Sociometry and Social Work Theory

The congruence of sociometry theory and social work theories is covered in detail in this chapter. The social atom, cultural atom, and sociogram are described with visual depictions. Moreno’s theories of interpersonal connection, social networks, and society are depicted while introducing sociometry terms such as the sociodynamic effect, tele, and the organic unity of mankind. Sociometry’s connection to social work’s person-in-environment theories is emphasized while also considering the shared concern for how social forces impact individuals and groups.

Sociometric Assessment and Written Psychodramatic Interventions in Individual Social Work Practice

The application of sociometry assessments and written psychodrama interventions within one-to-one social work settings is the focus of this chapter. Interventions covered include the social atom, the role atom, modified role atoms, clinical timelines, psychodramatic journaling, and psychodramatic letter writing. Step-by-step instructions are provided for clinicians new to these techniques. Practice examples and clinical processing are offered with depictions of the social atom and role atoms. These tools are presented individually with supporting theory but are often employed together or as a warm-up for a psychodrama enactment. Novice psychodramatists or those less experienced in action methods will find these approaches as a good starting point for beginning to integration sociometry and psychodramatic interventions into their clinical practice with individuals. Though these tools will be presented for individual work, they are also applicable tools for group work and community settings.

The Effect of Psychodrama Group Therapy on the Role Skills, Adaptation Process, Quality of Life and Depression Applied to Mothers of Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Mixed Methods Study

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the psychodrama group therapy on the quality of life and depression of mothers whose children have been diagnosed with T1DM, to retrieve a new relationship of mutually interactive roles in the relationship between mothers who have necessarily regressed to physiological roles with children who have been diagnosed with T1DM, and to raise the adaptability of mothers. Method: Group study with mothers with children with type 1 diabetes was consisted of 22 sessions. Fourteen individuals were included in the study: six in the therapy group and eight in the control group. The convergent parallel design, a mixed research method was used in the study. The quantitative data from the research were acquired using a “Personal Information Form”, “Beck Depression Inventory Scale (BDI)”, and “World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Turkish Version (WHOQOL-BREF-TR)”. The qualitative research data were collected using “Group Records Subjected to a Qualitative Content Analysis” and the “Social Atom Orbit Content” of participants acquired in the group application with Moreno’s social atom orbit. Results: In the study, a statistically significant decrease was found between the BDI of the group members who participated in psychodrama application pre-test post-test scores (p<0.05). It was determined that WHOQOL-BREF-TR scale scores in the therapy group increased in the posttest. In this study, the mother-child relationship was redefined by using psychodrama techniques. The formerly regressed relationship has now been transformed to a relationship of mutual contact. Conclusion: The results of our group study demonstrated that administering the psychodrama technique reduces the levels of depression in mothers with children diagnosed with T1DM, increased their quality of life scores, and was effective in harmonizing with the lives and other roles in life of the mothers.

Drawing the Personal Perceptual Socio-Cultural Atom: An Exercise in Sharpening and Stretching Tele Function

The author has provided a description of drawing a personal social atom from the perspective of the subjectively perceived sociogram. A clear approach on how to develop a personal social atom are given along with instructions on how to use lines and colors to indicate preference, neutrality or rejection between and among those represented on the atom, including the self/protagonist. The author notes that the clinicians using this approach are also free to further adapt it for their own particular populations, needs and uses. A series of questions on which to reflect, not found elsewhere, have been offered to expand the exploration of one's perceptional social–cultural atom, and enrich self-discovery. Regular attention is encouraged to investigate significant changes, areas of neglect, and promising developments.