Psychological Games

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

Author: Kirill Nogale

Human life and activities are unique processes with many features. A person is born, already having certain predispositions, inclinations, abilities. But in order for his interaction with the outside world and society to be more effective and productive, a person needs to "improve", "pump" himself and his personality. And the process of this improvement begins from the earliest years, but does not end, one might say, never, because, as they say, there is no limit to perfection. In order to form, consolidate and improve the qualities of a person, a huge number of various methods and practices are used today. But let's talk about, perhaps, the most popular and effective of them - social and psychological games.

In this page we will understand what psychological games are in general, what are their features and what they are for. We have all heard more than once that there are games for children, for adolescents, for schoolchildren, for students, small, large, role-playing, business. They can be aimed at the development of any qualities, at the formation of communication skills, at rallying, etc. Games are held in kindergartens, schools, recreation camps - these are children's games. Games are also held in higher educational institutions, enterprises and large firms, but these are already games for adults, which are often included in the program of any trainings and seminars. There are even computer psychological games - they are very popular in our time, when almost everyone has a home computer or laptop. So what is the reason that games have become an integral part of human life and are present in almost every area of it? And what games can and should be used for yourself? We present the answers to these and many other questions to your precious attention.

What is a game?

A game is a type of activity, the motive of which is not the result, but the process itself, where the recreation and assimilation of any experience takes place. Also, play is the main type of activity of children, through which mental properties, intellectual operations and attitude to the surrounding reality are formed, changed and consolidated. The term "game" is also used to refer to programs or sets of objects for the implementation of play activities.

The study of human psychology and the psychological realities of his life becomes more interesting and effective when carried out through activities that are of interest to the researcher himself. And that activity, of course, is play. Experience has shown more than once that social and psychological games help people to perceive the reality of the psychological aspect of their life very seriously and deeply.

The functions of the game activity are as follows:

• Entertaining - entertains, cheers up;
• Communicative - promotes communication;
• Self-realization - gives a person the opportunity to express himself;
• Play therapy - helps to overcome various difficulties that arise in life;
• Diagnostic - allows you to identify deviations in development and behavior;
• Correctional - allows you to make changes in the structure of the personality;
• Socialization - makes it possible to include a person in the system of social relations and contributes to the assimilation of social norms.

The main types of psychological games and their features

Games can be business, positional, innovative, organizational and educational, training, organizational and mental, organizational and activity, and others. But still, there are several main types of psychological games.

Game shells. In this type of games, the game plot itself is the general background on which the solution of developmental, correctional and psychological problems takes place. Such activity contributes to the development of basic mental properties and personality processes, as well as the development of reflection and self-reflection.

Accommodation games. In the games-residences, the development of the game space, the construction of interpersonal relations within it and the comprehension of personal values, takes place individually and jointly with a group of people. This type of games develops the motivational aspect of a person's personality, the system of his life values, personal criticality; allows you to independently build your activities and relationships with others; expands the understanding of human feelings and experiences.

Drama games. Drama games contribute to the self-determination of their participants in certain situations and to improve the value-semantic choice. The motivational sphere, the system of life values, the willingness to make choices, the ability to set goals, and the skill of planning are developing. Features of reflection and self-reflection are formed.

Project games. Project games have an impact on the development and comprehension of instrumental tasks by a person, which are associated with the construction of activities, the achievement of specific results and the systematization of the system of business relationships with others. The skills of setting goals, planning and the ability to adapt actions to specific conditions are developed. Self-regulation skills are formed, personal criticality and the ability to correlate their actions with the actions of other people develop.

The types of psychological games presented above can be used both independently and in conjunction with others. The descriptions given by us are the most general and give only a superficial idea of psychological games.

Now we turn to the most interesting block - the games themselves. Next, we will consider some of the most popular and effective games, and their benefits in human development and life.

The most popular and effective games and their benefits

Karpman-Bern triangle

The Karpman-Bern triangle is, to be precise, not even quite a game. More precisely, a game, but unconscious. A game that people play without having the slightest idea that they have become participants in it. But, due to the fact that this phenomenon exists, it must be mentioned.

