RUNNING HEAD: GROUP ANALYSIS PAPER

Shellisa Mitchell
Wayne State University
ft0464@wayne.edu
Professor Shapiro
SW 4010
11/4/15

GROUP ANALYSIS PAPER

Abstract
This is a paper based on an observation of a group process recording. In observation
during a recorded meeting, there was great turmoil with a stranded group of five survivals on a
tropical island. The paper will describe the assessments, group dynamics evident in these
sessions, impressions, and plan of action in documentation form of the survivals interaction
amongst each other. The group has to come up with roles and a plan to survive this devastating
situation. The social worker addressed the group to seek assistance and resolution to best fit their
needs for survival. The groups goal is to implement strategies and various ways to obtain
resources, ways to survive, and to ensure safety. The social worker addressed the group to
answer questions and to express their action plan. Additionally, the role play of stranded group
members are SW 4010 classmates.

GROUP ANALYSIS PAPER

There are numerous of ways, views, and ideas to address a group of people stranded on a
tropical island. Every member needs to participate in the groups effort to survive. Moreover,
each person should instill their skills and abilities to help build, search, and obtain resources. In
the event of stranded people on an island every detail, aspect, and suggestions are helpful and
needed. Every group needs to analyze their members because each member may come from
different backgrounds and culture. Maybe the group members are mentally and physically
disable, or they may have a medical illness. In the social workers group analysis, it will explain
the recorded observations and assessments of the social group functioning, engagement, and
strategic plan for survival.
On the Caribbean Tropical Island, the observation of great chaos and turmoil. It was a big
shipwreck, and few survived. The island was secluded and desolated, and the group had limited
food and resources. However, there were many palms trees, coconut trees, banana trees, and
many other fruits to pick and collect. The stranded group of five felt despair and hopeless. The
reaction of being very shocked how the group survived the shipwreck was unbelievable. The
group members floated on the ocean shore. It was unreal of the disaster and destruction the ship
caused. Moreover, the group manages to survive and land on a tropical island. In thinking, how
the group could ever survive the living conditions with a limited supply of goods and resources.
In the assessment, the growth and development of the group members as a whole, and
towards one another in the session, showed a significance of mixed emotions. Furthermore,
caused great division in the beginning stages of planning. Kyle was the informational seeker,
Tracy was very opinionated, Hollie was cynical and defiant, and Crystal showed fear and despair.
The groups emotions were unbearable and unruly. The social worker tried every technique to
keep calmness and order. As the groups frustrations grew, the social worker decided to organize

GROUP ANALYSIS PAPER

the group structure. The social worker followed this structure according to the research findings;
the system theory was a great idea to implement the group. The theory presents order and
structure. Moreover, to allow each member to overcome obstacles and succeed handling the tasks
and assignments they can perform. The theory can help the group show the strength to confront
many challenges the may experience. Additionally, the group will show force and power to
remain equilibrium possibly to survive (Toseland, Robert, 2013, p.56).
The group changed as a result of this group session by showing cooperation and a team
effort. Although, there were many difficulties and disappointments of the group struggle to
comply with the sessions. There was a positive change in the groups development because the
social worker advised the group on the importance of having a group leader. The group leader
had to assess and observe the groups progress to see if tasks or goals are being met and also
make decisions on alternatives (Toseland, Robert, 2013). Furthermore, the group members had to
show participation and cohesion. The groups determination to survive was depending on the
belief of the members to attain goals implemented.
The group dynamics evident in these sessions showed the groups vulnerability to express
their emotions, sensitivity, and inner strength. The group dynamics revealed the weakness,
failures and disappoints of group work. These attributes expressed their norms of the group
members. The norms for the group was inconsistent in their various stages of growth and
development. Although, it was four black women and one white man it did not make a
difference. The groups persistence to survive and their listening ability showed cohesion
(Toseland, Robert, 2013, p. 74-84).

GROUP ANALYSIS PAPER

One of the group members had a boldness of strength to become the leader. Tracy
overcame her anxiety to direct and give opinions to the group members a means of survival. She
started pulling out the ocean shoreline their belongings saved. Everyone was in disbelief and a
state of shock. The group members took a while to believe this reality of hardship. Kyle then
realized the severity of the situation and asking so many questions about the island and their
means of survival. He was very alert to any details and asked questions on top of issues to get
information. He felt the need to scream at the social worker and group members to assure their
chances of survival. Crystal gave up she did not want to live or survive on the island. She
wanders off to another part of the island. She was lost at the beginning of the groups planning.
Hollie was very cynical and did not want to believe anything or anybody. She debated with
everybody about strategies to survive. She did not think the group would survive this tragic
situation. She was very disruptive and defiant. She wanted all the attention and power of the
group to fail. Although, the groups cohesion was very weak in the beginning towards the middle
of the planning stage everyone tried to assist.
My impression of the groups sessions, I was very shocked how the group survived the
ship wreck. The group members floated on the ocean shore. I did not believe the disaster and
destruction the ship cause. As the group tried to brainstorm ideas and implement a plan of
actions. Some listened, and some were obnoxious. Tracy took charge and started asking everyone
for their assistance in hunting and fishing. Kyle jumped in and helped with starting a fire and
building shelter from the rain. Tracy asked Hollie to gather up garments and leaf pedals to obtain
the pure raindrops for drinking water. I was well pleased to see cooperation amongst the group
members. I was glad to see everyone listening to the group leader and doing their assigned tasks.
I admired how the group showed effort into their means of survival. Kyle showed courage and

GROUP ANALYSIS PAPER

strength. I was happy that Hollie helped with tasks and assisted in the goals for the group. She
was not displaying anger or strife. Instead, they all showed great efforts to survive. As the social
worker, I asked each member their feelings and ideas in their ability to survive. The body
language of Tracy showed helpfulness, Kyle showed timidly and frightened by pacing the shore,
and Hollie showed anger through yelling and pointing and rocking back and forward. They all
listened to the ideas I gave them to work together. To effectively change the groups behavior, I
assess all the group members interactions with each other and evaluate their strengths and
weakness. I will give suggestions to strategies and ways to cope with devastating situations and
how to give respect to each members tasks and encourage teamwork.
The group need to be cooperative, sharing, helping and considerate to be more effective.
First, the group needs to come together mentally, physically and spiritually to ensure
cohesiveness. Strategize one plan and follow the plan to avoid confusion. The group should
sustain their resources and try to preserve as much as possible to meet changes in demands and
challenges to survive. The difference in humans and animals is intelligence. Humans can think
logic, reason, recognized problems, develop solutions, and manipulate situations to alter future
events (Alloway, 2010). In emergency situations, humans give up and panic even die because
they limit the use of their intelligence. Panic produces fear and despair it blocks a person from
developing an action plan. If the group understands panic is the factor of fear and overcome it,
and then the group has a chance for survival (Alloway, 2010).
Everyone have to have the will to survive. Moreover, some people have great attributes, and
some people have a total meltdown in a crisis. However, the group would need a leader to keep
everyone focus and structure to govern best themselves as a whole on the tropical island.
Motivation is the driving force to get group members to comply and work as a team.

GROUP ANALYSIS PAPER

References
Alloway, D. (2010). Desert survival skills. University of Texas Press.
Toseland Ronald., & Rivas, Robert. (2013). An Introduction to Group Work Practice.
(7th ed.), Needham Heights, MA: Allyn/Bacon.

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