Improv to Improve: The Impact of Improvisational Theater on Creativity, Acceptance, and Psychological Well-Being

Publikation: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Forschungsartikel › Beigetragen › Begutachtung

Beitragende

Abstract

Improvisational theater (improv) is a form of theater where dialog, characters, and story are created spontaneously by its actors on stage. In the last years, different improv techniques have gained increasing popularity and spread into fields beyond comedy and performing art, e.g., business organizations and educational programs. However, the beneficial impact of improv on psychological variables has barely been investigated. In this study, we aim to fill this gap and contribute to a scientific investigation of improvisational theater on various variables that measure creativity, acceptance, and psychological well-being. In a controlled trial, 30 participants in the intervention group and 28 in the waiting control group completed six different tests and questionnaires prior and post to a 6-week improv intervention or waiting time, respectively. We found significant improvement in participants’ creativity and psychological well-being due to the intervention but no evidence for enhanced acceptance.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)31-48
Seitenumfang18
Fachzeitschrift Journal of creativity in mental health / the Association for Creativity in Counseling, a Division of the American Counseling Association
Jahrgang16
Ausgabenummer1
Frühes Online-Datum21 Apr. 2020
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2021
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85084046192
ORCID /0000-0002-4408-6016/work/142234397

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung