Michael Chekhov: What is the Psychological Gesture?

Psychological Gesture

Michael Chekhov: What is the Psychological Gesture?

What is the Psychological Gesture?

Gesture is a movement that has intention, Chekhov defines the psychology to consist of the thoughts, feelings and will of a human being.

The Psychological Gesture-PG is a physical expression of the thoughts, feelings and desires of the character, incorporated into one movement.

Psychological Gesture is a movement that expresses the psychology of the character.

The Psychological Gesture-PG awakens the essence of the character in the actor.

It aligns the actor’s thoughts, feelings and will (objective) with that of the character.

When this happens, the actor’s walk, his/her expressive mannerisms, his/her voice and line delivery are all inspired by one moving image.

If s/he performs the gesture prior to her/his scene, it can trigger his/her artistic nature.

While in the scene, if her/his inspiration weakens, s/he can simply envision the gesture in her/his imagination as s/he is acting and it will revitalize her/him.

How to find the right Psychological Gesture?

One path created by Chekhov is called, Leading Questions: the actor cultivates his/her imagination by asking questions.

For example: if you are playing a villain, you might begin by asking what it is your character desires.

Power? Okay, how do you go about getting power?

By dominating? Okay, what is a physical movement that dominates? Pressing down.

Now, start with your hands as high as possible and press them down against an imaginary resistance.

Picture the character’s opponents as you press down to the floor.

Add to the press a quality: rage, frustration, sinister, fear, etc.

Try different qualities until you feel the quality and desire to dominate in every cell of your being.

How to Find the Right PG? 

If the movement does not affect you, there might be several reasons.

The form of the movement may not be right for you.

Perhaps your villain snatches rather than presses?

Or maybe you are only committing a half-portion of your energy? This will result in only being half inspired.

Perhaps your concentration on the image is weak? In this case you must develop strength there.

One or more PGs for each character?

You can have an Overall Psychological Gesture-PG that will help you perform any given moment in the story.

You can also have different Psychological Gesture-PGs for different sections, moments or units in the play.

Every objective you identify can be gesturized. 

This transforms your intellectual knowledge of your objective into your body and voice: the only parts of the actor that the audience actually experiences.

You will know that you have found your Overall Psychological Gesture-PG when it stimulates you for every moment regardless of the scene you are creating.

Special gratitude to honorable

Syed Jamil Ahmed,

Department of Theatre,

University of Dhaka

[N.B- Used for educational purposes only, not for commercial purposes, Thank You.]