Moreno’s Role Theory
Adapted from “Psychodrama: A Creative Method to Survive and Thrive” by Hod Orkibi, PhD

Moreno’s developmental theory is closely tied to his role theory. Like a spontaneous actor, the infant takes on a new role where each step into the world generates novel experiences Broadly speaking, the three core premises of the theory are that (a) roles precede the self, with one’s sense of self emerging from and being structured by the dynamic interaction of the roles one plays in life; (b) the tangible/visible aspects of the self are the roles in which one operates in a specific situation; and (c) every individual has a range of roles, where having a broader role repertoire enables the individual to act flexibly and adequately, in the right way at the right time, with greater adaptability and thus better mental health.

The first developmental phase is dominated by psychosomatic roles, physiological roles related to the infant’s primary biological needs for survival (e.g., breathing, sleeping, nursing, urinating, defecating, crying, crawling, etc.). Two other types of roles develop after the distinction between fantasy (psychodrama) and reality (society) is consolidated. Psychodramatic roles are psychological roles that develop in relation to inner mental and emotional experiences, including roles rooted in memories and in anticipation of the future, hopes, and fears. These roles associate psychological, imaginative, and dramatic contexts with experiences that expand beyond the constraints of ordinary physical reality. Social roles are those developed in relation to a function in real life. Examples of social roles include parent, child, sibling, teacher, friend, student, therapist, researcher, and so on. However, it is important to note that every role is a blend of personal and collective elements, such that a role consists of two components: its collective aspects shared with others and its individual differentiating characteristics. Moreno proposed that a unified self evolves from a dynamic self-creative process in which the body, psyche, and society are integrated. In short, “role is a fusion of private and collective elements. It is a unit of ‘conserved’ behavior (one form of cultural conserve)”. In essence, “Moreno’s role theory bridges the individual and the community, psychology and sociology, as it examines intrapersonal (intrapsychic) phenomena as well as interpersonal (interpsychic) interactions.”

A person interacts with a given role in four distinct ways, each reflecting progressively higher levels of spontaneity, freedom of personal choice, and variation in how the role is expressed. Role-taking is the act of observing and emulating a model’s actions, behaviors, or processes. Modeling is one of the deepest forms of learning. It focuses on reproducing the outwardly visible aspects of behavior without necessarily understanding its motivation, purpose, or consequences. Role-taking is the conscious or unconscious taking on of a fully established conserved role with no degrees of freedom or individual variation. By contrast, role-playing is the act of engaging in what was learned in role-taking, but this time involves inserting oneself into the new role one is playing and experimenting with, and making adaptations to the role, with limited degrees of freedom. Moreno reasoned that role-taking and role-playing go hand in hand in a primary learning and conditioning process that cannot be separated. In role-creating, elements of the first two stages are maintained while creating a new role that corresponds to one’s talents, needs, and desires, with a high degree of freedom. Role-training involves using role-play to practice or rehearse a specific role to perform adequately in future situations– for example, being more assertive or compassionate.

Adam Blatner, MD suggested that Moreno’s idea of using the role concept to represent a problem or behavior is more understandable, practical, less pathologizing, and less stigmatizing than labeling individuals as having psychiatric disorders. In other words, the conceptualization of problems as roles acknowledges that none of these roles defines the person exclusively. It allows protagonists to differentiate themselves from their problems (i.e., maladaptive roles), step back, and reflect on their actions while adopting what Blatner termed the meta-role, which serves as the coordinator of all the other roles in one’s repertoire. The meta-role, therefore, is the inner playwright/director, the “choosing self” role that can re-author or re-direct a situation to reevaluate, redefine, and modify the different roles people play in life. Thus, the concept of the meta-role facilitates self-awareness, a sense of self-control, and adaptation.

According to Max Clayton, recognizing one’s role repertoire allows for the freedom to consciously choose roles that align with one’s current emotions and values, thereby fostering greater authenticity. Mapping a person’s role system can promote optimal role balance, support the resolution of internal conflicts, and expand the repertoire of adaptive responses to various life situations. Lelkes, a student of Clayton, defined six types of roles. Adequate roles are well-balanced and appropriately enacted to meet situational needs, which contribute positively to overall functioning and well-being. Underdeveloped roles are present but not fully formed or utilized, leading to limited effectiveness or unrealized potential. Excessive roles dominate a person’s behavior to an extreme degree, overshadowing other essential roles and causing imbalance. Absent roles are completely missing from a person’s behavior or personality, often leading to a lack of certain skills or perspectives. Saboteur roles actively undermine a person’s efforts and well-being, often resulting in self-destructive or harmful behaviors. In short, this analytic approach is designed to help individuals recognize, refine, and expand their role repertoire, ultimately promoting adaptation and a greater capacity for thriving.

This essay is adapted from “Psychodrama: A Creative Method to Survive and Thrive” written by Hod Orkibi , PhD, published by Cambridge University Press 2025.
The full text, including footnotes and references, can be found here.

Original artwork by Susan Aaron.