The "Magic Shop" Technique in Psychodrama: An Existential-Dialectical View

Authors

  • LENI M. F. VERHOFSTADT-DENEVE Author

Keywords:

Psychodrama

Abstract

The "magic shop" technique has been applied to good effect by various psychodramatists, each with his or her specific emphasis. In this article, the author presents some refinements and revisions of the magic shop technique that are grounded in theory. The author introduces experienced moments of learning by means of a series of ordered scenes, with the whole process based on an existential-dialectical model of development. The first section of the article contains the theoretical framework. In a specific example, the author then illustrates the successive stages of the magic shop technique. In the final section, the author presents a theoretical interpretation.

References

Barbour, A. (1992). Purpose and strategy behind the Magic Shop. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama and Sociometry, 45, 91-101.

Basseches, M. (1984). Dialectical thinking and adult development. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

Bidell, T. (1988). Vygotsky, Piaget and the dialectic of development. Human Development, 31, 329-348.

Brown, B., Werner, C. M., & Altman, I. (1998). A dialectical-transactional perspective on close relationships. In B. M. Montgomery & L. A. Baxter (Eds.), Dialectical approaches to studying personal relationships (pp. 137-183). Mahwah, NJ, London: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Conville, R. (1998). Telling stories: Dialectics of relational transition. In B. M. Montgomery & L. A. Baxter (Eds.), Dialectical approaches to studying personal relationships (pp. 17-40). Mahwah, NJ, London: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Greenberg, J., Solomons, S., Pyszczynski, T., Rosenblatt, A., Burling, J., Lyon, D., Simon, L., & Pinel, E. (1992). Why do people need self-esteem? Converging evidence that self-esteem serves an anxiety-buffering function. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 6, 913-922.

Leveton, E. (1992). A clinician's guide to psychodrama. New York: Springer Publishing.

May, R. (1969). Existential psychology. New York: Random House.

Mijuskovic, B. L. (1977). Loneliness: An interdisciplinary approach. Psychiatry, 40, 113-132.

Moreno, J. L. (1964). Psychodrama. (vol. 1). Beacon, NY: Beacon House.

Mullan, H. (1992). "Existential" therapists and their group therapy practices. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 42, 453-468.

Petzold, H. (1971). The therapeutic possibilities of the psychodramatic "magic-shoptechnique." Zeitschrift fur Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 19, 354-369.

Riegel, K. F. (1979). Foundations of dialectical psychology. New York: Academic Press.

Rustin, T. A., & Olsson, P.A. (1993). Sobriety Shop: A variation on Magic Shop for addiction treatment patients. Journal of Group Psychotherapy Psychodrama and Sociometry, 46, 12-23.

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L. (1985). Crises in adolescence and psycho-social development in young adulthood. A seven-year follow-up study from a dialectical viewpoint. In C. J. Brainerd & V. F. Reyna (Eds.), Developmental psychology (pp. 509-522). Amsterdam, New York, Oxford: North Holland (other versions in Dutch, French, German, Polish).

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L. (1988). The phenomenal-dialectic personality model: A frame of reference for the psychodramatist. Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama & Sociometry, 41, 320.

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L. (1995). How to work with dreams in psychodrama: Developmental therapy from an existential-dialectical viewpoint. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 45(3), 405-435.

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L. (1997). Using conflict in a developmental therapeutic model. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 92), 151-164.

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L. (1999a). Action and drama techniques with adolescent victims of violence. A developmental therapeutic model. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 11, 351-367.

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L. (1999b). Psychodrama with university students in clinical psychology: Theory, action and evaluation. In P. Fontaine (Ed.), Psychodrama Training. Leuven: Federation of European Psychodrama Training Organizations (FEPTO).

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L. (2000). Theory and practice of action and drama techniques. Developmental psychotherapy from an existential-dialectical viewpoint. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L. (2001). Zelfreflectie en persoonsontwikkeling. Een handboek voor ontwikkelingsgerichte psychotherapie. [Self-reflection and personality development. A guide to developmental therapy.] Leuven, Amersfoort: Acco.

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L., Schittekatte, M., & Braet, C. (1993). From adolescence to young adulthood. A follow-up survey over eight years on psychosocial development. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 6, 37-58.

Verhofstadt-Deneve, L., & Schittekatte, M. (1996). Adolescents have become adults. A 15-year follow-up. In Verhofstadt-Deneve, L., Kienhorst, I., & Braet, C. (Eds.), Conflict and development in adolescence. Leiden: DSWO Press, Leiden University, pp. 47--60.

Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, Harper Collins.

Published

2025-03-14