:1) an individual member raises a problem or issue of concern; 2) the problem is clearly identified by the individual and the group; 3) the problem is explored as the group elicits more information, listens attentively, responds empathically, and communicates understanding; 4) the worker asks group members to recount situations similar or relevant to the concern under current discussion; 5) the group generates possible solutions to the individual's problems upon consideration of the experiences shared by other group members; 6) the worker and the group members help the individual decide on a course of action and think through an implementation plan; 7) the worker asks all the group members what they have gained from the discussion; and 8) in a future session the worker or other group members follow up with the individual about their concern (p.9).

The social work with groups body of literature is replete with texts, articles and edited collections articulating the theory and practice of mutual aid based group work. For example, Schwartz (1961) suggested that the small group be envisioned as a mutual aid system. Regan (1992) has proposed an approach to mutual aid based group role plays for class room learning. Gitterman (1989) has highlighted mutual aid in support groups. Glassman and Kates (1990) have articulated the manner in which humanistic values are operationalized through mutual aid transactions. Shulman (1979, 2006) has built upon the model proposed by Schwartz and articulated a conceptualization of mutual aid typically associated with the Mutual Aid Model of group work. Steinberg (1997, 2004)has articulated an approach to cultivating mutual aid in group work. And the list goes on and on. For more reccommended reading check out the reading list at the Wikipedia entry on social work with groups. Not only am I still adding to the bibliography, but you could too when you have a moment to spare. Just click on the edit button.