Masks & sociodrama for learning about personality preferences Andy Peisley, Falmouth University, UK Andy.Peisley@falmouth.ac.uk EAPRIL 2016

Learning outcomes To reflect on personality preferences and their impact on our interactions To generate, practice, and reflect on different strategies for managing their impact To reflect on how you could use this in your own practice

Workshop structure: Meet the masks/personality ‘types’ – Jung model Compare and contrast to yourself and people you know Identify which are easier and more challenging Explore moving and acting as different masks Explore different strategies for interacting with them Reflect on your learning Identify how you could apply this approach to your own practice

Rationale for this approach Impact of personality preferences in life and work Overcome some limitations in common teaching methods Masks – strong visual ‘anchor’ Helps role play, release of inhibitions Engagement of whole learner, embodied, active, deeper learning Exploration through action, opportunity for practice

Caution! Not claiming Jungian typology model is ‘truth’ An example, a common model For exploring impact of individual differences, not as ‘truth’ Another method to support learning about ‘personality’ An evolving ongoing project Potentially better ways forward? Different models, with stronger evidence? E.g. Five Factor Model?

LET’S MEET THE MASKS! BLUE RED YELLOW GREEN Full & half-mask versions

BLUE – What is BLUE like? Strengths? Less attractive characteristics? In pairs – introduce yourself and say hello – then tell your partner what you think

RED – What is RED like? Strengths? Less attractive characteristics?

YELLOW – What is YELLOW like. Strengths YELLOW – What is YELLOW like? Strengths? Less attractive characteristics?

GREEN – What is GREEN like? Strengths? Less attractive characteristics?

The Insights 4 Colour Energies On a good day… Cautious Precise Deliberate Questioning Formal Analytical Competitive Demanding Determined Strong-willed Purposeful Driver Caring Encouraging Sharing Patient Relaxed Amiable Sociable Dynamic Demonstrative Enthusiastic Persuasive Expressive Choose a hat!! Sheets of paper – German coloured sheets

The Insights 4 Colour Energies On a bad day… Stuffy Indecisive Suspicious Cold Reserved Aggressive Controlling Driving Overbearing Intolerant Docile Bland Plodding Reliant Stubborn Excitable Frantic Indiscreet Flamboyant Hasty Who is having the bad day A. The person observing and being affected by the negative impact of that colour energy…..we see the world as we are, not as it is!

The Insights Colour Quadrants ‘Fiery’ Red ‘Cool’ Bluec’ l ‘Earth’ Green ‘Sunshine’ Yellow

Colourful Statements Let’s do it right Let’s do it NOW Let’s do it in a caring way Let’s do it together

Relate the masks to you and people you know Go and stand by the mask: Which is most like you? Why? – (explain, quickly, to someone there too) Which do you find most easy to work with? Why? (explain) Which do you find most difficult to work with? Why? (explain) Which is most like you? (explain)

Explore the masks Get into groups, 1 mask per group, 3 persons in each group A group with a mask that is NOT the ‘most like you’ Take turns - to put on and move as the mask Rest of the group – help the person wearing the mask, to explore moving and acting as that mask, Ask the mask questions and make requests Use handouts to make questions and requests Mask - respond through movement and/or sound – NOT words

Questions & requests for the mask ---(colour)----, can you show us how – (descriptor)---- you are? E.g. Red, can you show us how determined you are? ----(colour)----, can you -----(physical action)-- in a --(descriptor)—way? E.g. Green, can you pick up that chair in a relaxed way? Masks – Remember – sounds and movement in response, NOT words

Influencing strategies? – for B, R, Y, G? Get into groups of 5 persons, 1 mask each group Ideally – with a mask who you find it most difficult to get on with But if not - at least not with a mask who is ‘most like you’ Decide (quickly) on an event that you think this mask: would NOT like to attend, given their personality preferences Sociodrama scenario and roles: ‘Mask’, ‘Influencer’, ‘Audience’ Influencer tries to persuade mask to attend the event Group uses sociodrama to explore how influencer can do this

Sociodrama method and techniques Stop and start the action to explore the situation & try out & practice influencing strategies Role reversal – e.g. ‘mask’-’influencer’, ‘audience’ – ‘mask’ or ‘influencer’ Ask the audience - Audience can give advice, or take out role to show or try out alternative strategies Roles stay, but anyone can explore any role Use handouts for ideas, but also explore your own ideas for strategies

Reflection & Discussion In groups: What did you learn from this exercise? From this workshop? How could you use this in your own practice? E.g. The learning about personality preferences, this type of teaching and learning method masks & sociodrama, etc? In wider group: discussion and questions?

Andy Peisley Falmouth University, UK Email: andy.peisley@falmouth.ac.uk With big thanks also to: University of Westminster, UK + Mike Chase (www.mikechasemasks.com) + Insights (www.insights.com) Sternberg, P. & Garcia, A. (2000). Sociodrama: Who's in your shoes? (2nd ed). Westport: Praeger.

The Insights Colour Quadrants Cool Blue detailed structured realistic Fiery Red big bold challenging fantastic passionate beyond your wildest dreams Sunshine Yellow safe value-based thoughtful Earth Green