The Relationship as Protagonist

[Adam Blatner]

It seems fairly easy at first, and good drama:
   Multiple aspects:

    1. Encounter between two people.
    2. Encounter between two people plus each one's double!
              Double then brings up level 2 and 3. as described in 
http://www.blatner.com/adam/psyntbk/fivelevelsawareness.html
(no doubling or attempts to double for levels 4 or 5)
    3. All areas need not be addressed: Pinpoint which roles are most salient for the 
issues raised or the next step.
    4. Possibly multiple ego for both people: This part and that part of A, this part and 
that part of B,, possibly also observing ego parts (inner chooser/decider).
    5. other possibilities include role analysis 
http://www.blatner.com/adam/psyntbk/RoleAnalysis.html

        6. Recognize need to include other role: How I fantasize the audience/group 
perceiving me as I encounter my other person. So that role also on a step or at the edge 
of the stage.

    7. Repeat scenes with auxiliaries mirroring the WAY A or B said or behaved nonverbally 
during a brief interaction. Often problems involve these perceptions.

    8. Be able to pause and interview either A or B as to what associations - connotations 
come to mind when the other uses a certain word. Often conflict hinges on two 
interpretations or gut reactions to a word, and neither up to that point are aware that 
they're both experiencing that word, phrase, differently.

    9. Do either party know about the shadow complex?  Etc.
            I'll stop for now.    just some ideas. Warmly, Adam

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Walter Logeman" <walter at psybernet.co.nz>
To: <list at grouptalkweb.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 4:17 PM
Subject: The Relationship as Protagonist


Dear Grouptalk members

I am developing my thinking & practice of working with the
relationship between two people in a group, on the stage. I think of
the "relationship as the protagonist" in such a situation.


//
In order to talk cogently about treatment of interpersonal relations
there must be two patients present, and a third, the therapist, who
may be able then more genuinely to remain uninvolved, a participant
observer and an interpreter to both parties…Then there are two
patients, not one, they can give therapy to each other, each in accord
with his ability and his needs.
(Moreno, Psychodrama Vol 3 :55-56)
//

Moreno Psychodrama Vol 1. Section on Co-Unconscious  States and the
"Inter-psyche". in the introduction has more on this.

I have worked with a relationship in a group, with two people in a dialogue.

Choosing the protagonist rel was a smooth process. Group members
invited another to participate in an exploration of an aspect of their
relationship if the invitation was accepted they were then a possible
candidate for  a "protagonist relationship".

Producing the drama of the relationship is more complex....

Ideas about this?  Experiences?

Is there literature?


Walter

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