ABSTRACT
The central theme of this chapter is the philosophy and historical context behind the development of psychodrama, at a time when Europe had been torn apart by the ravages of the First World War. This period of history also saw the beginning of the rise of fascism. Moreno’s development of group psychotherapy, psychodrama and sociometry drew together the social and psychological dimensions of human conflict. I will explore the historical roots of psychodrama in theatre and therapy, with a brief biography and social context of Moreno in Vienna in the 1920s. During this time, and since his death in 1974, psychodrama has become one of the major schools of psychotherapy, practised all over the world. I have chosen to cover the early philosophical roots of psychodrama in order to emphasise the fact that psychodrama is much more than a series of techniques. It is a method of exploration that includes psychotherapy but may also be used in other contexts. It arose from a particular historical period and it has a philosophical and psychological basis different from although connected with other psychotherapeutic methods. One important aspect of this difference is its positive view of humankind and its consequent emphasis on the exploration of social and political forms of human conflict as well as personal and familial pathology.
