Sociometry

The purpose of sociometry is to facilitate group task effectiveness and satisfaction of participants by bringing about greater degrees of mutuality amongst people and greater authenticity in relationships.

Developed by Jacob Moreno (1887 – 1974). Moreno noticed groups and communities function with people being attracted to or draw away from others and the subsequent networks and patterns of interaction these created. He discovered when people chose whom they interacted with, the higher level of satisfaction in being together, greater sense of belonging, achieving their purpose.

Moreno’s early long-term study within the Hudson School for girls in NY, gave profound results. Frequent runaways had those at the home look for innovative solutions. Moreno was invited to work with the girls and staff. He set about and invited each girl to choose who she would prefer to sit at meals with. Their choices were mapped, and enacted. The level of runaways dramatically reduced.

Sociometric methods have been developed overt time, with the principle that the investigator is an active group member. Material generated from the group, belongs to the group members. Is not taken away by the researcher and managers to make decisions about the group. Sociometric interventions bring flexibility to systems and groups by investigating the choices with the people who make them, and displaying the patterns of relationships created by those choices. Stimulated by this information, group members create new patterns for themselves, and enhance authentic companionship and greater mutuality in the group.

All groups have intricate networks, based on both moment-by-moment socio-emotional choices, and longer-term psychosocial networks, which endure over time. Identifiable patterns of interactions become apparent. These networks reflect alliances, hidden agendas, sub systems, sub groups and isolates gathering around identifiable individuals, and their values, beliefs, and experiences. Some liaisons become entrenched and others are enacted moment by moment. In order to understand what makes a group tick, an assessment of the strengths and qualities of relationships in the group is essential. People are curious to know where they stand in relations to others; within their family, with friends, with their bosses, peers and colleagues, and are curious about others’ relationships. Who is close to their mother, their manager, who doesn’t get on with who.  Who will be chosen for project teams and on what basis? Who to talk to, to know what is really going on.

Sociometry means ‘companion measure’. Moreno designed it as a measure, a new science. He wanted to create a society where all humans achieve their potential to love, to share and face their truth. By making choices overt and active, he hoped individuals would be more spontaneous, authentic and organisations and group structures would become fresh clear and lively.

Sociometry enables us to enter the world of these interpersonal choices, attractions and rejections, and their effects. Sociometry has methods for displaying interpersonal choices, attractions and rejections and assists in exploring and improving relationship dynamics.

Both the formal structures and informal structures are essential for organisation to function effectively. We know a great deal of the formal structure and the reporting based networks of relationships. Usually the formal organisation structure is emphasised to the detriment of the informal networks.

Sociometry enables us to intervene in the organisation systems with both formal and informal research data, and to identify with those involved intervention to release the creativity, leadership and innovation that resides within the informal networks, giving greater satisfaction to group members, and better results.  

Yes this is complex

For sociometric interventions to be successful, participants are asked to account for their choices they make in their interactions, to better understand motivation for choice and the underlying feelings of attraction and repulsion (choosing and not choosing). Because these choices can be made visible, they are measurable and observable enabling group members to recognise the structures their combined choice making creates. Individuals and group members can then evaluate it and make any changes they wish.

And sometimes uncomfortable

Naturally revealing and hearing personal motivations and reasons for choices or not choosing is uncomfortable for some. Mostly this is offset by the value of change, and refreshing of relationships. Many people are relieved to hear the reasons for being chosen, or especially, not chosen, which they may have imagined previously. When these processes are facilitated respectfully, group members gain a lot of satisfaction with the shared information, and creativity and spontaneity is released.

Key terms

Tele, two way relationship, socioemotional networks, psychosocial networks, choice, attraction, repulsion, neutral, criteria, psychotelic criteria, sociotelic criteria, sociogram, social atom, cultural atom, network of relationships, mutuality, one way, two way, dyad, chain, star, isolate, rejection, psychotelic leader, sociotelic leader,

Training

Training in sociometry is offered by Trainer, Educator, Practitioners with the Australia and New Zealand Psychodrama Association Inc, through the training institutes. Programmes vary in regions throughout cities in both Australia and New Zealand. The curriculum for the 2400-hour programme is outlined in ANZPA’s Training and Standards Manual. This training is relevant to leaders who work with individuals and groups in organisations, counselling, communities, health, education, and business. dianaj@orgdev.co.nz in New Zealand, or annehale@swva.net in USA, Members of the International Trainers Network.