Group-dynamic game
Encyclopedia
Group-dynamic
game
s are experiential education
exercises which help people to learn about themselves, interpersonal relationships, and how groups
function from a group dynamics
or social psychological
point of view.
Group dynamics can be understood as complex from an interpersonal relationships point of view because it involves:
Group-dynamic games are usually designed for the specific purpose of furthering personal development
, character building, and teamwork
via a Group-dynamic
milieu
. The group leader may sometimes also be the game leader, or between peers, the leadership and game-rules can change.
Some games require large spaces, special objects and tools, quietness or many before-game and after-game needs. When aged, frail or disabled people ("special needs") are involved, existing games may need modification to be used.
The use of group dynamic activities has a history of application in conflict resolution
, anger management
and team building
and many other areas such as drug rehabilitation
and drama therapy
.
These can be simple or truly elegant situations. Many can be found for free on various websites and in books designed for use by trainers. Many are readily adaptable to different situations and desired outcomes.
There are many books and websites which help explain how to set up groups (fun groups or self-help groups) and which tell which games are safe to play without a professional (psychologist, etc) being at hand.
Group dynamics
Group dynamics refers to a system of behaviors and psychological processes that occur within a social group , or between social groups...
game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
s are experiential education
Experiential education
Experiential education is a philosophy of education that describes the process that occurs between a teacher and student that infuses direct experience with the learning environment and content. The term is mistakenly used interchangeably with experiential learning...
exercises which help people to learn about themselves, interpersonal relationships, and how groups
Group (sociology)
In the social sciences a social group can be defined as two or more humans who interact with one another, share similar characteristics and collectively have a sense of unity...
function from a group dynamics
Group dynamics
Group dynamics refers to a system of behaviors and psychological processes that occur within a social group , or between social groups...
or social psychological
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
point of view.
Group dynamics can be understood as complex from an interpersonal relationships point of view because it involves:
- relationships between two people
- relationships between a person and a group
- relationships between groups
Group-dynamic games are usually designed for the specific purpose of furthering personal development
Personal development
Personal development includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitates employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations...
, character building, and teamwork
Teamwork
Teamwork is action performed by a team towards a common goal. A team consists of more than one person, each of whom typically has different responsibilities....
via a Group-dynamic
Group dynamics
Group dynamics refers to a system of behaviors and psychological processes that occur within a social group , or between social groups...
milieu
Social environment
The social environment of an individual, also called social context or milieu, is the culture that s/he was educated or lives in, and the people and institutions with whom the person interacts....
. The group leader may sometimes also be the game leader, or between peers, the leadership and game-rules can change.
Some games require large spaces, special objects and tools, quietness or many before-game and after-game needs. When aged, frail or disabled people ("special needs") are involved, existing games may need modification to be used.
The use of group dynamic activities has a history of application in conflict resolution
Conflict resolution
Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...
, anger management
Anger management
The term anger management commonly refers to a system of psychological therapeutic techniques and exercises by which someone with excessive or uncontrollable anger & aggression can control or reduce the triggers, degrees, and effects of an angered emotional state...
and team building
Team building
Team building refers to a wide range of activities, presented to businesses, schools, sports teams, religious or nonprofit organizations designed for improving team performance...
and many other areas such as drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
and drama therapy
Drama therapy
Drama Therapy is the use of theatre techniques to facilitate personal growth and promote mental health. Dramatherapy is used in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, mental health centers, prisons, and businesses...
.
Types of group-dynamic games
- Dramaturgy (sociology)Dramaturgy (sociology)Dramaturgy is a sociological perspective stemming from symbolic interactionism, and commonly used in microsociological accounts of social interaction in everyday life. The term was first adapted into sociology from the theatre by Erving Goffman, who developed most of the related terminology and...
- Adventure-based activities (or initiative tasks)
- Ice-breaker gamesIcebreaker (facilitation)An icebreaker is a facilitation exercise intended to help a group to begin the process of forming themselves into a team. Icebreakers are commonly presented as a game to "warm up" the group by helping the members to get to know each other...
- Large group games
- Psycho-drama
- Role-playing gameRole-playing gameA role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s - Team buildingTeam buildingTeam building refers to a wide range of activities, presented to businesses, schools, sports teams, religious or nonprofit organizations designed for improving team performance...
games - Trust-building gameTrust fallA trust fall is a purported trust-building game often conducted as a group exercise in which a person deliberately allows themselves to fall, relying on the other members of the group to catch the person. There are many variants of the trust fall...
s - Win-win gameWin-win gameA win-win game is a game which is designed in a way that all participants can profit from it in one way or the other. In conflict resolution, a win-win strategy is a conflict resolution process that aims to accommodate all disputants.-Types:...
s (= "cooperative games", "new games")
Group problem solving activities
There are a number of exercises that propose a problem that the group must solve. Some of these simply benefit from the diversity of perspectives and background knowledge inherent in groups to find the answer more quickly (Trivia, Wuzzles) while another approach is to give each individual some information and the collective information is needed to solve the problem or challenge.These can be simple or truly elegant situations. Many can be found for free on various websites and in books designed for use by trainers. Many are readily adaptable to different situations and desired outcomes.
Tips for running group-dynamic games
- Get a book or go a website on this subject written by a professional.
- Make sure you have basic knowledge on leadershipLeadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
, teamworkTeamworkTeamwork is action performed by a team towards a common goal. A team consists of more than one person, each of whom typically has different responsibilities....
, team developmentTeam buildingTeam building refers to a wide range of activities, presented to businesses, schools, sports teams, religious or nonprofit organizations designed for improving team performance...
, group dynamicsGroup dynamicsGroup dynamics refers to a system of behaviors and psychological processes that occur within a social group , or between social groups...
and psychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. Some specific knowledge of specialist areas such as neuro-linguistic programmingNeuro-linguistic programmingNeuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
and transactional analysisTransactional analysisTransactional analysis, commonly known as TA to its adherents, is an integrative approach to the theory of psychology and psychotherapy. It is described as integrative because it has elements of psychoanalytic, humanist and cognitive approaches...
is useful, but not necessary. - If intense work is desired, then more background knowledge and experience is required to effectively perform activities
- Know your limits
- Create a comfortable physical space and a relaxed atmosphere
- Participants should wear comfortable clothing
- Ensure a minimum of disturbances during sessions (no visitors during sessions etc)
- Treat the event holistically: care for body, mind and spirit
- Be aware that we learn best (experience things most intensely) when seeing, hearing and touching is involved at the same time (audio, visual, kinesthetic aspects)
- Start with ice-breakerIcebreaker (facilitation)An icebreaker is a facilitation exercise intended to help a group to begin the process of forming themselves into a team. Icebreakers are commonly presented as a game to "warm up" the group by helping the members to get to know each other...
games - Then introduce trust-building games
- Then tackle group problem solving activities (or initiative tasks)
- Use an experiential learning model (e.g., do-review-plan), which includes debriefing and feedback
- Use time-outs to clarify problems
- Enjoy and have fun, but understand the serious sides of the exercises as well
- Always include everyone in a fair and equal way.
There are many books and websites which help explain how to set up groups (fun groups or self-help groups) and which tell which games are safe to play without a professional (psychologist, etc) being at hand.