The Co-Unconsciousness -

a key concept

of JL Moreno

The Co-Unconsciousness -

a key concept

of JL Moreno

Dr. Jorge Burmeister, President Elect IAGP

E – 18010 Granada, c/Horno de S. Agustín, 3-5

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

PSYCHODRAMATIC ROLE THEORY 1

Roles

compromise always conscious and unconscious aspects

include in the adult somatic, imaginary and cognitive aspects

form functional networks around common neuronal nod points: cluster representing scenes / interpersonal patterns = groupality (“social atom”) as individual identity

compromise always an individual and a social dimension

are complementary, similar or different between two or more individuals

are more related to states of mind and less fix behaviourial programs: their election and mutual attunement is centred upon 1. the emotional appraisal and 2. the cognitive recognition of a situation. 1. is influenced by genetics and culture!

are the neurobiological representation of interpersonal scenic experiences: concept of intersubjectivity (PD belongs to the Model of Interpersonal Psychotherapy)

PSYCHODRAMATIC ROLE THEORY 2

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

During the interaction / encounter between two or more individuals an inter-psychic space = the Inter-Psyche come into existence / is co-created connecting inner and outer reality of the participants

This inter-psychic space encompasses co-conscious and co-unconscious states of minds/roles stimulated by processes of resonance identifying complementary or identical interpersonal patterns

In order to change behaviour the optimum will be nevertheless a balance between mutual understanding and challenging differences: important consequences for inter-cultural group processes

The more individuals share similar or complementary roles the better will be the quality of mutual understanding: tele factor

PSYCHODRAMATIC ROLE THEORY 3

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

In the space of the Inter-Psyche the social aspect of roles converge into the creation of a Social Co-Unconsciousness including social, cultural and universal or “cosmic “ (existential) aspects.

Existential Unsecurity

Gender Difference

Power and Authority models

Individuality / Groupality

Body Contact

Emotional Expression

Differences of social and/or cultural/ethnic belongingness and its corresponding historic dimension (especially traumatic experiences or “chosen glories”) responding to the “natural tendency” (Abrams) of inter-grupal superiority or alternative values!

Relevant issues concern the response to:

DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES 1

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

The concept of the Inter-Psyche resembles to the notion of the 1. co-created, shared unconscious field (Aron, 1996) and 2. to the matrix concept of Foulkes – but it includes also conscious aspects and it is based on a specific theory of roles indicating shared or complementary social arrangements

Chosen trauma and chosen glory as defined by Volkan and included by Weinberg in the definition of the social unconsciousness belong also to the space of the co-unconsciousness. Nevertheless the latter one is including as well other sources of socially transmitted transgenerational arrangements and values co-constructed in the here-and-now inter-psychic space of the group (similar to the wider approach on social arrangements in the model of E. Hopper).

Social discourses of power as emphasized by Dalal belong to the co-constructed co-unconsciousness as well while they can replace at any moment a confident encounter between members of different cultures or social subgroups. Moreno developped the concepts of sociatry, sociometry and sociodrama as procedures to explore this dimension inside and between groups (e.g. during APA conferences dealing with Harlem riots or Eichmann trial)

DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES 2

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

The concept of the co-unconsciousness of Moreno relates to the notion of the social unconsciousness of Hopper and Knauss assuming the existence of an internalized social reality which evoke co-conscious and co-unconscious states of minds/roles.

Although Moreno never explored on depth its structure or mentioned its possible resistance against revelation his concept could be well consistent with the core of the ideas formulated by Hopper and others. In fact advanced approaches of PD of today (Jungian PD, Trans-Cultural PD) make reference to similar concepts of social psychology (e.g. Hofsteede). Nevertheless the concept of the co-unconsciousness embarks also the wider perspective of the universal or cosmic dimension at the same time (related to the “collective consciousness”) and it is more open towards a potential change: replace or complete the dynamic of inter-grupal superiority by cooperative or solidarity values – humanity, shared responsabiltiy (e.g. Roads of memory, reconciliation, restaurative justice etc.)

These states of mind include social, cultural and communicational arrangements which are potentially similar (core of cultural cohesiveness).

DIFFERENCES INCLUDING MULTICULTURAL GROUPS 1

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

The concept of the Co-unconsciousness do not focus alone on defensive (Bion) or traumatic (Volkan, Weinberg) elements as the core of the unconscious social level. Apart from the concept of “chosen glories” (Volkan/Weinberg) it emphasizes as well - and in the same line as the “all-inclusive” collective unconsciousness of Jung - alternative positive (”Eros” related) values and traditions transmitted on a transgenerational level or co-constructed in the Here and Now of the Group Process.

Assuming that cultural reglements and arrangements intend to guarantee a value based strategy of survival including the live affirming qualities of cooperation and mutual respect – besides trauma related experiences and tendencies of intergrupal superiority - it stresses e.g. the importance of myths, dreams and fairy tales on a collective level and of family transmitted models of exemplary behaviour on a smaller group level (“Psycho-Sociodrama”/Zuretti) amplifying its meaning and transcending the inter-grupal space. This means that it depends partly on the handling of the process of the group to what degree unconscious positive aspects of the co-unconsciousness or social unsconsiousness might emerge to the conscious, co-constructed intergrupal space.

DIFFERENCES INCLUDING MULTICULTURAL GROUPS 2

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

Multicultural groups tend to reproduce stereotypes and other types of group related defenses (struggle of power and self-defense) devaluating or questioning the other.

In the same way majority cultures introduce their values and an attitude of superiority provoking identification or rebellion concerning minority cultures (R. Scholz).

A different culture of the conductor might convert him or her on a transferencial level into a “messias” or an “invador” for the culture of the other group members.

