Who Selects the Protagonist (or Group Focus)?

Structured or natural warm-ups are essential to generate potential protagonists (or, when not a psychodrama group, a person for the group's focus.) Group members need to hear all volunteers' issues in order to make an appropriate selection. If someone is not clear in expressing what he/she wants to work on, the director helps clarify the issue.

The psychodrama is not for the director. 
The psychodrama is for the group. 

The person most-selected is the protagonist and represents the group theme, I'm opposed to the director selecting a protagonist who may not embody the group's needs.

I believe the director must generate personal
spontaneity to be able to work with anyone.

There are exceptions to the group's choosing, especially when the director has asked for, and received, permission from the group to make the selection. The director's request should be made well in advance, before the warm-up for the psychodrama (or other group activity).

Be aware that the director has a position of power and the group may be afraid to go against what the director wants. An additional problem is that the director may select someone who has no warm-up and will never get one because of his/her anxiety when selected in this manner.

In another situation, when addressing the group, the director can state that people can volunteer to have a psychodrama (or be the focus of the group); on a first-come, first-served basis. This is an excellent test of the director's spontaneity. The director must activate his/her warm-up, have the skills to interview and find an issue, move into action, complete the action, and conduct the sharing. I have great respect for those willing to direct.

Avoid creating a group norm wherein every group member must have a psychodrama (or is the group focus). Often people learn more by watching psychodramas than by being protagonists. Some group members may not have an issue to work on or lack a warm-up due to high anxiety. Trying to force these people to work will likely result in a poor psychodrama. It is very important for everyone to share, especially those who have not had a psychodrama, otherwise they may be isolated or rejected.

The inverse is also a problem. There are psychodrama "hogs". These people are always volunteering to work. They may be psychodrama wise and know just what to say to be selected as protagonist. My wife said, "The first person who cries gets selected as protagonist." And there are people who can turn on the tears in an instant. They are over-selected to the detriment of others in the group. The director must be able to circumvent such behavior so that the group process belongs to all of its members.


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