The Influence of Words of the Father in J.L. Moreno's Theoretical Formulations of Group Psychology, Psychodrama and Sociometry

The choice of this thesis topic came about as a result of my effort to synthesize the ideas in J.L. Moreno's writings. Moreno was a creative, innovative psychiatrist, and a prolific writer. His approach was more nearly that of a scientist/experimenter than that of a theoretician. Thus his many journal articles are specific and fragmented. Reading his books and articles, I sensed the ideas and methods of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy formed a system, or a whole. As I struggled to put it together for myself, seeking to think his thoughts with him, I began to realize that religion was a profound determinent in his work. When, finally, I read Words of the Father, a work written in the midst of a mystical experience, I saw the ideas and assumptions that later informed the theories utilized in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. This meant that Moreno did assume a holistic approach and that the religious concepts were the foundation for his work.