This triangle is a simplified model of psychological manipulations that take place in almost all areas of a person's life: family, friendship, love, work, business, etc. This relationship of roles that arise in the process of human relationships was described by the American psychotherapist Stephen Karpman, who continues the ideas of his teacher, the American psychologist Eric Berne. This relationship, provided that it develops according to the "pattern" of this triangle, is in itself destructive and affects the people participating in this triangle extremely negatively.

Because it is a triangle, it has three sides: a person acting as a victim ("Victim"), a person who exerts pressure ("Aggressor") and a person who intervenes in a situation and wants to help ("Savior").

Usually it turns out like this: a problem or difficult life situation arises between two people. Thus, the "Aggressor" and "Victim" appear. The “victim” seeking a solution to the problem turns to a third party - the person who becomes the “Savior”. The "Savior", because of his kindness, awareness, or any other reason, decides to help and advises something. The "Sacrifice" follows the advice and behaves according to the advice of the "Savior." As a result, the advice only leads to a worsening of the situation and the “Savior” is already the extreme - he becomes the “Victim”, the “Victim” - the “Aggressor”, etc. From time to time, each of us plays the role of one of the sides of the Karpman-Bern triangle. The triangle itself often becomes the cause of big quarrels, troubles, troubles, etc.

So that you can get acquainted with the Karpman-Bern triangle in detail, learn its features and see illustrative examples related to our daily life, you can visit Wikipedia.

Now we turn directly to games that have a very serious psychological aspect. These games are deliberately organized by people, both with the aim of winning / winning, and with the aim of having a certain impact on a person's personality. Organization and participation in these games give a person the opportunity to delve deeper into the essence of his relationship with himself and the people around him. The first game that we should consider as psychological is the game "Mafia"

Mafia

Mafia is a verbal role-playing game created in 1986 by Dmitry Davydov, a student at Moscow State University. It is recommended to play it for people over 13 years old. The optimal number of players: from 8 to 16. The process simulates the struggle of a smaller organized group with a larger unorganized one. According to the plot, residents of the city, tired of the activities of the mafia, decide to imprison all representatives of the criminal world. In response, the bandits declare war on the townspeople.

At the beginning, the presenter distributes one card to the participants, which determines their belonging to the mafia or townspeople. The game takes place "during the day" and "at night". The mafia is active at night, the townspeople during the day. In the process of alternating the time of day, the mafiosi and the residents of the city each carry out their own activities, during which the number of players in each team becomes less and less. Information about events guides all further actions of the participants. The game is considered over when one of the teams wins completely, i.e. when either all the townspeople are "killed", or all the bandits are "imprisoned". If there are very few players, then the game turns out to be too short, but if there are more players than necessary, there is confusion and confusion, and the game loses its meaning.

The game "Mafia", first of all, is based on communication: discussions, disputes, establishing contacts, etc., which brings it as close as possible to real life. After all, all the traits and properties of the human personality are used and manifested in the game. The psychological aspect of the game is such that in order to successfully interact with others, a person must try to apply and develop his acting skills, the gift of persuasion, leadership, deduction. "Mafia" perfectly develops analytical thinking, intuition, logic, memory, intelligence, theatricality, social influence, team interaction and many other important qualities in life. The main psychologism of this game is which team will win. After all, one team is mafiosi who know each other, but are in no way inclined to play at a loss for themselves and, moreover, have the opportunity to eliminate the townspeople. And the second team consists of civilians who do not know each other, who can act most effectively only by interacting with the mafia. Mafia has great potential and is a great pleasure both intellectually and aesthetically.

Details of the game "Mafia", its rules, strategic and tactical features and many other detailed and interesting information concerning it, you can find in Wikipedia.

Poker

Poker is a world famous card game. Its goal is to win bets by collecting the most profitable combination of four or five cards for this, or by making all participants stop participating. All cards in the game are either completely or partially covered. The specifics of the rules can be different - it depends on the type of poker. But all types have in common the presence of trade and game combinations.

