Creativity, Spontaneity, and Mental Health in Psychodrama Group Psychotherapy

Creativity, Spontaneity, and Mental Health in Psychodrama Group Psychotherapy

Since Psychodrama Group Psychotherapy and Sociometry emerged as the prominent psychotherapeutic theory of this century, it has been recognized by three core concepts: "creativity," "spontaneity," and "action." We witness these concepts being embraced and widely utilized by mental health professionals and systems within group psychotherapy. This is only natural. Mental health theories have historically failed to give due importance to what is healthy for the human being and what brings happiness. Instead, they have persistently focused on the pathological; consequently, information regarding what is healthy has either remained hidden or been neglected within this knowledge base. The theory of Psychodrama Group Psychotherapy and Sociometry, born with Moreno, is one of the few theories that deals with the healthy aspect of personality development. Later on, professionals who were not direct followers but developed various large and small methods practically borrowed these concepts from psychodrama. As a system that names, defines, and examines the inherent characteristics within human nature, psychodrama truly finds its solid foundation. How mental health is defined determines how the human being and their soul are approached. Being mentally healthy does not mean that an individual is free of problems, anxiety, or conflict. Thinking in this manner implies a superficial and artificial perspective; on the contrary, it must be argued that mental health resides in individuals who possess problem-solving skills. Problem-solving skills require being creative, and reaching this creativity is only possible through the courage of spontaneous behavior that allows it to manifest. Individuals who are creative but lack spontaneity are those who possess the equipment but lack the ability to express it. Individuals who are spontaneous but lack creativity are those who make excessive errors in instantaneous solutions. However, it is only when they transition into action alongside creativity and spontaneity that meaningful and valid solutions can be produced, and mental health can be preserved.

J.L. Moreno emphasizes that this tripartite structure (Spontaneity-Creativity-Action) lies at the core of human existence and health with the following words: "Spontaneity and creativity, although closely related, are not identical. Spontaneity is the appropriate response to a new situation or a new response to an old situation; creativity is the power to create new structures, new worlds. Action is the bridge that allows these two forces to materialize in the concrete world" (Moreno, 1953, p. 42).

One of the most significant errors of contemporary civilization is that people do not concern themselves with the process of creation, but rather with the created outcomes, progressively idolizing these creations. Now, works of art, books, technological inventions, rigid moral values, and psychological and physical formulas have become idols worshiped by communities. The human being is drifting away from the "Moment" (the Here and Now), from creativity within the Moment, and from spontaneity, which is its vehicle of expression. The Moment necessitates being spontaneous, and in this sense, individuals whose mental health is in a better state compared to others are those who can genuinely inhabit the Moment. This is both the prerequisite and the result of being spontaneous. When previously created idols, works of art, etc., are considered in terms of creating a culture or civilization, Moreno terms this the "cultural conserve." This endeavor toward immortalization causes humans to create a world for themselves in which they are unhappy, as a form of illusion. According to Moreno, humanity's true enemies are the machines it creates and these cultural conserves. Human beings are in need of a creative revolution, and this will only be possible through spontaneity. Even though cultural conserves occasionally harbor a structure that protects us, anxious individuals seek refuge in them more frequently, encountering a major obstacle to self-actualization. The Moment is pregnant with novelties and the unprepared, and in this manner, it contains the very energy and secret of life.

In contrast to the freezing nature of cultural conserves, Zerka Moreno explains the importance of the "Moment" (The Here and Now) as follows: "The cultural conserve is a finished product; it belongs to the past. However, the here and now (the moment) is the only home of spontaneity. Only when a person focuses on the present can they break free from the patterns of the past and create their own reality"(Moreno & Moreno, 1959, p. 112).

Moreno defines spontaneity, which is one of the prerequisites for being healthy, as both a hereditary trait and a talent. According to Moreno, the concept of spontaneity can be defined in both the physiological and psychological dimensions. We are born with it. As long as we are creative and spontaneous, we are happy; otherwise, we turn into self-repeating robots. If the relationship established between a mother and her infant is not spontaneous—in other words, if a mutually created relationship does not exist, and instead, the infant is guided solely by directives coming from the mother and lives only for the mother—the infant will be unhappy. This is the very definition of frustration, and it will cling to the infant throughout life. The mother is responsible for encouraging the infant, thereby ensuring they are healthier. Courage must be defined as the courage to be spontaneous. An unpunished infant sees no harm in living out their inherent spontaneity and continues their healthy development. Thus, more creative individuals can come into existence.

J.L. Moreno substantiates this primary relationship and role development between mother and infant as follows: "The infant is born entirely unprepared but with a tremendous potential for spontaneity. If the mother imposes her own conserves instead of supporting the infant's first spontaneous actions (matrix of identity), the child is prevented from developing their own authentic roles" (Moreno, 1646, p. 64).

