Moreno's sociometry: a wake up call

[Edward Schreiber]

Thanks Gayle,
ALWAYS good to hear from you.  Do you have the reference (more info.)  
for the conference you noted?
Ed

On Jun 25, 2009, at 3:45 AM, CGayle wrote:

> Hi Ann,
> Thanks for the wake up call!   It helps to have community, albeit  
> miles away, interested in these issues.  It's a shot of adrenaline.
>
> Did you and others note, on the ncdd.org site there is an  
> international conference on "Engaging the Other: the power of  
> compassion" in November in Calif.  It's sociatry. Looks like they  
> may be still taking proposals (says to email someone...not sure if  
> that is dated).  I hope you'll consider a proposal, Ann.  And  
> Ed...and others.
>
> Cynthia Gayle
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ann Hale
> To: grouptalk
> Cc: Sue McMunn ; Karendruck at aol.com ; American Board of Examiners
> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 5:21 AM
> Subject: Moreno's sociometry: a wake up call
>
> On June 20, 2009 the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham  
> Clinton, reported the U.S. is committed to helping the world's 34  
> million refugees (my italics) build safe and fulfilling lives,  
> calling their struggle a "humanitarian emergency."  (Associated  
> Press, June 20, 2009, 09:19am EDT) What Clinton is describing is  
> the need for a qualitative and a quantitative response. What is  
> needed are methods with deeply humanitarian belief systems capable  
> of examining and resolving a crisis of this magnitude, and capable  
> of assisting one person at a time find "Where do I fit on this  
> planet? and "Will I be able to practice my religion, support my  
> family, feel safe and connected when I arrive?"  (If you will  
> remember Moreno got his start resettling refugees in Mitterndorf in  
> 1915-1917. It is here he discovered the connection between  
> preference and lessening of conflict.)
>
> At a time when psychodramatists in the US are complaining about  
> decreasing interest, enrollment and membership, etc. the need for  
> our methods   is escalating.  For years it has been documented that  
> the sociometry section of the American Board exams has the highest  
> borderline and failing grades.  Students don't seem to know more  
> than how to do "step into the circle if you like pizza"  or "put  
> you hand on someone who appears to be   similar to you in some  
> way".  There is a huge methodology awaiting our membership and  
> trainees, and a huge need.  Learning to use sociometric methods is  
> not a comfortable learning. You have to face your personal  
> deficits, your value system, your needs, and what rejection feels  
> like, when receiving it, or giving it.  The payoff is the  
> restoration of hope and the managability of complex, intersecting  
> lives.
>
> No, psychodrama, is disappearing from texts and journals. Whole  
> books such as the popular "Social Intelligence (Goleman) can appear  
> without one reference to Moreno.  It is past time that we examine  
> ourselves for choosing to retreat to the safety of private practice  
> and align ourselves with   mental health when we could have been  
> preparing large numbers of students to intervene and strategize and  
> resolve some of the sociodynamics which lead to devestating social  
> and political problems. I am not just pointing fingers. I know  
> myself to be underutilized and not involved to the level of my  
> capability.
>
> Playback Theater has risen to the challenge, and a scattering of  
> psychodramatists are looking at the big picture.  I am grateful for  
> every one of you who takes the method to points of crisis.  If we  
> want our methods to be more available to those who need them we  
> need to make sociometry more available on a global scale.
>
> The Obama administration opened the Office of Public Engagement in  
> February, 2009.  Their Core Priniciples (7) are listed on the  
> website of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation.   
> If you want to you can go to www.sociometry.net and get linked to  
> this.  Our current government is open to our methodology.  Let's  
> respond!
>
>
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