SCAN

The UK Sociodrama & Creative Action Network

www.sociodrama.co.uk

Sociodrama is a method for exploring
the relationships within and between
groups in societies, whether local,
national, global or universal. The
practitioner learns to analyse such
systems by setting them out physically
(concretising) using objects or group
members as representations, giving voice
to these identified roles within the
system. Through role exploration (role
reversal, doubling, mirroring etc), the
practitioner becomes a change agent,
helping the group to identify where new
responses might be possible and to
practise the necessary skills to achieve
the desired change. The emphasis is
always on understanding how
individuals, teams, and organisations
function.

Sociodrama is based on the work of Dr
Jacob Levy Moreno (1889-1974), who is
also known for his creation of
psychodrama, a method of group
psychotherapy which focuses on the
inner process of an individual to help
achieve understanding and change.

Action methods encompass a wide
range of techniques and approaches. A
simple example would be for members of
an organisation to move around in the
space and form a map of the internal
groups or departments, to explore the
lines of communication among them.
Action methods draw on role theory, role
training, sociometry and sociodrama.
Sociodrama and action methods are
profoundly effective and are used
worldwide in organisational and
professional settings. They may be used
for many purposes including to:
! assist communication, negotiation,
conflict management and team
building;
! do stakeholder analysis, action
research and strategic planning;
! predict outcomes or rehearse
implementation.
! supervise managerial or training
problems;
! devise problem-solving methods that
enliven, enlighten and are effective.
Links to other organisations which promote
sociodrama and action methods

British Psychodrama Association (BPA)
www.psychodrama.org.uk

Federation of European Psychodrama Training
Organisations (FEPTO) www.fepto.eu

Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand
Psychodrama Association (AANZPA)
www.aanzpa.org

American Group Psychotherapy Organisation
(AGPA) www.agpa.org
International Association for Group Psychotherapy
and Group Processes (IAGP) www.iagp.com

Sociodrama Centre Romania sociodrama.ro

You-tube video links
Sociodrama and Action Methods
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9IUpIE4aJc

Adam Blatner - the potential of Sociodrama, Part 1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2EQ7zLbHOU
Adam Blatner - the potential of Sociodrama, Part 2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZZjL6Felow

Further Reading
Wiener, R., Adderley, D. and Kirk, K. (eds) 2011:
Sociodrama in a Changing World, pub. Lulu

Wiener, R. 1997: Creative Training, pub. Jessica
Kingsley

Sternberg, P. and Garcia, A. 2000: Sociodrama,
Who's in Your Shoes?, pub. Praeger

Blatner, A. 2007: interactive and Improvisational
Drama, pub. iUniverse, Inc.

Kellerman, P.F. 2007: Sociodrama and Collective
Trauma, pub. Jessican Kingsley