THE INTERACTIONIST APPROACH

The basic premise of the Interactionist Approach which was developed by William Schwartz
is that there is a symbiotic relationship between people and their environment , and therefore,
the function of social work is to “mediate the process through which the individual and society
reach out to each other through a mutual need for self-fulfillment”

The Mediating Function

Schwartz contends that social work’s function in society is most powerfully expressed when
it directs itself not to the individual or the social, but to the relationship between the two.
Because there is a great deal of “reaching and pressuring and straining that go on between
people and their instructions, he sees the need for a force that will guard their symbiotic
strivings and keep the interaction alive among them. Thus, according to Schwartz, the function
of social work is to mediate the transactions between, people and the various systems through
which they carry on their relationships with society the family, the peer group, the social
agency, the neighborhood, the school, the job, and others.

In this approach, the worker’s skills come from two interrelated responsibilities, that of a)
helping each individual client negotiate the system immediately crucial to the problems, and b)
helping the system reach out to incorporate the client, deliver its service, and thus carry out its
function in the community.

The following diagram represents the relationship of forces at play as viewed in the
Interactionist Approach.

System
Client
Group,
Individual or
Agency, or
Group
Other

Social

worker
 The diagram shows the mediating function of social work and the specific relationship at work
in any given situation. It shows the impetus of the client (individual or group) toward the
system with which it is in interaction, and the system (group, agency, family, etc.) toward its
member or client. The arrangement also shows the lines along which the social worker uses
skills to encourage the approaches among the two parties. These approaches, according to
Schwartz, may involve conflict, cooperation, confrontation, negotiation, or other forms of
exchange, based on the realities of the situation. It is also pointed out that the demand is not
for conciliation but for a realistic exchange between the client and the system.

The Group

In working which groups in this approach, the social worker has a two-client responsibility,
the worker addresses each member, whose relationship to the group this member needs to
negotiate, and the group as a whole, that has to negotiate the larger systems of which it is a
part, the agency, the neighborhood, etc.. The group is described as an alliance of moving,
interdependent beings, with the worker being one of them. The worker’s moves are directed
toward specific purposes, limited in scope and time, and touching only those within her
immediate reach.

The Interactionist Approach has no special requirements other than that the people need
each other and can work together with help on tasks they have agreed on. The group is seen as
a mutual aid group that is focused on a specific problem or problems, and the agency’s function
is to provide help with such problem(s). The group in this approach has four major features:

1) The group is a collective in which people face and inter-act with each other;

2) The people need each other for certain specific purposes;

3) People came together to work on common tasks, and

4) The work is embedded in a relevant agency function.

Phases of the Work

Schwartz describes four phases of the work in this approach which include (1) assumptions
that can be made about the laws of nature appropriate to the tasks of the worker; (2) the
valued outcomes that need to be brought about, and (3) the implementing acts which the
worker may have to, do.

The following is a summary of the features of these phases:

PHASES ASSUMPTIONS VALUED IMPLEMENTING

OUTCOMES ACTS

1.The “tunning In” As the About human - Worker’s ability -Emphatic skills
worker prepares to enter/re- behavior: to “tune” herself
-Skills in both
enter the group, she must to the coded
-There is a generalizing and
understand that life processes messages and
continuity in partializing the
with which she is about to join disguised
human experience data at her
forces began long before she meanings through
(i.e., people’s command, i.e.,
came, will continue after she which members
expectations will organizing the bits
leaves, and will continue to be will be
be bases on past of information
subject to many influences communicating
experiences) into a pattern of
other than her own. their messages.
expectations and
-People will tend
-The worker is about to move -Worker can begin breaking down her
to respond as they
toward processes already in to visualize the general
think others
motion, established her actions and knowledge into
expect them to
function quickly, do her job and reactions through smaller
respond.
leave. which she and the propositions
-Beginnings tend members will deal relevant to the
to stir up feelings with each other in clients she will be
of self-doubt and the beginning working with.
hesitancy about stage of their work
-Worker prepares
one’s together.
to ask both
competence.
members and
-A new authority agency
(i.e., the worker) representative to
will produce a fear enter into an open
of new demands recognition of
and dependency what the work will
and expectations be about.
of reward and
 love.

-Clients will
convey to worker
and to each other
only a small part
of how they feel;
others will be
communicated in
a kind of code
(worker must
identify other
assumptions that
will help to
sensitize herself to
what may happen
in the work
together).

