Moreno's role theory questions

[Ann E. Hale]

Some of the most useful expansions of role theory have come from the ANZPA 
trainers and writers of director theses.  I find the role analysis organized 
into "progressive roles" (those furthering your spontaneity and creativity 
in life)  "coping roles"  those roles adapted to overcome deficits in the 
structure/relationships in your life) and "fragmenting roles"  (those roles 
which lead to a decline in functioning and forward outlook in life) helps 
tremendously in processing psychodramas and involving clients in their own 
journaling and self-discovery.

Underdeveloped, well developed and over developed roles analysis is useful 
in looking at dynamics such as  anxiety/spontaneity/ and rigidity in role 
enactment.

I like plotting roles on the Canon of Creativity:  Cultural conserve? role 
taking and the status quo in role perception/expectation.  The travel around 
the CC, through the warm-up states and the return?  Role playing.  Ther 
momentum which swings you into the center, the height of the creative state? 
Role creating, making the role your own, defined more by you than those 
outside you.  And yes, we could do so much more. Ann Hale
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adam Blatner" <ablatner at verizon.net>
To: <grace at graceworks.co.nz>
Cc: <list at grouptalkweb.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 7:14 PM
Subject: Moreno's role theory questions


> cleaning up old emails...   Hi Grace, remind me of your last name:
>
>   1.  you wrote in late December:  I am no expert in the role theory, nor 
> of other
> theories of personality.  However, I do believe that there is much more 
> that could be
> added to the written body of knowledge about Role than what was left to us 
> by Moreno
> himself.  This would seem to be true from the anecdotal information shared 
> with us over
> the course of this discussion.
>         AB: Yes indeed, and cut loose from Moreno himself. He was a 
> pioneer that opened
> the door but his theories and ideas are only the beginning. I would be 
> very interested in
> drawing you forth on your thoughts about these things!
>
>    2. The thing I really appreciate about the practical use of Role Theory 
> is its
> immediacy and its strength-based focus.
> ab: Of course I agree, but would like to see a paper, post a paper written 
> by you, as to
> your wording, your thinking about how this is so. I've said so in my 
> words, but the
> importance is such that other viewpoints can enrich this nascent theory. 
> (I call it
> nascent because it flourished briefly in social psychology and then 
> disappeared. Moreno is
> often overlooked in modern textbooks!
>
> 3. G  > I find using a somewhat simplified version of a role analysis (an 
> analysis of the
> functioning in a role... well developed, over developed,  under-developed, 
> embryonic,
> conflicted etc, such as you would use in a role training session) is a 
> very useful tool
> even with folk who have no psychodrama background.   ab: yes, I'd like to 
> see this
> elaborated with examples. The field very much needs input from others who 
> have been
> working with it, a variety of contexts, types of situations...
>
>  4. G:  It immediately shifts people from a place of seeing ONLY the hole 
> in the doughnut
> (the thing they did badly- and HOW VERY BADLY THEY DID IT) to a 
> strength-based
> perspective.  Typically they immediately warm up to recognising that MOST 
> of what they did
> was good and often only a very small adjustment is required for it all to 
> be useful to
> them.  Much
> more hope that way!  It also is very useful to assist them to see that the 
> person with
> whom they are struggling is also a system of roles and the particular role 
> they struggle
> with is not ALL of that person; much more hopeful.
>    AB: well said!   I hope I can encourage you and others. I've posted a 
> number of papers
> on role theory on my website, many more in my book and the anthology on 
> theory (2007), but
> we need more. Sue Daniels' chapter is good, but what about your offering a 
> number of
> examples and either posting them on your own, somebody else's, or I'll 
> post it on my
> website?
>
>   Warmly, Adam
>
>
> Grouptalk mailing list
> List at grouptalkweb.org
> http://grouptalkweb.org/mailman/listinfo/list_grouptalkweb.org
>


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