THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF J. L. MORENO TO THE TREATMENT OF THE OFFENDER

Abstract

Dr. J. L. Moreno as far back as 19 50 was hailed as one of America's greatest living psychiatrists. He was recognized by Henry Murray, himself a great psychologist, as one who made major contributions to the field of Psychology. Wellman J. Warner, a distinguished sociologist who for twenty-five years was a national executive officer of the American Sociological Association, in a tribute to Moreno the sociologist, described him as a man with one of the greatest seminal minds of this century. It is obvious from the foregoing that J. L. Moreno, the psychiatrist, psychologist, sociologist, and social philosopher made tremendous contributions to the understanding and treatment of his fellow man. Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama, Sociodrama, Role Playing, and Sociometry represent his best known innovative and creative efforts. Why then have I chosen to focus on his contributions to the treatment of the offender? Does not Moreno agree that the offender is a human being differing very little psychologically and physically from the rest of us? He had clearly chosen as a guide the principle that all mankind is a social and organic unity, devoting years to a study of tendencies drawing people apart and those drawing people together. The Moreno image of man focuses on the creative potential in all men and recognizes the need by all men to choose and be chosen, to love and be loved. It should be obvious, then, that the offender responds to treatment in much the same way as the rest of us. It is precisely for this reason that we are focusing on the offender at this time. The human being imprisoned for an offense experiences rejection in a form more severe than any of us can imagine, and his response to this rejection if we apply the Moreno system must be rejection of society.