An Innovative and Revolutionary Method Of Emotional Communication Based On Biological Process
• BACKGROUND
Initially, PEM - discovered and developed by German director and playwright Stephan Perdekamp - provided actors and performers with a direct, effortless and guidable access to authentic emotions, independent from personal experiences or memories. It identified precise biological points (storehouses of emotions) responsible for emotions and how to generate emotions by exercising control over those biological areas. PEM works with an unheard-of simplicity and effectiveness in creating emotional depth and expressiveness from within the regions of the body.
• TEACHERS AND COMMUNICATION -
As the PEM evolved, it identified the need to train teachers who are constantly communicating with impressionable minds and sending emotional signals wittingly or unwittingly to their students. In the process,PEM distinguishes three levels of human communication as a basis for its process:
i) The Intellect - serves the purpose of communicating and processing (=understanding) abstract and cognitive occurrences
ii) The Body - is responsible for unconscious reactions and reflexes
iii) Emotions - defined as innate holistic muscular movement (action) patterns which are distinguished by their function and direction
Although a lot has changed in the cultural conception of man, until recently in the western cultures the intellect (as the sole seat of our self) has been communicatively overrated, the body has been regarded as completely subordinate to the intellect and emotions have been defined as disruptive opposition to the mind.
Due to this unequal emphasis in favour of the intellect, the lack of emotional techniques and support in the field of communication becomes clear and allegeable. The negative effects of a society that communicates exclusively on a rational basis become more and more apparent and ask for a new understanding of man, culture and communication.
• METHODOLOGY -
As per the PEM research, all three levels (intellect, body and emotion) must be acknowledged, practiced and equally utilised to ensure holistic (therefore authentic) communication. Only by combining all three levels can authentic communication be reached.
And an authentic communication is the key to teaching: With emotional clarity, information becomes tangeable and will be registered holistically.
As explained in the case of training actors, PEM uses a similar methodology to train teachers to identify the three levels of communication, utilise them effectively and ensure meaningful, powerful and authentic communication with students and their guardians, alike.
• UTILISATION -
Where PEM has been applied beyond the Arts -
i) PEM has been used in German schools to improve the communication among students with different backgrounds.
ii) PEM was used in prisons in Germany and the UK to help inmates understand and better deal with emotions in order to rehabilitate them.
iii) PEM has worked with Aspergers patients to help them better understand and communicate emotions
iv) PEM was introduced to the National Council of Hypnotherapy - a part of the Royal Society of Medicine in the UK - where it was met with great appreciation and excitement. |
