Oppslukt i betydningsfulle øyeblikk : Undersøkelser av deltakeropplevelser og skapende prosesser i psykodrama

Abstract

The dissertation Immersed in meaningful moments investigates participant experiences, creative processes, and significant moments in psychodrama practice. The overarching goal is to advance knowledge about psychodrama practice, particularly how meaning-making processes and knowledge development unfold within it. The drama- and theater specific mediation and meaning-making are of particular interest. This article-based dissertation addresses the overarching research question: How are meaningful moments created in psychodrama practice? It is operationalized into three research questions:

1. How can meaningful moments from psychodrama practice be researched methodologically? 2. How is meaning created for participants in moments in psychodrama practice? 3. How can drama- and theater-specific aspects of psychodrama as practice be understood from such meaningful moments?

The dissertation consists of a frame chapter (exegesis) and four sub-studies presented as peer-reviewed and published articles:

• “A turn to arts-based research methodology in psychodrama research” (Skar, 2020), • “Mellom åpne og målstyrte prosesser i samskapingsprosessen av et psykodrama – en prosessanalytisk tilnærming med hovedfokus på noen dramaturgiske beslutninger” [Between open and goal-directed processes in the co-creation process of a psychodrama – a processanalytical approach with a main focus on some dramaturgical decisions] (Skar, 2022b), • “Hammeren utfordrer: Felles lytting og undersøkelse av stopp-øyeblikk fra en psykodramagruppe” [The hammer challenges: Joint listening and exploration of stop moments from a psychodrama group] (Skar, 2022a) and • “Psychodrama & eudaimonic well-being: potentials in playful and aesthetic experiences” (Skar & Torrissen, 2023).

The articles explore different methods for investigating experiences and processes from psychodrama groups, contributing insights into the overarching research question. The research approach in the sub-studies is qualitative and inspired by arts-based research methodology where body phenomenological perspectives are central. The articles are based on two field studies, a psychodrama group from 2020 and another from 2021. I was a participant observer in psychodrama practice led by other psychodrama leaders. The dissertation’s key contributions include ways to investigate meaningful moments from psychodrama practice. These moments are methodologically understood as stop moments (Fels, 1999, 2012). The dissertation argues that immersion (Machon, 2013), immersive dramaturgical strategies, and drama-specific aesthetic learning processes (Liset & Wiik, 2023) are overarching theoretical concepts that illuminate drama- and theater-specific mediation and meaning-making within psychodrama working processes. By emphasizing the drama- and theater-specific aspects of psychodrama practice, this dissertation contributes to both the psychodrama and drama- and theater focused researched fields. Furthermore, the findings have relevance for the broader field of arts and health, contributing to understanding its interdisciplinary connections.