II. The beginning 1) The new 1) Worker wants -Worker’s ability

- The worker moves into relationship will to effect an to feel her way
the group and asks cause certain opening deeply into both
a) group for a clear demands and consetisus,----- client need and
understanding of expectations from from the the agency
what they are the --- each other (i.e., members, on what service.
- members and they need and -worker’s ability to
b) -----,verifies the agency) which will from the agency reach for feedback
nature of the service create certain representatives, and encourage
and the contract behaviors and on what they offer. specifies.
that exist between forces which they 2) Worker wants -Worker prepares
the agency and the may or may not --- to partialization of herself to monitor
group - or recognize. tasks, a the terms of the
-The beginning stage 2) These demands clarification of the contract, and
will already and expectations specifics of the perhaps, later, to
demonstrate that are further work before them. ask the group and
relationship complicated by 3) Worker wants agency to
between the the small group to help establish renegotiate this as
members and the itself, with the some of the they engage in the
agency is a special processes ground rules and work together.
case of the operating in it, procedures that
processes through and with the will facilitate
which people and group now having collaborative and
society reach out to to interact with independent
each other. agency. problem solving.
3) Any direct
statement of
these demands
and expectations
is experienced by
both sides as
embarrassing and
taboo, so that a
force is needed
that is not
inhibited by such
taboos.
4) The taboo
about explicit
purposes creates
an unclear
framework within
which it is difficult
for the clients to
choose their
responses.
5) The vagueness
tends to create a
prolonged of
testing during
which the
members make
covert attempts to
discover the
nature of the
enterprise, the
rules of the game
and what the
worker
represents.
6) The ambiguity
and the testing
creates a greater
fear of the power
of the agency and
the workers
power to invade
 their lives without
restriction.
7) There is the
general problem
of beginnings, ---
the effects of ------
. the interactions
they foster, the
hopes they create
etc.
III. The task -An individual’s -Having the client -The ability to
(middle phase) major access to examine his self decode messages,
1) The search for common new ideas lies in interest, situation to reach for
ground between the his sense of their by situation, in ambiguities, to
needs of clients and usefulness to him very specific probe for
those of the systems and in his terms. negatives, to show
they have to negotiate. consequent ability love and energy in
2) Detecting and to invest feeling in -Worker will be the work, to
challenging the the job of making reaching partialize tasks, to
obstacles that come them his. repeatedly for point up the
between the members feelings of self connections
and their systems -All these tasks call interest that are between
3) Worker’s responsibility for explicit buried under fragments of
for contributing ideas, variations on the Considerations of experience, to find
facts and values symbiotic theme; politeness, self and mobilize
4) Worker shares her own each demands denial, and the resources, and,
vision of the work, her specific desire to through, to make
feelings about the hypotheses on the cooperate with the “demand for
process, and her faith in nature of self one’s oppressor. work” inherent in
the clients’ strengths interest, the the contract and
5) Worker must help relationship -The investment of in her helping
define the limits and between people affect, the function.
requirements of the and their systems; engagement of
situation in which the the group energies, the
work takes place processes through expression of
which pooled self- conflict, and the
interest yields a translation of ideas
social product, and feelings into
how both work
individuals and
systems strive
simultaneously for
equilibrium and
change, the role of
 the mediating
authority, and
others.

IV. Transitions and Endings -There tends to be -That the members -In the context of
- The essentials task is to a rush energy made the ending a temporary
make a transition from toward the closing serious part of endings, worker
one stage of experience moments of the their work recognizes the
to the next. group meeting together informal system
a) temporary endings (“door knob (the private,
(the transition is therapy,” i.e., -That the endings informal system of
from one meeting to members save work be regarded the member
another, until final their most as part of the where between
separation), important contract rather meeting
b) permanent ending disclosures for the than a farewell developments are
that brings the group time when they party,.i.e., it legitimate and
life to a close: this are on their way should have may be valuable
has four stages: out of the door). substance as well material to the
 ---- period (the as feelings group), reaches
purpose of -The meeting does for relevant
ending is ignored not end when it is -That the ending material, giving
or denied. over but moves be not a room for it at the
 -----angry stage -- via the informal moratorium of the beginning of the
-- finds herself system, into an ---- work but a meeting
reliving the phase of significant episode
beginning communication in in it. -Worker monitors
aspects of the which the time
relationship, i.e., difference is that
resisted and the worker is not a) With temporary
suspected) present. endings, monitors
 Period of the transition
mourning -There is ---- from the opening
(members are /resistance -----. stage, to the
closed to their closing moment.
complex feelings -Members may
about the worker experience b) with permanent
and the others in feelings of guilt endings, worker
the group, and about not having calls attention to
are capable of played their roles the imminence of
intensive work more adequately. the ending and
on the meaning involves herself
to them of the -There are strong closely in the
experience); a feelings that separation
kind of members can do experience.
 graduation effect better if given the
(the future is chance to do it
regarded with again.
optimism,
tendency to -Successful,
reject the groups tend to
worked and a end more easily
rehearsing for and go through
new stages of their ending
experience). stages more
quickly.

