Abstract
Applied theater offers an innovative blend of art, psychoeducation, and nontraditional therapeutic group facilitation to activate social-emotional learning. Through theater-based programming, groups become engaged, identify with characters, and participate in stimulating discussions related to emotionally charged topics. One applied theater organization, InterACT New York, uses trained actors to enact improvised scenarios for groups of adolescents. The scenarios cover sensitive topics relevant to the everyday issues facing today’s youths, such as bullying, cyberbullying, prejudice, racism, sexual assault, anxiety, self-harm, and depression. After each scenario, group participants interact with the actors by asking questions, making comments, and proposing solutions related to enacted scenes. Actors respond while remaining in character, and with the aid of a trained social work facilitator, illuminating group discussions ensue. This article describes the positive prosocial responses of adolescents engaged in an applied theater program focused on cyberbullying. It highlights one online group experience involving InterACT New York and a diverse group of suburban middle school students.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
