The Quintessential Zerka

The Quintessential Zerka documents the origins and development of the theory and practice of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy through the work and innovation of its co-creator, Zerka Toeman Moreno.
This comprehensive handbook brings together history, philosophy, methodology and application. It shows the pioneering role that Zerka, along with her husband J. L. Moreno, played in the development, not only of the methods of psychodrama and sociometry, but of the entire group psychotherapy movement worldwide. It demonstrates the extent to which Zerka's intuitive and intellectual grasp of the work, combined with her superb ability to organize and synthesize, continue to exert an influence on the field. Toni Horvatin and Edward Schreiber have selected articles that span a career of some sixty years, from Zerka's very first publication to recent, previously unpublished, work. Personal anecdotes and poetry from Zerka herself provide a valuable context for each individual article. The selection includes:
psychodrama, it's relation to stage, radio and motion pictures
psychodramatic rules, techniques and adjunctive methods
beyond aristotle, breuer and freud: Moreno's contribution to the concept of catharsis
psychodrama, role theory and the concept of the social atom.
This book provides a rich source of insight and inspiration for all those interested in the history, development and practice of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy, whatever their level of experience. It will be of interest to anyone involved in the fields of psychology, counselling, sociology, social work, education, theatre, or human relations.

Toni Horvatin is a social worker, counselor, and Playback Theatre practitioner in New York. Edward Schreiber is Director of the Moreno Institute East in Northampton, Massachusetts

Foreword. Introduction. Chapter One: Beginnings (1944-1948), "Role Analysis and Audience Structure" Sociometry (1944). "A Sociodramatic Audience Test" Sociometry (1945). "Psychodramatic Research of Pre-marital Couples" Sociometry (1945). "Audience Reactions to Therapeutic Films" Sociometry (1945). "Clinical Psychodrama: Auxiliary Ego, Double, and Mirror Technique" Sociometry (1946). "Psychodrama, its Relation to Stage, Radio and Motion Pictures" Sociatry (1947). "The 'Double Situation' in Psychodrama" Sociatry (1948). Chapter Two: Early Pioneers (1949-1965), "History of the Sociometric Movement in Headlines" Sociometry (1949). "Psychodrama in a Well-baby Clinic" Group Psychotherapy (1951). "Psychodrama in the Crib" Group Psychotherapy (1954). "Notes on Spontaneous Learning 'in situ' versus Learning the Academic Way" Group Psychotherapy (1958). "The 'Reluctant Therapist' and the 'Reluctant Audience' Technique in Psychodrama" Group Psychotherapy (1958). "A Survey of Psychodramatic Techniques" Group Psychotherapy (1959). "The Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the American Theatre of Psychodrama" Group Psychotherapy (1962). "The Saga of Sociometry" Group Psychotherapy (1965), "Psychodramatic Rules. Techniques and Adjunctive Methods" Group Psychotherapy (1965). Chapter Three: Transitions (1966-1974),."Evolution and Dynamics of the Group Psychotherapy Movement" International Handbook of Group Psychotherapy (1966). "Sociogenesis of Individuals and Groups" International Handbook of Group Psychotherapy (1966). "The Seminal Mind of J. L. Moreno and His Influence Upon the Present Generation" International Journal of Sociometry and Sociatry (1967). "Psychodrama on Closed and Open Circuit Television" Group Psychotherapy (1968). "Moreneans. The Heretics of Yesterday and the Orthodoxy of Today" Group Psychotherapy (1969). "Practical Aspects of Psychodrama" Group Psychotherapy (1969). "Beyond Aristotle, Breuer and Freud: Moreno's Contribution to the Concept of Catharsis" Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (1971). "Note on Psychodrama, Sociometry, Individual Psychotherapy and the Quest for Unconditional Love," Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (1972). "Psychodrama of Young Mothers" Group Psychotherapy (1974). Chapter Four: On Her Own (1975-1998). "The Significance of Doubling and Role Reversal for Cosmic Man" Group Psychotherapy (1975). "The Function of the Auxiliary Ego in Psychodrama with Special Reference to Psychotic Patients" Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama and Sociometry (1978). "The Eight Stages of Cosmic Beings in Terms of Capacity and Need to Double and Role Reverse" Unpublished Paper (1980). "Psychodrama" in Comprehensive Group Psychotherapy (Kaplan and Sadock, (Eds.) (1983). "J. L. Moreno's Concept of Ethical Anger" Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama and Sociometry (1986). "Psychodrama, Role Theory, and the Concept of the Social Atom" in The Evolution of Psychotherapy, J. Zeig (Ed.) (1990). "Note on Some Forms of Resistance to Psychodrama" Group Psychotherapy, Psychodrama and Sociometry (1991). "Time, Space, Reality, and the Family: Psychodrama with a Blended (Reconstituted) Family" in Psychodrama, Inspiration and Technique, Holmes and Karp, (Eds.) (1991). "The Many Faces of Drama" Address to the National Association of Drama Therapists, November 15, 1997. Chapter 5: The New Millenium and Beyond (2000 - Present). "In the Spirit of Two Thousand" Plenary Address. Annual Conference of the American Association of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama. New York City, March 21, 2000. "The Function of 'Tele' in Human Relations" in The Evolution of Psychotherapy: A Meeting of the Minds, J. Zeig (Ed.). The Milton H. Erickson Foundation (2000). "Suicide Prevention by the Use of Perceptual Sociometric Interventions" Unpublished Paper (2004).