The “H-Mole Women’s Group”

The setting

The Ospital ng bayan is a large government training, service and research hospital in the Metro
Manila area. It has a Social Medical Service (MSS) Department which provides programs and services
aimed at helping patients and their families with personal and environmental difficulties related to the
prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of the patients’ medical conditions.

The MSS has been using mainly the casework method of helping patients deal with the psychosocial
aspects of their illness. The group work method had been used on an “on and off” basis, and always,
only as a supplement to the casework method. In 1996, several of the MSS social workers participated
in a series of seminars on “Approaches to Group Work Practice” and returned to the MSS feeling very
enthusiastic and motivated to apply their new learnings. “Miss J,” who had been for the department for
ten years decided to organize a group of patients in the Obstetrics ang Gynecology ward which was her
assignment specifically, she decided to organize a group of H-Mole patients because she thought that
with the kind of problems confronting them, and with the length of time they had to be hospitalized,
they would benefit from the, group mode of service. She presented her proposal which was approved by
her department, and then endorsed to the Director of Professional Service who, in turn, informed the
heads of the departments that needed to know about it..e.g.., Nursing and Occupational Theraphy.

“H-Mole” Disease

According to medical science Throphoblastic Gestational Disease (called “Kyawa” in Filipino) can be
Hydatid-Mole (H-Mole) Invasive Mole, or Choriocarcinoma.’ “H-Mole” which is the most common
(hence its popular use to refer to any of the three trophoblastic diseases) is an abnormal pregnancy
characterized by “multiple grapelike vesicles filling and distending the uterus usually in the absence of
an intact fetus.”

The treatment for this condition involves: 1) evacuation or suction curettage or hysterectomy; 2)
prophylactic chemotherapy, and 3) follow-up treatment.

Some side effects of the chemotherapeutic drugs are: loss of appetite, mouth sores, allergy,
baldness, and diarrhea.

Trophoblastic disease is considered as a poor women’s illness because it usually thrives on women
with low protein diet. The treatment is long and expensive. The length of confinement is from atleast six
months depending on the severity of the illness and the Patient’s response to treatment.

The Group

The group is composed of eight patients, 24 to 42 years of age, all afflicted with Trophoblastic
Gestational Disease. Each patient was invited to join the “H-Mole Women’s Group” based only on her
medical diagnosis, willingness to attend the weekly two-hour sessions in the ward, and being
ambulatory. There were four other “H-Mole” patients in the ward at the time the group was being
organized but they met only the first criterion.

The worker read each of the patients’ individual files and interviewed them, first individually to
obtain additional information, then as a group, to orient them about the group service of the MSS, and
to ask about the concerns and problems. This convening session revealed two areas of concern on the
part of the patients: a) their lack of understanding of their medical condition and the difficulties they
were experiencing because of this condition, and b) conflicts with the hospital/staff relating to certain
hospital policies and practices.

The Group’s Initial Sessions

The worker and the group agreed to hold their meetings in one quiet corner of the H-Mole ward
to encourage regular attendance even if the patients were experiencing the side effects that usually
follow chemotheraphy.

The Ward Nursing Supervisor was invited by “Miss J” to attend the first group session where the
patients’ two, main areas of concern were reiterated. It was emphasized that the meetings were not
meant to serve as “gripe sessions” but to help the group with their shared concerns or problems which
might be due to factors in themselves, or external factors, such as their families, the hospital, and others
which hamper not only their adjustment in the hospital, but their medical recovery. The Nursing
Supervisor said she would cooperate if the patients’ requests were reasonable.
 The first two sessions were spent discussing the specifics relating to the patients’ medical
condition and its consequences, and the problems they had in relation to the hospital policies and
practice. In relation to these, the group and the worker agreed to hold weekly sessions for three
months, after which period they ---- the following goals to have been achieved: 1) the members shall
have expressed all their feelings, concerns and problems relating to their medical condition and resolved
many, if not all of these; 2) the members shall have acquired adequate understanding of the “H-Mole”
disease; 3) the members shall have identified community resources relevant to their current and
possibly, future treatment needs; 4) the members shall have resolved their problems/conflicts with the
hospital staff.