Regrettably, many people fail to be creative, fail to give spontaneous responses, and consequently suffer. They cannot be creative in their jobs and relationships. This implies that they cannot create themselves, and this is one of the fundamental reasons for their unhappiness. Why does humanity drift so far from the spontaneity it possesses and needs, as well as from living its moment, at the cost of falling ill? The answer is clear. Spontaneity constantly inflicts an existential anxiety upon the human being; instead, humans take refuge in secure, conserved behaviors. Conversely, living the moment is synonymous with insecurity and uncertainty. For this reason, societies have pursued that which is permanent and tested, and creativity has transformed into conservative forms scientifically and culturally. The individual taking refuge in these tries to distance themselves from the instantaneous, the uncertain, and the unprepared. This process has gone to such an extreme that it can no longer be prevented, serving human unhappiness. While Freud approached the same point from a different perspective by stating that the result of civilization is "neurosis," he could not liberate himself from cultural conserves to the extent that Moreno did—who gave people the courage to dream again; on the contrary, Freud created new forms of conservatism.

Referencing this limitation of psychoanalysis, Moreno distinguishes his own approach with his famous words: "It is not enough to sit on a couch and analyze the past. Encounter and action are required. I do not offer people the undoing of the chains of the past, but the courage to act out their present creative potential" (Moreno, 1914/1923, p. 18).

This is the natural consequence of conformism, the disease of our age. Conformism, which can be defined as the understanding of "be compliant, do not be deviant," traps the individual first in the family, then at school, and ultimately within society in its broadest sense, gradually restricting them. An individual is deemed strong when they "do not show their emotions," and is accepted as compliant and rewarded when they "do not bring new customs to the old village." If the baby does not cry, it is good; if it cries, it is bad. Obsessive conformism, mentioned by Moreno and transmitted to individuals as the disease of the age—meaning the behavior of chasing compliance in a compulsive manner—must be treated, recognized, and shown paths of liberation as a factor that kills creativity. This behavioral pattern prevents living the "Moment," renders the existence of spontaneous behaviors impossible, and consequently leads to the existence of individuals in daily life who are distant from creativity, unable to take risks, and unable to utter new words. The grim picture of this situation does not end there; these individuals also exert pressure and create obstacles to the extent of their power so that others will exhibit similar behaviors. This, in turn, constitutes a major source of social conflict.

Spontaneity is the vehicle through which we manifest our creativity. Children exhibit numerous spontaneous behaviors with almost no knowledge of the world; they make their voices heard by their mothers, and communicate their demands and emotions. This is the spontaneity inherent in their nature, and gradually, society will want to control it by pruning it down, attempting to create robotic individuals. Creativity is not exclusive to artists, and individuals are responsible for creating their every moment; even if they do not utilize this chance, they are granted the opportunity to create their moments. Their fears, anxieties, and deep searches for security drive individuals toward non-creativity and conformist attitudes. At this juncture, psychodrama group psychotherapy can open the doors of creativity and, consequently, spontaneity to unhappy individuals, blocked artists, stagnant writers—in short, to all individuals who find themselves repeating themselves. This is what it means to be able to have courage once again.

Spontaneity is the ability to give new and adequate responses to old and new situations. We may engage in many new behaviors, but for these behaviors to be evaluated as spontaneous, they must be appropriate; in other words, they must lead us to the goal. Otherwise, we must view them as "acting-out" or impulsive, inappropriate behaviors. This situation is also one of the definitions of ill-health.

Mental health cannot be considered separate from physical health. Physical and mental health are actually like two different sides of a single fabric. We need to develop a creative perspective toward the signals our bodies give us. Being mentally healthy implies that individuals do not possess physical illnesses. Therefore, individuals who wish to be rid of all their illnesses are obliged to protect their mental health or correct it if it is deteriorated. In other words, having a physical illness is also an indication that mental health is compromised in some way.

Finally, as the Istanbul Psychodrama Institute, I would like to express our happiness in mediating individuals to become more spontaneous and creative through training and experiential groups, and to integrate this into their lives through action.

Sincerely,

Deniz Altınay, M.S.
Psychological Counselor and Psychodramatist

References 

• Moreno, J. L. (1923). Das Stegreiftheater [The Theater of Spontaneity]. Kiepenheuer. (Original work published 1914).
• Moreno, J. L. (1946). Psychodrama (Vol. 1). Beacon House.
• Moreno, J. L. (1953). Who shall survive? Foundations of sociometry, group psychotherapy and sociodrama(2nd/Revised ed.). Beacon House.
• Moreno, Z. T., & Moreno, J. L. (1959). Psychodrama: Second volume (Vol. 2). Beacon House