In psychodrama, role reversal is a technique where the protagonist is asked, by the psychodrama director, to exchange roles with another person (an auxiliary ego) on the psychodrama stage. The former assumes as many of the roles of the other as possible and vice versa. In that way, one is able not only to experience a different perspective of the situation (to walk into someone's else's shoes), but also to witness one's own behaviour from the other side. Thereby, the role reversal can bring significant abreactive and mental catharsis, insight, and transformation.
Famous quotes containing the words role reversal, role and/or reversal:
“Of course, some men are very effective caregivers [of elderly parents]. But this situation occurs far less frequently for males than females, because it is a role reversal. For women, caregiving is an expected duty; for men, it is an unexpected expression of love or devotion.”
—Tish Sommers (20th century)
“Is not our role to stand for the one thing which means our own salvation here but with which it will also be possible to save the world, and with which Europe will be able to save itself, namely the preservation of the white man and his state?”
—Hendrik Verwoerd (1901–1966)
“Perversity depends on reversal and substitution.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)