Participants' Perception of Therapeutic Factors in Psychodrama
Keywords:
PsychodramaAbstract
Results from a review of the literature on patient perception of factors in psychotherapy groups are compared to the results of a similar study carried out in psychodrama. A questionnaire was administered to 30 participants of psychodrama in an attempt to
assess which specific factors they found most and least helpful. The results show that self-understanding, catharsis, and interpersonal
learning were perceived to be most helpful, the order of ranking being very similar to those made by participants of verbal group psychotherapy.
References
Berzon, B., Pious, C., & Parson, R. (1963). The therapeutic event in group psychotherapy: A study of subjective reports by group members. Journal of Individual Psychology, 19, 204-212.
Bloch, S., & Reibstein, J. ( 1980). Perceptions by patients and therapists of therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 274-278.
Butler, T., & Fuhriman, A. (1980). Patient perspective on the curative process: A comparison of day treatment and outpatient psychotherapy groups. Small Group Behavior, 11, 371-388.
Butler, T., & Fuhriman, A. (1983a). Curative factors in group psychotherapy: A review of the recent literature. Small Group Behavior, 14, 131-142.
Butler, T., & Fuhriman, A. ( 19836). Level of functioning and length of time in treatment variables influencing patients' therapeutic experience in group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 33, 489-505.
Corsini, R. J . , & Rosenberg, B. (1955). Mechanisms of group psychotherapy: Processes and dynamics. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51, 406-410.
Dickoff, H., & Lakin, M. (1963). Patients' view of group psychotherapy: Retrospections and interpretations. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 13, 61-73.
Flora-Tostado, J. ( 1981 ). Patient and therapist agreement on curative factors in group therapy. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Utah.
Kanas, N., & Barr, M.A. (1982). Short-term homogeneous group therapy for schizophrenic inpatients: A questionnaire evaluation. Group, 6, 32-38.
Leszcz, M . , Yalom, I., & Norden, M. (1983). The value of inpatient group psychotherapy: Patients' perceptions. In I. Yalom, Inpatient group psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.
Lieberman, M.A., Yalom, I., & Miles, M. (1973). Encounter groups: First facts. New York: Basic Books.
Long, L. D., & Cope, C. S. (1980). Curative factors in a male felony offender group. Small Group Behavior, 11, 389-398.
Marcovitz, R . J . , & Smith,J. E. (1983). Patients' perceptions of curative factors in short-term group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 33, 21-39.
Maxmen, J. S. (1973). Group therapy as viewed by hospitalized patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 28, 404-408.
Mower, R. K. (1980). Curative factors in counselling center therapy groups and personal growth groups. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Utah.
Rohrbaugh, M., & Bartels, B. D. (1975). Participants' perceptions of ''curative factors" in therapy and growth groups. Small Group Behavior, 6,
430-456.
Sherry, P., & Hurley, J. (1976). Curative factors in psychotherapy and growth groups.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 32, 835-837.
Weiner, M. F. (1974). Genetic versus interpersonal insight. InternationalJournal of Group Psychotherapy, 24, 230-237.
Yalom, I. (1970). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.
Yalom, I., Tinklenberg, J . , & Gilula, M. (1970). Curative factors in group therapy. In I. Yalom, The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.