Dynamic of social interest
Dr. Albina Kepalaitė
Vytautas
Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
e-mail:
albina_kepalaite@fc.vdu.lt
Introduction
Different theories of psychology and therapy, trying to help
the person, are traditionally directed on development of Ego
autonomies, independence, identity, believing, that the
mature individual itself will manage constructive mutual
relation with associates. At the same time, importance for
development of the person’ interpersonal communications,
attitudes with all associates in the broad sense of the word
- an alive and lifeless nature is overlooked. Theories and
principles of practical activities of A.Adler and J.L.Moreno
accenting social human nature, mutual aid, cooperation,
constructive influence on an environment and a society
entirely, are very actual in present time.
Both psychotherapeutic approaches are similar on
structure of psychotherapeutic process. Time and receptions
requires in both cases the inclusion in psychotherapy. In
adlerian psychotherapy this adequate to the phase of
democratic mutual relation, in psychodrama- warming up.
Research of life style, the erroneous purposes in individual
psychotherapy is similar to a phase of action in
psychodrama. Reorientation and acceptance responsibility in
adlerian therapy has similarity to the phase of sharing in
psychodrama.
Thus, both psychotherapeutic systems have enough,
as well as similarities, and distinctions. the given
research will lean on the basic similarity in both systems -
a social basis of the person.
The formulation of purpose of this study
bases on the main concepts of individual psychology: feeling
of communality and social interest (3, 11) The feeling of
communality is that force which directs the compensation of
superiority and reflects social roots of the person. Feeling
of communality express a constant, positive attitude to
other people, care about others, and unconditional
acceptance of others. Social interest is such aspect of
communality feeling which reflects active, socially useful
interaction with other people. The mature personality
compensates feeling of inferiority according to the advanced
social interest and tries to solve a situation, a problem,
to perfect him, not others (2). This is the main condition
for better adaptation to social life and expresses in
cooperation with others.
The purpose of this pilot study is to
disclose the dynamic of social interest through psychodrama
sessions.
Methodology
of research
The general principles.
Psychodrama is such an approach of group psychotherapy when
participants dramatize the past, present or the future life
situations in role game for the purpose of deeper
comprehension and achievement catharsis (5,8,10). Situations
are played in group, and it helps to realize and integrate
emotions, to realize ways of behaviour in specific
situations and to change it.
Procedure.
Psycho-dramatic sessions were once a week in 4 hours of 12
weeks. The total sum hours is equaled to 48 hours.
Psycho-dramatic sessions were directed on self-knowledge of
participants and concentrated on their specific problems.
Sessions began with warming up exercises, duration of 30
minutes. The purpose of this stage was also development of
spontaneity, activity, and preparation to accept roles.
After the ending of warm-up was defined protagonist for
investigation the problem during this session. The following
phase is acting stage. In the last stage of psycho-dramatic
group process, participants share the feelings, and also the
similarity of the experiences noticed by them and
protagonists’ life experience. If there was time - were
played vignettes.
Techniques.
Director uses typical for psychodrama techniques:
the exchange of roles
- during which protagonist takes a place of other character
on a stage;
doubling
- when participants and conducting relates to protagonist
and helps him to express feelings;
the mirror
– protagonist from side observes development actual to him
actions;
a monologue –
protagonist aloud verbalizes the ideas, feelings during
action or for warming-up the theme;
maximization –
protagonist increases action, expression of feelings
(6,7,9).
Role conducting.
The directing of psychodrama sessions could be defined by
the following criteria (12):
1.
Directedness – non-directedness. On this parameter work in
psycho-dramatic sessions could be named flexibly directive.
Because sessions have the structure (having warmed up,
action, sharing), but the subjects of sessions depend
exclusively on needs of group and protagonist.
2.
Interpretation – non-interpretation. Directly interpretation
was not made, participants generalized the experience or by
means of leading questions: that it reminds you, to what is
connected etc.
3.
Confrontation – non-confrontation. During sessions it was
not specified unproductive behaviour directly, but it was
assisted in comprehension of unproductive behaviour and at
will protagonist – he could research by psycho-dramatic way.
4.
Catharsis – non-catharsis. Using doubling, maximization, a
monologue - expression of feelings and ideas was supposed.
5.
Rigid structure – non-structure. There was no thematic
structure, but there was psycho-dramatic structure in
distribution of time, the specified phases (see 1 point).
6.
Self-disclosing –non-disclosing. During sharing and
especial in initial sessions, expression of feelings,
experiences of director was supposed.
Recipients.
In research participated 2 experimental groups (8 and 10
person in everyone) all of 18 participants. In each group
was one male, others were female. All participants are
students of university. They have decided to participate in
group work at their own will. The age of participants was
from 19 till 22 years, middle age is equaled 21, 5 year.
Control group was the academic group of students of
undergraduates total amount of 18 person, among them were
two male. The age was from 22 till 23 years, middle age of
the given group - 22, 2 years.
Thus, both groups are about the same age and
structure to a sexual attribute. As an independent variable
the gender and age was not examined because of too small
sexual and age differentiation.
Techniques.
