_edited.png)
2.9
Challenging Taboos to Enhance Creativity
Submitted by Jack Byrd, Jr., Cuda Zmuda, and Eric Schmucker
Our imagination is often restricted by internalized taboos. While these restrictions may be appropriate in some cases, we are often unaware or subconsciously influenced by taboos. Uncovering taboos that affect us can provide creative breakthroughs for how we think about issues.
Learning Goals
Identify the presence of taboos in everyday life.
Challenge self-censorship and expand creative thinking by becoming more aware of taboos.
Instructions
Set Up: Prepare for the Activity
Organize participants into small groups (4-6 ppl).
Share the Ping Pong Ball Challenge on a handout, screen, or projector.
Step One: Introduce the Ping Pong Challenge (5 min)
Review The Ping Pong Ball Challenge as a full group:
An eight inch long metal pipe is embedded in concrete at one end. The pipe is perpendicular to the ground, facing upward. A ping pong ball is at the bottom of the pipe. The ping pong ball fits loosely into the pipe.
You have the following tools available to you:
A one-foot length of rope (0.1 inch in diameter)
A metal file
You need to remove the ping pong ball from the pipe with the following restrictions:
You have no other resources available to you.
You cannot move or bend the pipe.
The ping pong ball cannot be damaged.
Ask the groups if there are any clarifying questions but do not provide any additional information.
Step Two: Individually Generate Ideas (5 min)
Ask each participant to write down their individual ideas. How are they going to remove the ball from the pipe?
Step Three: Discuss Ideas in Small Groups (10 min)
In small groups, invite participants to share their ideas.
As each of the ideas are presented, ask the other participants to build on them.
Instruct the group that they must decide on a single best solution to present to the full group.
Step Four: Present Solutions to the Full Group (5 min)
Invite one representative from each small group to present their final solution to the challenge.
While listening to the solutions, ask participants in the full group to evaluate each small group’s idea with a thumb’s up, thumb’s down, or thumb’s sideways vote. Tell them the criteria for their vote should be: Did the group adhere to the rules? Would the solution work?
Step Five: Explore Taboos as a Full Group (15 min)
If no group came up with the solution, reveal that the most effective solution is to urinate in the pipe and let the ping pong ball rise to the top.
Full group discussion prompts:
What’s your reaction to this solution? Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Did any of you think of this but might have been afraid to voice it in the discussion?
Talking publicly about urination is generally frowned upon or considered taboo. What else do you consider to be taboo?
Generate a list of taboos on the board, flip chart, or shared screen. Discuss:
Are these taboos universal? How do we know when our imagination is restricted by a taboo?
Step Six: Debrief as a Full Group (10 min)
Discuss:
Let’s review our list of taboos. What purpose do these taboos serve? Who or what decides that these topics are off limits?
What are the trade-offs associated with taboos?
How can identifying taboos open up possibilities or imagination?
TIME
50
min
MODULE
Creative Collaboration
This activity can be completed by any discussion group.
This activity might be considered high energy or more playful than other activities.
This activity can be easily modified to serve as an introductory exercise and completed in less than 10 minutes.
Tell us what you think. Rate and review this activity:
Have any helpful suggestions or modifications for this activity?
Share them in the comments below!
0 Comments
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:07:26 PM
Activity 5.2 introduces four categories of stakeholders and multiple prompts to help participants work together in small and large groups to create comprehensive list of stakeholders, including those who are marginalized or not as obvious, for a given issue.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:04:00 PM
Activity 5.1 uses gamification by having participants play the Civics Topics Sweet Sixteen Competition to identify their issues they are passionate about both as individuals and as a group.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 9:01:34 PM
Activity 4.9 uses both lighthearted and serious characters, topics, and dialogue to help participants practice viewing an issue from the perspective of multiple people/characters and explain their thought processes and rationale for the choices they think these people will make in a given situation.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 8:58:08 PM
Activity 4.8 provides useful phrases and techniques, as well as helps participants develop their own, to join in during discussions and express their views according to the goals they choose for themselves on what they want to offer to the discussion and how they want to be perceived.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 8:52:48 PM
Activity 4.7 uses a tactile and fun method, like a bag of beans, to have participants experience what it is like to have different amounts of power in a conversation. This activity also highlights how we base our ideas of how power is distributed on stereotypes.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 8:48:29 PM
Activity 4.6 employs useful tools like the Question Chart to help participants learn how to craft "good questions" that move beyond any assumptions they have about the views of others based on stereotypes or third party descriptions, and unearth their true views on the issue.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 8:45:08 PM
Activity 4.5 uses visual aids like the Emotion Wheel to push participants to move beyond just cognitive empathy and shows how to reflect back the emotions and understand their source through dialogue. It also helps participants differentiate between messages of intentional empathy and problem-solving.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 8:39:46 PM
Activity 4.4 uses both individual written reflection and discussion in small and large groups to explore the which aspects of a person's identity we use to determine if they should be included in the conversation on a particular issue. This activity also give participants to practice explaining and negotiating who is chosen.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 8:33:37 PM
Activity 4.3 uses physical movement and both lighthearted and serious topics to help participants see how positions on different topics lie on a continuum and how positions can change as one is exposed to new information or perspectives. Participants also flex their imaginative and creative muscle by arguing for the position opposite to theirs.
YD
December 2, 2022 at 8:28:28 PM
Activity 4.2 breaks down the individual aspects of active listening into separate rounds/steps to help participants consciously and methodically learn and practice this skill.