Fw: spontaneity fears

[Adam Blatner]

Pardon me, my fingers slipped and I sent this before being able to send the message. I agree with Peter Howie about sufficient warm-up, and the resistance to drama because of feeling put on the spot with insufficient warm-up in earlier experiences. 
       So addressing this dynamic frankly as he does is in the right direction.

           But there's also the need to get some consensus about perhaps it being okay not to present oneself as doing psychodrama in settings where action methods, role playing, experiential exercises, learning by doing, rehearsal, simulations, or other terms might be far more effective in drawing people to the presentation or workshop. 

      Warmly, adam
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Adam Blatner 
To: list at grouptalkweb.org 
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 8:13 PM
Subject: Re: spontaneity fears



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Peter Howie 
  To: list at grouptalkweb.org 
  Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 7:21 PM
  Subject: RE: spontaneity fears


  Hi KAren and Budd,

  I also have been experimentation with ways of presenting this stuff.

  But in response to what you have brought forward - I have done some inquiry as to why the 'drama' part scares people. And KAren it is as you surmise - people have been in situations where they are required to "act" or "be dramatic" with an absent or inadequate warm up to what is required.

  So I tend to work on letting people know a few things - that I have extensive training to do this work - they will not be required to do anything like acting that they have done before - they may not do anything they even feel uncomfortable with - this isn't a test about how good they are at drama - etc. I think one aspect of the problem is not with the "psycho" but the "drama" bit. And drama has rarely been done well in school unless the people concerned are keen actors - and many people have dubious memories and fears - quite legitimately I think. Sometimes, if possible, I make these distinctions clear in the presentation of the workshop in a plenary session. But like you I am also keen to work with whoever is there - as the Open Space Technology people say "Whoever is there are the right people"

  I have then found that when a person is required to do something within an adequately presented purpose and framework that they rarely even notice that they are "acting". 

  Another aspect of this discussion concerns a purported different between USA and Australia in the early stages of a drama - I can't speak from having seen this - when Mario Costa or Kate Hudgins direct it looks like directing that I recognise. However in the early stages of a psychodrama I make sure that the auxiliary is reversed into the protagonist's role quite a bit so that they are not required at this early stage to "make it up". I seem to recall Zerka referring to this a ping pong directing - however, in relation to this topic, one outcome is that the auxiliary has plenty of time to get the role, see the role, improve the role and hence they see themselves as a real helper in the situation and are less likely to worry about their acting capacity. 

  Cheers for now

  Peter Howie
  Brisbane, Australia,
  Who should really be finishing off his Uni assignment.
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