CLAIMED AND DISCLAIMED ACTION IN PSYCHODRAMA

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore a new concept in the context of a relatively older situation. The new concept is that of "claimed action"
which Schafer (1973) introduced into the psychoanalytic theory. The old situation is psychodrama. Schafer (1973) introduced the concept of disclaimed action indicating that although all human behavior is intentional or goal-directed, we sometimes "claim" credit for our actions and other times we "disclaim" credit for our actions. We either take responsibility for our actions or we delude ourselves into thinking that someone or something is responsible instead of ourselves. This might be another person, God, fate, luck, the system, a part of our psyche, a part of our body, etc.