To play poker, decks of 32, 36 or 54 cards are used. Optimal number of players: from 2 to 10 at one table. The highest card is ace, then king, queen, etc. Sometimes the lowest card can be an ace, depending on the card combination. Different types of poker consist of a different number of streets - betting rounds. Each street starts with a new distribution. As soon as the cards are dealt, any player can place a bet or leave the game. The winner is the one whose combination of five cards turns out to be the best, or the one who can oust the other players and remains alone until the cards are revealed.

The psychological aspect of poker is very important because plays an important role in the tactics and strategy of the game. The moves the players make are based largely on their skills, habits and ideas. Thus, the styles of the players are based on a certain psychological basis and are a reflection of the desires and fears of people, the understanding of which gives some players advantages over others. Also, the player's style is an excellent display of his character traits. After all, any personal characteristic, as you know, affects a person's behavior and, consequently, his behavior in the game and the decisions that he makes in certain conditions of the game. Of course, poker is a game of chance played for money. And without playing skills, a person runs the risk of being in an unenviable situation. But if you play poker without bets for the sake of training, for example, with friends, then it will be an excellent way to develop and hone such qualities as intuition, logical thinking, the ability to “read” people and mask your intentions, psychological stability, endurance, cunning, attentiveness, memory and many others. It should be noted that the game of poker, among other things, develops self-control, tactical and strategic thinking, as well as the ability to be aware of the motives of other people. And these qualities so often turn out to be necessary for us in our daily life.

Details of the game "Poker", rules, strategies and other interesting details can be found on Wikipedia.

Dixit

Dixit is an associative board game. Consists of 84 illustrated maps. It can be played by 3 to 6 people. At the beginning, each player receives 6 cards. Everyone takes turns. One of the participants in the game is declared the Storyteller. He takes one card and places it in front of him so that the picture is not visible. Then he must describe it with a word, phrase, sound, facial expression or gesture that he associates with the picture. Others do not see the card, but among their cards they look for the most suitable one for the description of the Storyteller, and they also put it face down on the table. After that, all these cards are shuffled and laid out in a row, and the players, using tokens with numbers, must guess the card that the Storyteller originally described. Then the players reveal all the cards, count the points. The player who guessed the card moves his piece forward. When all cards are over, the game is over. The winner is the one with the most points.

The game "Dixit" has a number of features, one of which is that the associations should not be too simple, not too complicated, because then the card will be very easy or very difficult to guess. The game itself is an excellent tool for the development of analytical and associative thinking, intuition, fantasy, intelligence and other qualities. During the game, participants learn to feel other people, understand them without words and explain in the same way. We can say that, among other things, the skills of effective non-verbal communication are also formed. The game is very interesting and always takes place in a positive and friendly atmosphere.

You can learn more about the game "Dixit" and some of its features on Wikipedia.

Imaginarium

The Imaginarium is an analogue of the Dixit game. In it, you also need to select associations for pictures of different meanings. The rules of the game are the same as in Dixit: one player (the Storyteller) chooses a card and describes it using associations. The rest of the players choose one of the most suitable cards from among their own, and put it face down on the table. After that, all the cards are shuffled, and the player starts to guess them.

The game "Imaginarium" is in no way inferior to its prototype and has an extremely beneficial effect on the development of many qualities of the human personality, namely: it develops intelligence, analytical thinking, intuition, imagination, and fantasy. The game activates creativity, the ability to intuitively understand others, in every possible way helps to improve communication skills and increase the effectiveness of communication.

You can get acquainted with a more detailed description of the Imaginarium game on the Mosigra website.

Activity

"Activity" is a collective associative game in which you need to explain the words written on the cards. There are 440 cards in the game with six tasks each. The standard set is designed for people over 12 years old. But there are options "For kids" and "For kids". The minimum number of players is two. The maximum is practically unlimited. You can explain words using facial expressions, pictures or synonymous words. You only have one minute to explain what is hidden. There are individual tasks, but there are general ones. Players must move the pieces around the game card. The first team to reach the finish line wins. In the process, you can also choose more difficult or simpler tasks. For a more difficult task, more points are given.

