DEVELOPMENTAL

APPROACH
Developmental social work has been a popular
term in the country because of the thrust towards
developmental social welfare.
United Nation started to advocate starting with
the sixties- the first U.N Developmental Decade.
Emanuel Troop- offers such a theory which
seems very relevant at this time and can be
adapted to our setting- The Developmental
Approach.
 Developmental Approach
Webster defines development as causing
something to unfold, to grow, to change for the
better, to be realized. It regards a certain entity as
being endowed with certain potentials which
society should discover and maximize.
This basic idea about development is inherent in
Emanuel Troops Developmental Approach to
social work with groups.
 Developmental Approach
People are not seen as being sick or healthy, but on scale ranging
from socially functional (adequate) to dysfunctional (inadequate) to
en-functional (good functioning) continually able to move up this
scale in a life-long developmental process of self-realization.
The practitioner who tries to help people who are striving for self-
realization is concerned with tapping the vast unused potential that
resides within all people and which is generally used only
functionally- in the spheres of physical, intellectual, aesthetic, and
interpersonal development, of which the last is the direct concern
of social work.
 Two Essential Features
Recognition of the human being as
the main resource to be utilized
Interpersonal relationships, more
specifically social role performance,
as the focus concern.
 Three Major Themes characterize the
developmental approach
1. Humanistic- a view of one human being by another,
troop elaborates on this theme by describing how the
worker functions and relates with the group. The worker
respects the groups common purpose and integrity as a
group, deals with the members for what they are and
what they do and respects the members for what they
are and what they do and respects the member to
member helping phenomenon as key principle to their
growth.
 The worker is an enabler, and show belief in
peoples ability to cope with their common task. The
worker offers herself with openness, authenticity,
mutuality, humility, respect, empathy, compassion,
involvement, support, expectation and assistance.
2. Phenomenological-the main concern is what is
happening at present, whether in the group or
outside of it, or both. The approach is reality-
oriented, focusing on current group and individual
behavior rather than on past personality diagnosis
and interpretations of behavior.
 3. Developmental
It sees people as being able to move forward
in a life-long process of self-actualization or
fulfilment of potential in social functioning.
The treatment orientation, the developmental
approach sees people as people, all of whom
face difficult developmental stages, life
situation, challenges, stresses, and crises with
which they must cope.
Characteristic of Developmental Approach

1. Specific kinds of group experiences- are

viewed as most effective in the attainment of
enhanced social functioning. The content of
group experience, Called Program which
emanates from the groups function which
Troop calls the functional modes, in group
practice are the following:
a. Counselling- group to discuss common life
situations or common concern
 b. Activity group- to pursue a common interest
c. Action group- to effect some improvement in its social
environment.

2. Common goal groups-viewed as the kinds of experiences

that are most productive of enhanced social functioning.
Goal is used in this theory not in the sense of ends that are
expected to be achieved upon the termination of the helping
relationship, but as a specific task agreed upon for a specific
group session or series of session (short term goal).
3. The common goal- a may take the form of
common concern or common interest or common
life situation, each of which results in a peer
relationship among members. Except for the family
group in which the members do not have this
distinctive peer quality because of its hierarchical
structure, the approach may be applied to all other
groups which has this characteristic and meets other
membership criteria the worker deems necessary.
4. The effectiveness of the group goal-achieving process is the
primary target for both the members and the worker. The events
and process occurring in the group as it pursues its common goal
should be given careful attention since on this will depend the
achievement of the members individually needed gains.
The workers skillful guidance of the group towards the desirable
structure and processes relating to its goal is considered crucial.

5. The group members achieve different individual gains in social

growth within the context of the group goal-achieving process.
Troop describes as the 4 basic purposive processes
a. Release of feeling-anger, fear, guilt and affection-that
tend to block effective social task performance if not
unberdened , preferably in the presence of others who
are in comparable situation.
b. Support-which means a receiving of acceptance and
affection through belonging a group recognition of
self-expression that is translated into achievement,
which encourages the tapping of further strengths,
with a resultant gain in self-esteem
c. Reality orientation wherein through seeing others in
similar situations, seeing how others see oneself, each
member can gain a clearer orientation to his own
behavior among peers
d. Self-appraisal which involves attaining from all the
foregoing a clearer perspective of ones self and others,
new option for handling situations, increased ability to
make judgements, and a more responsible taking hold of
ones own life in relation to the reasons for being in the
group.
6. The group becomes the medium for the members actions, for the
perception of each others action, an for the workers perception
of both. Troop points out the importance of the workers and
members relating only to commonly-perceived behavior, that is,
any one persons (including the workers) reading of a message
may be inaccurate unless it is confirmed by at least a segment of
the group
7. The group goal-achieving process is carried out on the basis of
open agreements, openly arrived at and openly pursued, resulting
in a mutuality of understanding and effort between member and
worker.
8. The group is essentially self-directing, within varying limits, and
each member is self-directing in relation to what he wants to give
and to get from the group; there is no intention to change anyone
for it is seen as each members right to decide how to lead his life
and to then benefit or suffer from the consequences.

THE HELPING PROCESS IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL

APPROACH
- Tropp describes events and worker activities during the work with
developmental groups which evidence group development and the
basic social work helping process.
Tropp present the three types of stages in the Developmental Approach.
1. Beginning Stage
2. Middle Stage
3. Ending Stage

1. Beginning Stage
Members
a. Become oriented to the new situation
b. Understand reason(s) for group membership and the work to be
done.
c. Experience some doubts or enthusiasm about membership.
Worker
1. Clarifies purpose and structure of the group
2. Establishes a contract with the group
3. Facilitates/supports task-selection
4. Supports initial efforts of the group
5. Facilitates climate conducive to unity/cooperation.

2. Middle Stage
Members:
a. More open expression by members
b. Increasing understanding and acceptance of values of group
experience by member
 c. Roles and statuses evolve
d. Group demonstrates greater ability to plan and function
e. Group shows greater stability and cohesiveness
f. Group is working towards goal achievement

Workers:
1. Guides group toward its defined goals
2. Clarifies tasks completed and tasks still to be done
3. Provides continuing support to enable group to be self-directing
4. Helps group to work within time frame
5. Assesses gains in relation to goal achievement
3. Ending Stage
Members:
a. Show varying degrees of task accomplishment
b. Inventory gains from group experience
c. Show varying levels of satisfaction from
accomplishment
d. Show some concern/anxiety about ending group
membership and being separated from members, worker
and agency
e. Accept the reality of ending group experience
Workers:
1. Helps the group with task accomplishment
2. Evaluates gains made from group experience
3. Makes objective appraisal of any goals/tasks not
accomplished
4. Helps effect smooth ending of group membership
5. Helps the group with post-termination plans as a self-
help or mutual aid group.
Thank you