Nevertheless the dynamic on the co-unconscious level might produce common points of reference (universal or cosmic level) allowing a momentaneous acknowledgement and integration of differences without denying or repressing them. Although it remains undoubtable that this dynamic is not able to “overcome”, “dissipate” or “harmonize” the existing historic and social inter-grupal conflicts it can restore hope and confidance in managing them in a better, more conscious, more responsable and more peaceful way (replacing the compulsion to repeat by the freedom to remember: M. Pines)

Examples 1

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

During the large group of the II. International Summer conference in Granada the usual difficulty to establish a confident contact in the initial phase was explained by the image of “millions of cadavers” lying in the centre of the group between its different members. On the last day a woman shared a dream citing an absent group leader with the words: non dimenticare (don`t forget). In her dream the group was liberating hidden cadavers in the ground from their dusty coverage giving them peace and final rest in a church of all religions. This dream happened just before the movement of the “historic memory” in Spain started to become active digging out real hidden cadavers from the Franco regime.

Examples 2

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

In the last social dreaming matrix in the IAGP summer academy in Granada a female participant dreams of a big egg floating under the water of a lake. It is suddenly discovered by a couple (male and female) of divers who are not able to explore their treasure while they have spent nearly all the air carried with them during their endeavour. Water as the emotion and the mother aspect and air as the transcendent, soul aspect refer to the whole group process and its creative substance (egg). This image reconnects the group on a co-unconscious level with a former summer academy. In the frame of that former experience a whole sunken continent (Atlantis) were reconstructed under the water by the dream images of the former group showing its incredible “sunken” treasuries. They were shared simultaneously being recognized by the group as a whole in a stream of inter-psychic processes/images and producing a feeling of deep connectivity.

Examples 3

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

During the VIII. International Summer Academy in Granada a german group analytic leader was conducting the large group. The whole process was very cautious and did not produce deeper emotional contact until an italian student was sharing the story of his grandmother happening during the last days of world war II. While a german soldier was deadly wounded by italian partizans nobody of the villagers nearby wanted to go to comfort him in his last moments until a little italian girl (the grandmother of the student) was looking for a cushion placing it under the head of the dying soldier. This moving story touched the whole group with the universal value of humanity and cited on an unconsciuous level the myth of Antigone and her royalty to human values (“Ubuntu” in african cultures) contrasting with a conformist behaviour according to the dominant rules of her group/the society (Creon).

Examples 4

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

During the IX. International Summer Academy the large group was conducted by a couple following the group dynamic style of K. Lewin and Tavistock. Attempting to visualize latent group conflicts on the gender dimension the group was split into a female and male subgroup. After the division in the sharing phase one of the members made a coming – out statement talking about her lesbian orientation being followed by a male gay conductor. This allowed the whole group to share on “real”, “true” or “honest” issues concerning their own shamefully hidden minority statusses.

Examples 5

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

During some of the workshops done with the mythosociodrama approach of Edipus in a foreign culture the group started to develop a strong aggressive conflict between female and male members concerning the right to kill themselves if they feel extreme injust treatment. The conflict escalated on such a degree that the conductor of the group intervened admitted his own feelings of not being able to bear its highly violent load any longer while he himself was missing any reference to sad feelings. Just by that intervention the whole group process collapsed while it turned out that the group had not shared any sad feelings about losses for the last years due to cultural restrictions.

Examples 6

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

During the mythosociodrama approach of Antigone the social transcription of the plot introduced a scene with soldiers killing students during a manifestation several years ago. During the public sharing the present police men went onto the stage and took a stand against the former violent behaviour. During another student manifestation only some weeks later the students were only disturbed by water without any other kind of violence. The final comment of one of the particpants in the large group was: I will never forget - love is stronger than death

During a workshop in a former socialist country one of the participants explored the topic of Emigration and Death of her mother. Although she had never been in touch with any religious practise in the end she reported to have been going through a “Cosmic Feeling” which was shared by the whole group.

Examples 7

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social UnconsciousnessThe Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JL Moreno and the Social Unconsciousness

During the V. International Summer Academy of the IAGP in Granada the group analytically conducted large group was hindered to enter the designated hall while a median sized psychodrama group was still working breaking the arrangement of the time-schedule of the conference. This raised a serious conflict about mutual respect and values while the psychodrama group claimed to have been dedicated the time to a dynamic of a high emotional value/meaning for their participants. During the process concerning the meaning of time it was possible to establish a shared scale of values by recognizing the significance and the value of both cultures. Also it became evident how much the explicit rules of the (therapeutic) setting may hide as well unconscious social assumptions which can only be explored during its challenge by a different setting, method or culture creating the need to understand not only the other but oneself as well.

Co-unconsciousness states related to Immigration

Immigration on a colective level induces a specific type of unconcious states of mind on both sides with a two sided pattern.

One of the two sides remains often denied

longing and hope: liberation

betrayal and envy: contamination, exclusion or isolation

human beings: have legs no roots / have the need for a home

Ulysses and Aeneas – two myths of migrants – offer “universal” contexts exploring the drama of immigrants: how to restore hope after a collective trauma

Ulysses: the longing of coming home – somebody is waiting for me

Aeneas: the belief in a dream and the mission to transmit a legacy

Psychotherapy as psychotherapists share a history of immigration evoking vulnerable feelings and experiences which might affect the work with immigrants apart from all inter-cultural issues

The Co-Unconsciousness -

a key concept

of JL Moreno

The Co-Unconsciousness -

a key concept

of JL Moreno

Dr. Jorge Burmeister, President Elect IAGP

E – 18010 Granada, c/Horno de S. Agustín, 3-5