Self-Image and Social Adjustment Change in Deaf Adolescents Participating in a Social Living Class
Keywords:
ClassAbstract
The life experience of a deaf child is typically one of social and experiential isolation. In an attempt to decrease social isolation and increase positive feelings of self-image, this study utilized the psychodramatically based social living concept. The Social Living Class is an action-oriented role-play approach to resolve issues and conflicts. The 12-week project was initiated with first year high school students at a large residential school for the deaf. The experimental group received the sociodrama class once a week for 50 minutes in place of their regular class. The control group continued its regular class schedule. Using the Meadow/Kendall Social Emotional Assessment Inventory, the experimental group showed significant increases on the Self-Image and Social Adjustment Scales to the .05
level. The control group showed no change.
References
Altschuler, C., & Picon, W. (1980). The social living class: A model for the use of sociodrama in the school classroom. Group Psychotherapy, 33, 162-169.
Altschuler, K. (1974). The social and psychological development of the deaf child: Problems in treatment. In P. Fine (Ed.), Deafness in early childhood (pp. 231-265). New York: Medcom Press.
Altschuler, K., & Ranier, J. ( 1970). Observations on psychiatric services for the deaf. Mental Hygiene, 54, 534-539.
Bal sham, J. (1974). Humanistic education and sociodrama in the context of a social living class. Unpublished manuscript.
Bond, S. (1980). Social living with deaf adolescents: An exploratory study. Unpublished manuscript.
Bonham, H. E., Armstrong, T., & Bonham, G. (1981). Group psychotherapy with deaf adolescents. American Annals of the Deaf, 126(7), 806-809.
Clayton, L., & Robinson, L. (1971). Psychodrama with deaf people. American Annals of the Deaf, 116, 415-419.
Coopersmith, S. (1967). The antecedents of self-esteem. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.
Edel in, P. ( 1972, April). Emotional disturbance in deaf children. Paper presented at the 40th annual convention, Council for Exceptional Children, Columbus, OH.
Erikson, E. (1963). Childhood and society. New York: W.W. Norton.
Meerbaum, M. ( 1977). Evaluation summary: The social living class demonstration project. Unpublished manuscript.
Mindel, E., & Vernon, M. (1971). They grow in silence. Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf.
Myklebust, H. (1964). The psychology of deafness. New York: Grune and Stratton.
Picon, W. ( 197 5). Self-concept change in children participating in a social living class at an elementary school. Unpublished manuscript.
Sarlin, M. D., & Altschuler, K. Z. (1968). Group psychotherapy with deaf adolescents in a group setting. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 18, 337-344.
Schlesinger, H . , & Meadow, K. ( 1972). Sound and sign: Childhood deafness and mental health. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Stein, M. (1979). Psychodrama with the deaf. Unpublished master's thesis, Catholic University, Washington, DC.
Swink, D. (1979, October). Therapists and therapies with deaf people: The need for specialized training, attitude exploration, and novel approaches. Paper presented at the 9th Southeast Regional Institute on Education and Rehabilitation of the Deaf.
Swink, D. (1983). The use of psychodrama with deaf people. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, and Sociometry, 36, 23-29.
Swink, D. F., & Buchanan, D. R. (1984). The effects of sociodramatic goaloriented role play and non-goal-oriented role play on locus of control. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40(5), 1178-1183.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy

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