Social interest was examined by the scale of social interest
(4). The scale is made with 24 pairs personal qualities from
which it is necessary to choose that quality which recipient
most prefers. The parameter of social interest was defined
on the sum of key answers. Its maximal value makes 15
points.
Process of research.
Research of experimental group was done before the first
session and one week after sessions. The control group
answered the scale two times, between measurements was the
same interval in 13 weeks, as for experimental group.
Data processing.
Because of small amount of recipients the variability of
data did not satisfy criteria of normal distribution,
therefore for search of distinctions nonparametric criteria
were used. Dynamics of parameters inside one group (as
experimental so control) it was defined by nonparametric
criterion of a sign - G. Comparison of parameters between
experimental and control groups was defined by nonparametric
criterion of Mann - Whitney - U. In data processing was used
10 version of SPSS.
Results and
discussion
Results of this research have shown some significant changes
which have taken place in the course of psychodrama sessions
concerning dynamics of social interest.
It is necessary to note, that for participants of this
self-knowledge course is characteristic much less expressed
social interest in comparison with control group. Parameter
of social interest at experimental group statistically
significantly below control (p < 0,05). But in the course of
psychodramatic sessions parameters of social interest (p <
0,05), have considerably increased. These parameters for
control group didn’t change (p>0,05).
A.Adler (3), J.Moreno (10) in the practice and the theory
emphasize importance of social inclusion in life, and
explains neurotic person as with shortage of social
connections. It is possible to assume, that students have
chosen visiting group, having felt the gap in the
adaptation. The increase of social interest in the course of
psychodrama indirectly can confirm it. Results of dynamics
of behaviour in group show a way and opportunities of the
reference to microsocium of group. As confirmation of this
statement can serve statements of participants in last
session that they have started “to see more in other
people”, that they “feel more patience to others” and etc.
Certainly, such dynamics of social interest could be
observed and in groups with other theoretical principles,
and this phenomenon could be the object of other
researches.
Representation of the case.
X the female student of 4-th rate of social sciences, 21
year old. At the first research her parameter of social
interest was 6 points, after sessions - 9 points.
Supervision of her attendance to the group showed, that X
never was late, did not miss any session. She wasn’t
initiative for contacts. During the first warm-up when
participants were animals in a midday sun and aspired to
water, Inna was an animal that nobody could recognize. She
went with the bent legs and hands leaned on a floor. In a
consequence appeared, that she represented the monkey.
During words "suddenly" which were said on a way of animals
to water, with the purpose of creation the situation of
uncertainty and probable projections of the feelings,
behaviour, X was simply closed in a lump while others showed
or aggression, or clinked the friend to the friend. In
discussion she has told, that "suddenly” has taken away from
her forces and simply it would not be desirable to move and
have any contacts. Also she has realized, that in situations
of uncertainty, threats she don’t aspire to contacts, to the
help of others and concentrates on herself. During 3
sessions she was one of sociometrically chosen protagonist,
but has given up the place as she said more to a vital topic
of other participant. X participated in all psychodrama
sessions as auxiliary (5 times), the doubler (4 times), and
the antagonist (2 times). It is possible to note some
development of roles on which her chose. She was a
chamomile, a bird, the girlfriend, the taxi driver, the
teacher (auxiliary roles). She was doubling the
protagonists: exploring attitudes with the younger sister;
addictive to love of the participant; mother; flight. As the
antagonist she has acted in a role of the father living
outside of family, and quarreled, feeling of aggression.
Participants of group, in process of X's change, being based
on "tele", began to choose her on a role of a different
level: from psychological (aggression), social (the taxi
driver, the teacher) up to transcendental (flight). For
J.Moreno development of the person consists in expansion of
self-understanding, comprehension of the connection with
Cosmos. It passes different role levels: somatic,
psychological, social, and transcendental (9). For passage
on the following level development of roles of previous
level is necessary. So, development of social roles,
expansion of communications of the person with other people,
is necessary for achievement of transcendence (6). When the
person self-transcending his egocentrism, he experiences
itself as a part of universal, in existential connections
with other people. It show the similarity with feeling of a
community about which speaks A.Adler (1, 2).
X has presented the problem on 5-th session. She
presents doubts concerning the further training at
university and desire to be engaged in music. As it was a
theme of a choice - was solved to put two stages in which
she would feel herself in these two opportunities, has gone
through them, would take a detached view. Taken a detached
view (mirror), she has given both directions of the life
equal odds. Being in "mirror" she has told, that would like
to connect two opportunities and to use music in
psychotherapy. Inna has wished to try itself in a new role
of the musical therapist. Thus, X not only has lived in
operation the ambivalent situation, but having realized it
on a basis insight, using the creativity, has created for
itself a new opportunity which an effective way and has
checked up. In sharing, all in group has responded on the
duality submitted by X and a problem of a combination of
real opportunities. X's problem, it is possible to tell, was
that event of group work which has served for unification of
group.
Conclusions
Change of social interest might be biased presumably on the
influence of the therapeutic factors of psychodrama and need
further investigations. But this pilot study preliminary
assumes psychodrama’s application as preventive mean against
psychological difficulties, for developing of social
interest.
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Copyright ©
2005 International Association of Individual
Psychology