The game "Activity" is perfect for relaxation and fun pastime, and it perfectly cheers you up. "Activity" develops strategic thinking, ingenuity, imagination, the ability to work in a team, intuition, analytical skills. The game promotes the disclosure of potential and gives each person the opportunity to express themselves from completely different sides. And a multitude of tactical opportunities and behaviors further contribute to this. Both children and adults will get a lot of pleasure and positive emotions from this game.

You can read a more detailed description of the game "Activity" on the Mosigra website.

Monopoly

Monopoly is one of the world's most famous educational board games. Game genre: economic strategy. Minimum number of players: two. The essence of the game is to achieve economic stability for yourself and bankruptcy for other players using the start-up capital. The initial amount for each player is the same. Players take turns making moves across the playing field by throwing a die. The winner is the one who earned the most money. The game ends when someone finally goes broke or when the ATM stops dispensing bills and luck cards.

The game "Monopoly" has retained its popularity among a huge number of people for many years. Firstly, it perfectly lifts the mood and gives a lot of positive emotions. Secondly, the game forms a culture of communication, thanks to the close interaction of the participants with each other. Thirdly, in the course of the game, the makings of entrepreneurship and financial literacy develop, mathematical knowledge, logical and strategic thinking, and a sense of tactics are improved. Not unimportant is the fact that the game "Monopoly" trains memory, develops attention, and also reveals leadership inclinations, independence, responsibility and the desire of a person to be the master of his own life. In addition to this, qualities such as the ability to wait, patience, perseverance, and calmness are developed.

You can find out more information about the game "Monopoly" on Wikipedia.

Other games

The games that we briefly mentioned are by no means unique, but they can be safely called worthy examples of some of the best psychological games. The direction and form of psychological games can be completely different. The main thing is to find the most interesting game for yourself and just start playing it. Better yet, try all the games. This, at the same time, will have a positive effect on many of your personality characteristics, and will help you decide which type of games is most suitable for you personally.

As a supplement, there are a few more games that you can master. This is a wonderful game "Telepathy", the main focus of which is self-knowledge, self-awareness and development of their hidden abilities. There is a wonderful game called "The Lost Storyteller" for the development of listening skills and attentiveness. By the way, it also affects interpersonal relationships. A good game of trust and understanding is "Coin". There is also a close interaction of the participants, which allows them to study more deeply the psychological characteristics of each other. The category of such games can also include the games "Homeostat", "Docking", "Rank", "Choice" and others. You can easily find information about these and many other interesting psychological games on the Internet. By the way, about the Internet: today, a large number of very interesting computer and online games have been developed that have a pronounced psychological focus. You can find these games in computer stores or download them from the Internet. Good games installed on your home computer will always contribute to a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere in your home. You can always take your mind off your daily routine by playing, for example, online monopoly. And it will be interesting and fun for your children to watch how you play and to participate in the process themselves. Naturally, there are educational online games for children, which are a pleasure to play. Search the Internet for something suitable, and you will surely find a worthwhile option for yourself and your loved ones.

Games as a way of effective psychological influence, as mentioned earlier, have found application in various spheres of human activity. A person begins to play from a very young age - at home with parents, in kindergarten with other children. Then we are faced with different games in junior and senior grades of school, institute, university. In adulthood, we are also surrounded by games, but these are already games for adults. With the help of such games, people striving for success and self-improvement develop their strengths and work on weak ones. And this actually makes them stronger and more developed personalities, increases their efficiency and effectiveness, makes interaction with the outside world and themselves deeper and more harmonious.

You should not neglect this method of self-development. Play games, change them, create your own. Take games for yourself and make them a part of your life. So you can always be in the process of development. And the process of personal growth itself will never bore you and will continue to be interesting and exciting.

We wish you success on the path of self-improvement and study of human psychology!