By the end of their second session, the worker and the group had agreed that of the
eleven remaining sessions, four sessions would focus on the first three group goals, while seven
sessions would focus on the patients’ problems relating to the hospital. The group members
expressed the need to spend more time on the latter because these had been aggravating their
already “bad” medical/physical conditions. They expressed their sense of helplessness and
powerlessness especially because they were only “charity patients.” They said they were
grateful and wanted to cooperate with the hospital but they thought many policies and
practices were unjust and inhuman (“hindi makatarungan at hindi makatao”). The group asked
the worker for help in dealing with the following specific concerns:

1) The requirement to wear the hospital uniform: the members said that the smell of the
uniform usually induces vomiting; there are blood stains on the uniform even after
laundry and disinfection and patients feared this might cause infection to which they
were very susceptible; being already bald (because of chemotheraphy), wearing the
uniform made them look like prisoners.

2) The food rationing system: patients’ use of personal varied sized-plates to get their food
at the counter during meal time results in an unequal quantity of food being given, with
the patients towards the end of the line getting very little; the same problem was being
experienced by patients for whom a high protein, high calorie diet had been prescribed
by the doctors.

3) Cruel/inhuman treatment of patients’ caregivers/watchers by hospital security

personnel, e.g., being hit by the guard’s night-stick when found resting their heads on
the patients’ beds.
4) Chemotherapeutic drugs are often not available at the hospital pharmacy forcing
patients to buy them outside at prohibitive prices.

5) Access to hospital and community resources through the hospital Referral Service: the
group is asking for assistance (e.g., funds for drugs) on a more regular basis because the
doctors require them to take their medication according to schedule.

The Group’s Problem-Solving Activities

The following is a brief summary of what happened during the rest of the group
sessions:

Session 3. Sharing of individual situations. The members expressed their thoughts and
feelings, their fears and concerns relating to their illness, their roles as wives, mothers
and employees, and their family’s financial problems. A great deal of crying and mutual
support took place. Themes/topic for future sessions were agreed on and corresponding
plans were made for activities to be undertaken.

Session 4. The worker invited Dr. Z and the chief of the Trophoblastic Section to
facilitate an information education session about the disease: Its nature, implications,
treatment, and prognosis. Sexuality-related concerns which were raised in the previous
meeting, were taken up. A very important clarification was made about why doctors
prohibit sexual contact during the period of treatment.

Session 5. A patient whose illness was diagnosed seven years ago when she was just 23
tears old; and was still going to the hospital’s Out-Patient department for follow-up”
was invited by the worker to reinforce the members’ understanding of the disease, and
to inspire them. Her sharing of her struggle with the disease and the kind of attitudes
that helped her pull through greatly boosted the group’s morale. They were also more
spontaneous in asking questions because she was their peer. The members were
particularly interested to know how she handled her “relasyon” with her husband. Her
response focused on the need for “sacrifice” on the part of both husband and wife
because sexual contact was prohibited.

Session 6. The worker pursued further the subject of sexual contacts with the patients;
husbands because except for one member (who had been undergoing treatment for five
years and had given her husband permission to have sexual relations with another
woman if he wanted to), the rest seemed troubled about this matter. Ways of coping
with the “prohibition” were shared by just a few who seemed to passively accept the
idea of “sacrifice.” The rest seemed embarrassed to talk about the subject. One member
nudged the worker to ask Lory how she coped. The members all seemed upset and
embarrassed by Lory’s and her husband’s public display of affection in the ward.

Mel: Sa harapan ko naghahalikan sila.

Lina: Matagal sila sa banyo kaya sinusundan ko.

Flor: Lagi silang nag-i-embrace kahit nakikita ng mga tao pero di nalang naming
pinapansin.
Lory: Ayoko naman kaya lang niyayapos ako ng asawa ko at hinahawakan ang suso ko.
Pero kahit naman sa bahay malambing talaga siya.

Mody: Galit na sa inyo ang mga nurses.

Nita: Nakikita ang ginagawa ninyo.

Lory: Bakit ganoon. Sinigawan nga siya kamakailan na huwag nang mag bantay sa akin at
umuwi nalang, (Lory started to cry). Ayoko naman talaga. Kaya lang ang asawa ko pag
pinipigil ko siya, galit siyang umaalis at di ako mapakali.

Flor: Pero alam mong mali?

Mody: Na-gi-guilty ka?

