1. Masks & sociodrama for learning about personality preferences
Andy Peisley, Falmouth University, UK
EAPRIL 2016

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

11. 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

12. 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!

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

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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?

21. Andy Peisley Falmouth University, UK
With big thanks also to: University of Westminster, UK
+ Mike Chase (
+ Insights (
Sternberg, P. & Garcia, A. (2000). Sociodrama: Who's in your shoes? (2nd ed). Westport: Praeger.

23. 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