CLAIMED AND DISCLAIMED ACTION IN PSYCHODRAMA

Authors

  • ELIZABETH J. ROLL Author
  • SAMUEL ROLL Author

Keywords:

PSYCHODRAMA, DISCLAIMED ACTION

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.

References

Blatner, H. A. Acting-In. New York: Springer Publishing Co., Inc., 1973.

Greenberg, I. A. Psychodrama and audience attitude change. Beverly Hills: Thyrus Publishing Co., 1968.

Sahakian, W. S. Psychotherapy and counseling. Chicago: Rand McNally College Publishing Co., 1976.

Schafer, R. "Action: Its place in psychoanalytic interpretation and theory." The Annual of Psychoanalysis, 1973, Vol. I, 159-196.

Schafer, R. Language and insight. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1978.

Schauer, G. "The function of an audience analyst in psychodrama." Group Psychotherapy, 1952, 4-5, 197-205.

Published

2025-01-16

Issue

Vol. 32 (1979): Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, and Sociometry

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

You are free to:

  1. Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  2. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

  1. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  2. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
  3. NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
  4. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Notices:

You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.

No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.