Jacob Moreno (1889-1974)

Professional Life
Jacob Moreno was born on May 18, 1889 in Bucharest, Romania. Shortly after his birth, Moreno moved with his family to Vienna. He remained in Vienna and studied medicine at the University of Vienna, earning his degree in 1917. While in school, Moreno began to develop his own theories for therapeutic practice that were distinctly different from those of Freud’s. Rather than analyzing clients’ pasts, Moreno preferred to focus on their present and futures through the use of Interpersonal Relations. Moreno employed many approaches in his therapy, including psychodrama, sociatry, sociodrama, and group psychotherapy.

In 1925, Moreno moved to New York City and took a position teaching at Columbia University. He was directly responsible for the American Psychiatric Association’s recognition of group psychotherapy as a credible and viable form of treatment. He spent the remainder of his career furthering his theory of Interpersonal Relations, teaching, writing, and giving lectures. Moreno’s Arts & Science centers are located throughout the world and are a platform for training and continuing the application of his social sciences.

Contribution to Psychology
Psychodrama is a form of psychotherapy that integrates drama and creative role playing. Through verbal and physical communication, thoughts, dreams, emotions and mental states are expressed, either as real-life depictions of situations and events or as external manifestation of inner mechanisms. Psychodrama is most often conducted in group settings so that each member of the group can act as an agent for receptivity, insight and change for the other. Psychodrama often involves audience participation and may include specific scenes revolving around a particular character, most often a protagonist. This interactive environment provides a wider platform of influence, allowing a greater depth of transformation to occur.

Spontaneity is an integral part of psychodrama. Relying on unrehearsed reactions, movements and emotions creates a system of natural responses that engage each members own inner strategic problem solving mechanism. Psychodramas are most effective when facilitated by a trained psychodrama director. The director uses several different, but specific, techniques, to elicit innovative answers to conflicting situations that exist between members. This dynamic is a challenging method of recognizing dysfunctional thought patterns as they are occurring, while simultaneously discovering and applying new and positive thoughts and behaviors.

Psychodrama is a highly effective form of therapy that can gap communication bridges in families, organizations, and communities. This technique develops interpersonal skills and provides insightful problem solving strategies through action, thought, and creativity.