Zola, I. K. (1972). The problems and prospects of mutual aid groups. Rehabilitation Psychology, 19(4), 180–183. https://
https://doi.org/10.1037/h0091061
The roots of mutual-aid groups harken back to the frontier days of the United States. As early as the 19th century, the goal of these helpful organizations was to help those who were in the community in general or some specific cause or disease. Normally, the cause was external to the members of the organizations themselves. From voluntary associations to help others to mutual aid associations to help each other was not as easy a shift as it might seem. Perhaps the major growth, as well as shift, in such groups resulted from the mass waves in immigration. There must have been a number of barriers which dogged the existence of true mutual aid organizations. One of these is the country's commitment to a belief that man ultimately can overcome every problem, including taming nature to do his bidding. A second barrier, the nature of the help that such problems entailed, is also threatening. For the idea of being in need of help is not an accepted theme in the Western World where independence is the byword. A third barrier to any widespread acceptance of mutual aid is the enormous worship of the technical expert, especially the physician. Mutual aid groups, as lay groups, are largely outside medical control. Even when positive results of mutual aid are reported, as in group therapy or encounter groups, these are given little professional recognition. The struggle for understanding and awareness is a never ending one and the impact of mutual aid societies goes far beyond what the members do for each other. For though the general public is good at denial, it is a safe prediction that one day all of the young will grow old, all the unafflicted will be afflicted, and all will suffer with and die from some form of cancer, heart disease or stroke. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