Lory: Ayoko naman talaga (cries).

Worker intervened at this point to explain that it was understandable for the group
members to react this way because they were embarrassed by such repeated intimacies
and the ward is very small so everybody sees what is going on with Lory and her
husband. Worker also explain that people have different ways of expressing their
feelings, that some can hide or suppress them, while others cannot. The worker pointed
out that Lory was also much younger and more spontaneous in showing affection.

Lory: Dalawang taon pa lang kaming kasal. Tapos nagbuntis ako. Pagkapanganak ko, na-
opera naman ako sa apendisitis. Hindi nagtagal, akala ko buntis na naman ako pero hindi
gumagalaw ang bata. Iyon pala “Kyawa” na. Tapos heto na ako. Hindi ko nakakasama
ang asawa ko at anak ko, maliban kapag “on pass.” Tapos bawal din daw.
Worker suggested that another session be held to clarify the”prohibited” rule
regarding sexual contact to which the group agreed. Lry’s sharing seemed to have
softened the group’s attitude about the couples behavior. Lina suggested that she go
out “on pass” Occasionally so she can enjoy privacy with her husband Nita advised her
to be more discreet (“Kaunting ingat naman, hindi garapal”)

Worker ended this part of the session by reiterating that the behavior of Lory and
her husband was normal except for the setting and other people offended by it. Worker
asked the rest of the group to have more understanding and tolerance but also advised
Lory to consider the feelings expressed and to exercise more discretion.

Worker fetched Dr. A, a female physician in the OB-Gyn. Ward whom she had
invited to clarify the “prohibition” issue. Worker summarized what had transpired
previously on this subject, then facilitated the members’ presentation of their questions
and concerns to Dr. A. Dr. A realized the effect of such “prohibition” both on the mental
and emotional state of the, members as well as on their marital relationships. She finally
conceded that sexual contacts can be allowed, specifying the need for the patient’s
strict adherence to certain rules, e.g., use of a contraceptive to avoid pregnancy which
would have negative effects on their treatment. She asked the patients to see her
soonest in relation to this concern.

Session 7. This session planned to discuss the hospital and outside resources the
patients could avail of and the policies and procedures regarding them. The session had
two parts: (1) Worker provided a listing of the patients’ most commonly-needed
community resources (based on her past experience) and gave tips on how to avail
themselves of these resources; (2) Worker invited the MSS’s Referral Social Worker to
talk about the documents needed to apply for assistance. This part of the session was
very fruitful because the group was clarified especially about their complaints regarding
the inadequacy of hospital resources. The session resulted in an agreement to involve
the patients themselves in the mobilization of community resources. On her part, the
Referral Social Worker realized the need to evaluate the MSS’s program on resource
mobilization and to work out a common vision of this with the Central Administration.

Session 8. Worker arranged for and facilitated and dialogue between the group and the
hospital on the subject of patients’ wearing the hospital uniform. The hospital,
represented by the Chief and Head Nurse agreed not to impose the policy. Instead, the
H-mole patients would wear their “dusters” in the ward, but most cover these with the
hospital uniform early in the morning when the physicians would make their rounds. It
was stressed that the uniform was the only way the physicians and other staff could
distinguish patients from non-patients.

Session 9. A dialogue between the group and the Chief Nurse and the head of the
kitchen staff was arranged. An agreement was reached for the patients to stop using
their personal plates and in their place., the hospital would provide them same-size
trays and food would be apportioned equally while still at the dietary unit or kitchen
instead of the present practice of scooping the food into the plates being held by
patients or their caregivers. The same system would be followed for “special diet”
patients.

Session 10. A dialogue was arranged between the Assistant Director for Health
Operations and the group on the subject of the security personnel’s treatment of
patients’ caregivers, most of whom were their spouses or children. This dialogue
resulted in the caregivers’ being officially authorized to stay and assist the patients in
the ward (especially during the period of chemotheraphy when the patients would feel
very weak) provided that they kept away from hampering the treatment, and they
followed the rules on cleanliness and orderliness in the premises. A system of
coordination between the ward staff and security personnel patrolling the ward was
adopted during the session to avoid. Untoward incidents. After the session, the Worker
talked with Mr. N., the Detachment Commander. To thresh out the problems between
his staff nd the patients. Worker did not think it a good idea for Mr. N. or any of his staff
to meet with the group as this might provoke a confrontation. She informed Mr. N,
however about the group’s appeal to the Assistant Director for Health Operations for
better treatment by security personnel.

