Role reversal

In psychological settings, role reversal occurs where parents use children as peer lovers, partners, parents and/or friends. The ultimate role reversal occurs in those settings where children parent their parents. These role reversals are often considered pathological (see covert incest), by psychologists, unless the parent is elderly or incapacitated and unless the child is a capable, independent adult.

In Psychodrama, Role Reversal is a procedure or method in which the Protagonist is asked, normally by the Psychodrama Director, to exchange places with another character on stage (an Auxiliary Ego) so that the former moves into the role of the latter and vice versa. In that way one is able not only to experience a different perspective of one and the same situation (to walk into someone's else's shoes) but also to witness one's own behaviour from the other side of the intercourse - which often brings significant insights, catharsis and internal transformation.

Käännetty vanhemmuus