Deck 10: Working With Groups

Question 1

Why do the authors state that it is impossible for human service workers to avoid being a member of a group or leading a group, whether or not they choose to do so?

Answer 1

While growing up, all of us have been members of many groups. We have probably been members of both nuclear and extended family groups, of a church group, of Scouts, 4-H or other kinds of recreation clubs or sports teams. As workers, we are expected to participate in a staff group and will often attend case conferences. Some of us will participate in professional organizations or unions. At some point in our career it is likely that our agency will assign us to conduct some type of educational or therapeutic groups.

Question 2

Suggest at least three kinds of group interventions that might be part of the job description of human service workers employed by a residence for teenage mothers.

Answer 2

• They might be leading a support group for the fathers.
• They might be leading a group that prepares the mothers for the GED exam, teaches parenting skills or job-hunting and interviewing skills.
• They might be conducting an orientation group for volunteers.
• They might be chairing a committee that will raise funds to pay for social programs or to buy equipment.

Question 3

What are the positive aspects of working on problem solving in a group? What do you think are the negative aspects of working to solve problems in a group? State two positive and two negative aspects, and two potential advantages and two disadvantages of having women meet separately from men in a discussion or support group.

Answer 3

Positives:
• In a group you learn a lot about yourself by dealing with different people and their moods and styles.
• You hear a lot of opinions and can relate to many different viewpoints; you can pick and choose the people and ideas that are most helpful.
• You feel emotional linkages with others, not just with the leader.
• You can see that others agree with you and that builds confidence.
• The attention of the person in charge isn't always focused on you. There is time to rest and collect ones thoughts.
Negatives:
• It can be hard to do solid work in a group; it's hard to stay focused with so many voices.
• People often use the group for their own needs.
• A few people can take over and the quiet ones can fade into the background.
• Other members can make one feel a lot of pressure if they disagree.
• It is hard to speak up with so many eyes watching.
• One can avoid responsibility, letting others do the work.
Examples of advantages:
• If the men were not present, the women might be more open about their feelings.
• They might learn about the ways in which society often socializes women to be less assertive in voicing their ideas than men are.
• They might be able to trade ideas and practice some self-assertion techniques, which is hard to do in front of men.
Examples of disadvantages:
• By meeting in a separate group, the men cannot learn the way the women might be feeling, which robs them of the chance to develop some empathy with them.
• By meeting in a separate group, the gulf between them can grow wider with suspicion and a feeling that they are adversaries.
• Both men and women need to learn to express themselves appropriately regardless of who is there, thus they are deprived of a good chance to practice that skill.

Question 4

Why is it often difficult for a group to disband? What do you think might help the members to move out or away from a group?

Question 5

What is meant by cohesion or group bond? How can it be nurtured?

Question 6

Human service workers who do not enjoy participating in groups can carefully structure their work and private lives to avoid such interactions.

Question 7

In thinking about the positive aspects of interacting in a group, some people point out that, most importantly, a group offers

A) high degrees of emotional support.
B) maximum confidentiality.
C) focused interaction.
D) a chance for verbal people to take leadership roles.
E) all of the above.

Question 8

Groups, unlike people, have a high degree of consistency over time in the way members relate to each other.

Question 9

During the norming phase of group life, the following is most likely to happen:

A) The group becomes like a family.
B) Members struggle to carve out their territory.
C) Members question whether the group will be worth their time.
D) Decisions will need to be made about group purpose.
E) The leader gives the members freedom to explore the trust.

Question 10

If a group is going to exist over a long period, conflicts among its members should most often result in:

A) The withdrawal of some members.
B) The emergence of a strong authoritarian leader.
C) Many readjustments of the group's initial norms.
D) The formation of defined subgroups.
E) None of the above.

Question 11

Understanding the inevitable struggles a group may go through, a wise group worker will:

A) take control of the phases and shape them well.
B) try to function without getting distracted by conflicts.
C) let the natural patterns evolve and try not to force them.
D) encourage members to take a cheerful attitude towards conflicts.

Question 12

The camping trip that Beth Soline organized might have looked as if it were a simple recreational activity, but in the fullest sense of the word it was therapeutic.

Question 13

Each time a new activity is proposed to members of a group, they should first be able to answer this critical question:

A) What will the agency say if we do this?
B) In what way will this activity advance our primary purpose?
C) Can this activity be done with little outlay of money?
D) Is it appealing to the wider community?

Question 14

What is one quality that characterizes a self-help support group like Alcoholics Anonymous?

A) The designated leader is well trained in human services.
B) Membership is kept small and stable.
C) By helping each other, members experience their own power.
D) Members are chosen by the professional leader.

Question 15

What is usually one of the maintenance activities of a group?

A) Deciding on speakers and videos
B) Planning holiday celebrations
C) Sending out minutes or meeting notices.

Question 16

Group cohesion or bond primarily develops out of

A) a single successful activity which commands a lot of attention.
B) an awareness of commonalty of purpose.
C) a powerful leader who teaches members how to relate to each other
D) accumulated good feelings derived from small successful activities and resolved conflicts.

Question 17

When a worker notices a pattern of scapegoating within a group, it is the worker's role to

A) confront the issue openly at the next meeting.
B) manipulate the situation until it improves.
C) help members figure out how certain patterns are helping or hindering the work of the group.
D) take the offending members aside and suggest ways to improve their behavior.

Question 18

It is a diversion to be concerned about where a group will meet. A good leader can create a positive experience in any kind of environment.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is the kind of concrete feedback that helps members to grow?

A) "You're the kind of person who always takes on a task and leaves others holding the bag."
B) "I think that the trouble with you is that you are afraid of failure."
C) "I found it very disruptive to our work when you didn't show up for the meeting with the supplies we needed to make the banner."
D) "I wish that you would stop being so aggressive."

Question 20

Every group, regardless of purpose, sophistication, or stage in its organizational life cycle, must plan and carry out two kinds of activities: maintenance activities and

A) Deciding on speakers and videos
B) Planning holiday celebrations
C) Program activities
D) Task centered activities

Question 21

People involved in helping to move group members in the direction of their goals are called:

A) Program staff
B) Task leaders
C) Facilitators
D) Leaders

Question 22

What worked best for you in the meeting this evening? What were some of the things that may have gotten in your way this evening? What parts of this meeting were most and least useful for you? By asking these questions, the group facilitator is trying to elicit

A) Outcomes
B) Positive comments
C) Feedback
D) Brainstorming

Question 23

The five categories of group purpose are therapeutic or rehabilitative, mutual support and self-help, training and orientation, task-focused or problem solving, and:

A) Resource and referral
B) Feedback and evaluation
C) Social and recreational
D) Technical and skill oriented

Question 24

The more intense and focused the goals of a group, the more members the group can accommodate.

Question 25

Once group begins, it is not necessary to review the focus and goals of the group until the evaluation process at the end.