Session 11. Worker informed the group that she had told the Chief Pharmacist about the
continuing shortage of chemotherapeutic drugs forcing the patients to buy these
outside the hospital where they are quite expensive. The Chief Pharmacist suggested
that the group elevate their concern to the higher authority as this will involve a review
of drug allocation, setting of priorities, and fund sourcing. The worker helped the group
prepare a letter addressed to the Hospital Administrator. This letter resulted in the
Administrator’s instructing the Pharmacy and OB-gynecology heads to meet and discuss
how to help the H-mole patients with their concern. The following week,
chemotherapeutic drugs were already available at the hospital pharmacy.

Session 12. This session was meant to bring together the group and the hospital officials
for a review of what transpired in the sessions. The group wanted to express their
appreciation while Worker wanted the “gains” to be institutionalized for the benefit of
future patients. The session was attended by all the group members, the Chief Nurse,
two head nurses, the Chief Pharmacist, the Chief Dietitian, Dr. A. from, the OB-
Gynecology Department, and two other social workers from MSS. Flor, the recognized
leader of the group, acted as the “speaker” and read the group’s problems that were
discussed in their “club” and the corresponding results after meeting regularly as a
group. Doctor A. and the Chief Nurse each gave a “response,” with the latter citing past
cases of abuses by patients and their caregivers like camping in the corridors, hanging
their laundry all over the place, wasteful use of water, airing and exaggerating their
complaints over TV and radio instead of bringing these first to the attention of hospital
authorities. The latter emphasized that the hospital is there to serve the patients and
they were always trying to improve their service. Worker encouraged those present to
express their thoughts. The short remarks from the group members and the hospital
representatives dwelt mainly on the importance of communication and cooperation for
them to reach their common goal –the recovery of patients.

Session 13. This last session was held two weeks before Christmas. Three of the
members were going home “on pass,” while the rest would remain in the hospital.
Three of the members had been in high spirits because for the last few days they had
been helping the ward aides put up Christmas decorations, and sort out many presents
for patients that came from donors. These activities helped to minimize the members’
resistance to the termination of the group although the members had been making
references to it with words like “malapit nang matapos,” “ga-graduate na tayo.” parang
ang bilis ng panahon,” etc.

The group discussed what had been accomplished, and shared their plans upon
being discharged. Worker also asked them to report what they had learned or gained
from sessions. This led to an acknowledgement of their individual strengths and
limitations, (being “pikon,” “masungit,” “makitid ang isip,” etc). They forgave each other
 for any hurts created. They thanked Worker for the group experience. Worker thanked
them too for what she also learned from them. The session ended with refreshments in
the ward.

Question for Discussion

1. Explain why the worker performs a “mediating function” in the Interactionist

Approach.
2. Name the four phases of the work in this approach. Explain in your own words what
each phase involves.
3. Give examples of social work client group situations or problems in the country for
which the Interactionist Approach would be indicated. Justify why it is more
appropriate for these situations than another approach or model of group work.

Special Activities

1. Identify a social work agency in which work with groups involves the worker in
mediating between the interests of client groups and other systems, e.g., the
agency management, the neighborhood, etc. Interview the social worker and ask
permission to read pertinent group recordings.

a. If the worker is aware of the Interactionist Approach and says that this
is the theory he/she applied, ask questions that will help you see
whether or not there is some “fit” between the theory and the actual
work done with the group.

b. If the worker is not aware of the Interactionist Approach, explain this to

her and together, discuss
THE INTERACTIONIST APPROACH

The basic premise of the Interactionist Approach which was developed by Will
is that there is a symbiotic relationship between people and their environment , an
the function of social work is to “mediate the process through which the individua
reach out to each other through a mutual need for self-fulfillment”

The Mediating Function

Schwartz contends that social work’s function in society is most powerfully exp
it directs itself not to the individual or the social, but to the relationship between t
Because there is a great deal of “reaching and pressuring and straining that go on b
people and their instructions, he sees the need for a force that will guard their sym
strivings and keep the interaction alive among them. Thus, according to Schwartz,
of social work is to mediate the transactions between, people and the various syst
which they carry on their relationships with society the family, the peer group, the
agency, the neighborhood, the school, the job, and others.

In this approach, the worker’s skills come from two interrelated responsibilitie
helping each individual client negotiate the system immediately crucial to the prob
helping the system reach out to incorporate the client, deliver its service, and thus
function in the community.

The following diagram represents the relationship of forces at play as viewed in th

Interactionist Approach.

System
Client
Group,
Individual or
Agency, or
Group
Other

Social

worker