The History, Concepts and Theories of Self-Help Groups: From an International Perspective
Tomofumi Oka Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, Sophia University,, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8554 Japan
Email: t-oka@sophia.ac.jp
Thomasina Borkman Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University,Fairfax, VA 22030-4444 USA
Email: tborkman@gmu.edu
The Japanese version is included in
The Japanese Journal of Occupational Therapy 34(7), 718-722, (July, 2000)
Excerpt:
" The third idea focuses on the special perspective of the problem or predicament and its resolution that self-help groups develops that are different from medical or professional views of their problem. Antze (1976) called it "ideology" and Kennedy and Humphreys (1994) used the term "worldview." Borkman (1999) expanded on these ideas to emphasize that the alternative perspectives are "liberating meaning perspectives," that is, they are less likely to be stigmatizing, and more likely to be constructive, positive, and view the members in a dignified and respectful manner than professional perspectives. This idea is also related to "emancipation from suppression", which Oka (1999) proposed as one of "the three basic processes and qualities of self-help groups", the others being "sharing" and "individual independence." Professionals are often unaware that their technical perspectives are stigmatizing, dehumanizing, or implicitly negative about living with the condition. Qualitative research, rather than quantitative or conventional research, is needed to explore these perspectives.
" The fourth idea is based on the view of self-help groups as voluntary organizations, not as a form of therapy or treatment. Borkman (1999, p. 17) states that "the social science literature on self-help / mutual aid has taken a disproportionately therapeutic and individualistic perspective, focusing on such questions as how individuals are benefited by their participation in a group."
" The advantage of the voluntary action perspective is that it more clearly distinguishes self-help groups from government-controlled or professionally-controlled groups or health foundations that are set up for people with a problem like diabetes but diabetics do not control the organization -- professional managers, or health professionals or government types control the organization. The voluntary action perspective also focuses on organizational issues such as leadership, leader burnout, lack of members willing to contribute to maintaining the organization, problems recruiting or retaining members, etc. which the treatment and therapy perspectives does not. The voluntary action perspective also points to questions of how do self-help groups contribute to society, to building social capital or to changing professional practices."
For access to the US version of the article go to:
http://pweb.sophia.ac.jp/~t-oka/papers/2000/jjot.html
Contributor: Don Phillips
