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The Co-Unconsciousness -

a key concept of JL Moreno

Dr. Jorge Burmeister, President Elect IAGP

E18010 Granada, c/Horno de S. Agustn, 3-5

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The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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)

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PSYCHODRAMATIC ROLE THEORY 2

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 ofminds/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

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PSYCHODRAMATIC ROLE THEORY 3

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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:

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DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES 1

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 Foulkesbut 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 th

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)

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DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES 2

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 (JungianPD, 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 collectiv

consciousness) and it is more open towards a potential change: replace or complete the

dynamic of inter-grupal superiority by cooperative or solidarity valueshumanity, 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).

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DIFFERENCES INCLUDING MULTICULTURAL GROUPS 1

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 respectbesides trauma related experiences and tendencies of intergrupalsuperiority - 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.

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DIFFERENCES INCLUDING MULTICULTURAL GROUPS 2

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 pointsof 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)

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Examples 1

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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. 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 ofthe historic memory in Spain started to become active digging out real

hidden cadavers from the Franco regime.

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Examples 2

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 notable 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 formerexperience 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 and producing a

feeling of deep connectivity.

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Examples 3

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 theuniversal 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).

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Examples 4

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 genderdimension the group was split in a female and male subgroup. After the

division in the sharing phase one of the members made a comingout

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 minoritystatusses.

h f h i f

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Examples 5

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 membersconcerning 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 admitting 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 interventionthe 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.

h f h i f

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Examples 6

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 studentmanifestation 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.

h C f h C i f

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Examples 7

The Concept of the Co-Unconsciousness of JLMoreno 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 raiseda serious conflict about mutual respect and values while the psychodrama

group claimed to have been dedicated to a dynamic of a superior emotional

value/meaning for their participants. The unconscious motivation to choose a

specific therapeutic or working setting and to exclude other possibilities can

only be explored during its challenge by a different setting enriching its

mutual understanding.

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

Ulysses and Aeneastwo myths of migrantsoffer universal contexts

exploring the drama of immigrants: how to restore hope after a collective trauma

Ulysses: the longing of coming homesomebody 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

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The Co-Unconsciousness -

a key concept of JL Moreno

Dr. Jorge Burmeister, President Elect IAGP

E18010 Granada, c/Horno de S. Agustn, 3-5