Obvious

Most of us suffer from the BLM (“Be Like Me”) syndrome. For example, when we look at a photograph, we are immediately attracted by a specific element. We conclude that everyone else who looks at the photograph will also be attracted by the same element.

The Obvious activity dramatically demonstrates the opposite truth: Different people have different perspectives and preferences.

Synopsis

Display a photocard (a picture postcard). Ask the participants to independently write down an element of the picture that would immediately attract the attention of the people who look at it. Score each prediction according to the number of participants making the same prediction. Repeat the activity with different photocards.

Purpose

To experience individual differences among what immediately attracts the attention of people looking at a photo.

Participants

  • Minimum: 2

  • Maximum: Any number

  • Best: 10 to 20

Time

10 to 20 minutes

Supplies and Equipment

  • Photo cards

  • Paper

  • Pens or pencils

  • Timer

  • Whistle

Flow

Display a photocard. Pass it around so everyone can examine it carefully.

Brief the participants. Ask the participants to independently write down what element in the photograph would attract the attention of most people. Encourage the participants to write down not only what would attract them but what would attract most other people. Pause for a brief period of time while all the participants independently write down the required information.

Score the responses. When everyone has written down their response, score them using this method: Give each response as many points as the number of people giving the same (or very similar) response.

Continue with the activity. Display another photocard and ask for the same type of responses. Encourage the participants to increase their empathy and give a response that would be the same (or similar) to other people’s responses.

Debriefing

Discuss the difficulty of guessing other people’s perceptions. Let the participants discover that taking on other people’s perceptions is not as easy as they think.