ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the Simmels analysis of the social intervention triad. Simmel states that the tendency that people have to turn dyadic relationships into triads can be explained by way of the functions that the triad fulfils. Methodological principles in social intervention also reflect this element of being at the service of. Social intervention is consequently seen as a temporary activity. De Savornin Lohman determines that in helping relationships, the political determination holds too much sway, and that this is at the expense of an ethic of doing well. In the view of Van den Bergs, the most exciting issue about the helping relationship is that it is identical to the power relationship, at least in terms of asymmetry. Closer examination of our definition of helping raises the question of whether expanding alters behavioural alternatives in accordance with alters interests can be referred to as helping in all cases, regardless of the nature of alters interests.
