Germany, Nineteenth Century: Psychodrama Before Moreno

Abstract

The emergence of psychodrama continues to be the subject of controversy, and Dr. J. L. Moreno himself has contributed to this confusion. The first time the term psychodrama appeared in English-language scientific literature was in 1937, in the first issue of Sociometry, where Moreno began publishing his theories and practices in the United States. While Moreno claimed to start developing psychodrama with children as early as 1911 in Vienna, the conceptual clarity and methodological rigor of the approach evolved over time, leading to inconsistencies in how it was defined and understood by both practitioners and scholars. His tendency to blend theatrical, experimental, therapeutic, and spiritual elements—often without clear distinction—further complicated its reception in academic and clinical communities. Interestingly, there are references appearing in German literature as early as the 19th century, starting with the work of Richard von Meerheimb (1825–1896), considered then “the founder of Psychodrama.” In addition to publishing several books since 1887, and to promote this new genre, Meerheimb founded in Bremen a “Psychodrama Literary Society,” with its “official organ,” a specialized journal. However, while the word indeed appeared earlier, the development of psychodrama as an exploratory, educational, and therapeutic method is still widely attributed to Moreno.