The Roots of Enactment-The Process in Psychodrama, Family Therapy, and Psychoanalysis
Keywords:
PsychoanalysisAbstract
The term enactment is used to describe therapeutic processes in family therapy, psychodrama, and psychoanalysis. An enactment in family therapy involves an encounter between family members in their here-and-now reality, whereas an enactment in psychoanalysis, if it occurs in the transference, is dominated by the intrapsychic reality of the patient, which is, to a large extent, governed by experiences in childhood. In this article, I argue that these two very different types of enactment both occur in psychodrama sessions and-that each has a different psychological significance for the participants. I present a clinical example of therapeutic work with a family in mourning in which both of these two types of enactment are involved.
References
Balint, M. (1968). The basic fault. London: Tavistock Publications.
Blatner, H. A. (1973). Acting-in. New York: Springer Publishing.
Blatner, A., and Blatner, A. (1988). Foundations of psychodrama: History, theory, and practice. New York: Springer Publishing.
Casement, P. (1987). The experience of trauma in the transference. In Klauber, J., and others (Eds.), Illusion and spontaneity in psychoanalysis. London: Free Association Books.
Erikson, E. (1977). Childhood and society. London: Triad Paladin.
Foulkes, S. H. (1975). Group-analytic psychotherapy. London: Gordon and Breach. Fox, J. 1987. The essential Moreno. New York: Springer Publishing.
Freud, S., and Breuer, J. (1873). Studies in hysteria. London: Penguin Books.
Freud, S. (1917). Mourning and melancholia. London: Penguin Books.
Gorrell, B. G. (1985). Systems theory and family thought. In Rutter, M., and Hersov, L. (Eds.), Child and adolescent psychiatry: Modern approaches. Oxford and London: Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Greenson, R. (1967). The technique and practice of psychoanalysis. London: Hogarth Press.
Guldner, C. A. (1983). A comparison ofMinuchin's structural family therapy method and Moreno's psychodramatic technique. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama and Sociometry, 35, 141-154.
Guldner, C. A., and Tummon, P. P. (1983). A brief history of the family therapy movement. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama and Sociometry 35, 135-139.
Holmes, P. (1989). Wheels within wheels: The assessment process. Children and Society, 3:3, 237-254. '
Holmes, P. (1991). Classical psychodrama. In Holmes, P., and Karp, M. (Eds.), Psychodrama: Inspiration and technique. London: Tavistock Routledge.
Holmes, P. (1992). The inner world outside: Object relations theory and psychodrama. London: Tavistock Routledge.
Kemberg, 0. (1976). Object relations theory and clinical psychoanalysis. New York: Jason Aronson.
Kipper, D. A. (1986). Psychotherapy through clinical role playing. New York: Brunner/ Maze!.
Klauber, J. (1987). Illusion and spontaneity in psychoanalysis. London: Free Association Books.
Leveton, E. (1977). Psychodrama for the timid clinician. New York: Springer Publishing.
Mahler, M. S., Pine, F., and Bergman, A. (1975). The psychological birth of the human infant: Symbiosis and individuation. London: Maresfield Library.
Minuchin, S. (1967). Families of the slums: An exploration of their structure and treatment. New York: Basic Books.
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. London: Tavistock.
Minuchin, S., and Fishman, H. C. (1981). Family therapy techniques. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Moreno, J. L. (1969). Psychodrama. Volume 3. Beacon, NY: Beacon House.
Racker, H. (1968). Transference and counter-transference. London: Maresfield Reprints.
Sandler, J., Dare, C., and Holder, A. (1973). The patient and the analyst: The basis of the psychotherapeutic process. London: Maresfield Reprints.
Sandler, J. (Ed.). (1988). Projection, identification and projective identification. London: Kamac Books.
Skynner, A. C. (1976). One.flesh: Separate persons: Principles of family and marital therapy. London: Constable.
Williams, A. (1989). The passionate technique: Strategic psychodrama with individuals, families, and groups. London: Tavistock Routledge.
Wills, D., and Wrate, R. M. (1985). Integrated family therapy: A problem-centered psychodynamic approach. London: Tavistock.
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.