Eric Lindblom

[Dr Kate Hudgins]

thanks for your thoughts Adam.  Kate

On Jun 10, 2007, at 10:55 AM, Adam Blatner wrote:

> Dear Eric and all...
>       Eric, in your somewhat idiosyncratic and oblique style of  
> writing, you've raised a number of points. Definitions vary with  
> context. Nothing "is" anything in any absolute sense---this is a  
> conceit of the modern mind, hoping to grasp reality. However, for  
> certain purposes, definitions may be useful.
>       The concept of certification was introduced because anyone  
> can call him- or herself a psychodramatist. In fact, anyone can  
> call himself anything, a psychotherapist, a plastic surgeon, a  
> psychic surgeon, a policeman. But in society groups have formed to  
> assess for the purposes of public policy the qualifications of  
> various claimants and to authorize with varying degrees of social- 
> legal support what counts as a "real" whatever. So, as I said, a  
> certified psychodramatist has been designated as fulfilling the  
> qualifications of the Board of Examiners---set up in the late 1970s.
>       In fact, there are many people using psychodrama besides  
> that, and using it not only for psychotherapy, but also for  
> education. (I'm using the term broadly, here, to include the use of  
> psychodramatic methods.) Few use classical psychodrama, which  
> really is more a therapeutic method, usually used in a group context.
>
>     Your email suggests that all these definitions are up for  
> grabs, but they aren't. There's a difference between relativism   
> that makes everything equal (which is a flabby, intellectual cop- 
> out) and a modified type of relativism that recognizes different  
> criteria for different contexts.
>
>      As for your theatre friend--- the definitions of what is and  
> is not theatre are even more ambiguous. Who has the authority to  
> say what the boundaries are? My latest book stretches and pushes  
> these boundaries.
>       What is drama, in your friend's mind? Can it be partially  
> improvised? Completely? If not, in what category does your friend  
> place such shows as "Whose Line is it, Anyway?"  or Second City  
> comedy shows, or the Canadian Improv Games and TheatreSports?
>
>     As for Moreno and his quotes: He said a lot of stuff, trying to  
> illustrate different categories. He also said that psychodrama is a  
> subset of sociometry. Whatever he said should not be taken as  
> authoritative. We should use but not rely on the cultural conserve  
> of his writings and sayings. We are responsible in the here and now  
> to think out what issues present themselves for our re-evaluation.
>
>        You say you are asking a question: What question,  
> specifically are you asking? It's not clear. Are you asking what is  
> psychodrama, as if there were a clear definition for all contexts?
>      Here's one: It's a complex of methods that may be used to  
> explore human situations, situations involving psychology, social  
> psychology, and culture.  These methods are most well known in  
> being applied as a form of psychotherapy, but increasingly they are  
> also being used in education, community building, for personal and  
> social empowerment, and even in pure spontaneity training and re- 
> creation.
>
>         More, as I make the point in a paper soon to be published  
> in our journal, Moreno had many other contributions besides the  
> method of psychodrama, and what may revivify our field is the  
> recognition that we can participate in promoting all those  
> contributions in different contexts, sometimes combining them,  
> sometimes applying them separately.
>
>         Since the subject of your email is your name --- and why is  
> that? --- are you implicitly asking why you should be denied the  
> title of "psychodramatist"?  I answered that one a month ago, as it  
> is a fair question that speaks also to why there's a certification  
> process. But if you want to teach about Moreno's contributions,  
> please do. There are many non-certified "psychodramatists" --  
> people who are interested and knowledgeable about this or that  
> aspect of Moreno's work, who do teach and research about those facets.
>
>         Warmly, Adam Blatner
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: E L
> To: list at grouptalkweb.org
> Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 12:30 PM
> Subject: Eric Lindblom
>
> To all
>
> I believe it is not easy to understand what psychodrama is or who  
> is a psychodramatist. (I am the first to admit I know not. I am not  
> preferred as a psychodramatist. "I know nothing. I see nothing" S.)
>
> It does not go without saying. (Either these issues are encountered  
> or not.) Issues? Hello? For example, the first point of three, a  
> friend of mine who is a dramatist (MFA George Washington  
> University) told me that psychodrama is not drama. What? It is not  
> Impromptu Theater either. Those, drama and impromptu, are  
> recognized disciplines that deserve respect. One should be  
> informed. Hello? The second point is that often psychodrama is  
> described as a form of group psychotherapy. I wish I had the quote  
> (hint) but Moreno said that group psychotherapy is a form of  
> psychodrama (the talking portion). It would lead one to believe  
> that a person who says that psychodrama is a form of group  
> psychotherapy is not a psychodramatist regardless of certification  
> by some Board! (TEP may mean a person who can't make-up their mind  
> where a genuine Certified Practioner has. Moreno saw to that  
> except, of course, in the case of Marcia Karp: she was certified  
> twice. Ask her for that wonderful story!)
>
> Keep in mind I am not saying that but rather I am raising the  
> question. (Miss that point and I will tell Queenie on you wherever  
> she may be bless her heart.) The third point is that the purpose of  
> psychodrama is to train psychodramatists/ therapists. That  
> orientation does not answer the question: "Who Shall Survive?"  
> Moreno's question is profound not trivial. It does, however, solve  
> the question of social atom repair work, a therapeutic work. "Cheer- 
> up, it will get worse." ( H.Y.)
>
> The question of psychodrama and therapy, also, raises The Nolte  
> Issue (see the ASGPP forum under The Nolte Issue).
>
> Poignant is that ASGPP has 526 (?) members. Is that survival?  
> Herein may be our answer to Moreno's question" Who Shall Survive?  
> (Training in the twin principles not just the cultural conserve  
> would be the answer to Moreno's question maybe next?) As I say, I  
> am not saying but am raising you know what. Warmly,  Eric Lindblom
>
>
>
>
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Kate Hudgins, Ph.D., TEP

Clinical Psychologist
Director of Training
Therapeutic Spiral International, LLC
ww.therapeuticspiral.org
drkatetsi at mac.com



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