Space and Culture India· 2026Q2· Review
Social Group Work as a Method of Social Work: A Review Essay on Theory and Practice in Indian Society
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- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A review essay argues that a new book, 'Theory and Practice of Social Group Work in Indian Society,' successfully reinterprets social group work by integrating Indian cultural, familial, and spiritual heritage, expanding its potential as a global practice.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Social group work is a traditional social work methodology that leverages small-group dynamics for personal development and empowerment.
- A new book reinterprets social group work by integrating Indian cultural, familial, and spiritual heritage, rather than relying solely on Western influences.
- The book incorporates various theories (ecological, role, Gestalt, Raja Yoga) and draws on empirical case studies from Indian contexts (family courts, disaster relief, addiction rehabilitation).
- The review argues that this integration expands the potential of social group work, positioning it as a global approach.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Social group work holds a unique position among traditional social work methodologies, complementing casework (engaging with individuals) and community organisation (working with communities) as a strategy for leveraging small-group dynamics to foster personal development, mutual support, and collective empowerment. Since its inception in the west in the late 1800s, the methodology has disseminated broadly, embracing notions of identity, transparency, and therapeutic transformation that appear to be shaped within Euro-American frameworks. This review essay commences by re-examining the foundational definitions of the method, its key historical and modern manifestations, and the opportunities it provides for application in health, education, correctional social work and in the contexts of disasters. This essay presents a comprehensive critical analysis of Theory and Practice of Social Group Work in Indian Society (Balgopal et al., 2024), a seminal work that reinterprets group work theory by incorporating India's cultural, familial, and spiritual heritage rather than relying solely on external influences. The essay outlines the book's exploration of ecological theory, role theory, Gestalt therapy, Raja Yoga, and the notion of allogenic conflict, drawing on empirical case studies from family courts, disaster relief efforts, teenage groups, and rural addiction rehabilitation. The essay concludes by revisiting the overarching assertions presented at the outset, contending that the book not only exhibits but also expands the potential of social group work as a truly global approach to social work practice.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Space and Culture India, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Public Administration
Public AdministrationSocial Sciences