Month: October 2021

Introduction

My research question is how can we help family members of different generations to connect and understand each other?

The project is to help families to express and explore emotions and thoughts together safely. It helps families to understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build a bridge in which everyone could have a chance to communicate with their family member and understand better and experience the process of a “shaping future relationship”.

My project is based on the high-context culture in Asia where people intend not to say what they want to say directly but express through non-verbal action. Many affections sign send from elder are quite cryptic that it’s hard to sense, which leads to the generation gap. The generation gap can result in misunderstanding and cause friction between different generation. Therefore, how to shorten the distance between family members has become a crucial issue.

A good family relationship is based on the communication between family member, and the process of communication is also a mode of interaction with the family(Bienvenu Sr, 1969). Many researchers actively exploring communication skills between family, but very few studies have studied the intimate relationship between children(18years old-35 years old) and elders, they mainly study the intimate relationship between children(under 15 years old) or Sexually Abused Children or Children with Anxiety and their parents(Appendix 10). My project is mainly to explore how to better communicate between teenagers(18years old-35 years old) and elders. The project is designed specifically to support family conversations around such real-world issues and sensitive topics, such as marriage.

Methodology

During the  project journey, I explore a mixture of methods. Most relevant are: experiment, observational, interview, focus group, questionnaire and reflexive practice – building interventions that imposed a improvement in intimacy relationship.The knowledge I acquired through these methods is applied to my iteration intervention.

For my initial idea(Appendix 1), I used mask as a technique, drawing their mood on the mask and wear their mask to communicate with other people, but can’t speak, only rely on body language. Result show that it resolves a little embarrassment, but it also increase the difficulty of communication. There are few information acquisition channels for online communication, a lot of interactive information is hidden, and it is difficult to feel the other’s person mood.

In order to better carry out my project, I explored family communication patterns(Appendix 3), relationship satisfaction, and conflicting styles. At the same time, I launched a questionnaire(Appendix 2). In this survey, I found a breakthrough point in the seating arrangement of the dining table in Chinese. So I discussed with my stakeholders via Zoom to discuss the breakthrough point(Appendix 4). Seating arrangement and family status and power hinder the communication between children and parents to some extent, and communication will be affected by power and family status. The relationship between parents and children is destined to be unequal. Parents are more likely to be in a controlling role, and children are more likely to be in a role of being taken care of and controlled. Even in families that emphasize the concept of equality, Nor can it eliminate this objective inequality. Power dynamic is a vital key in communication, which is the area I explore further.

In addition to this, I reached out experts: Junyi Cao: a creative and energetic service designer, she has been exploring the relationship between people; Yifei Shen: a psychologist expert. After talking with Junyi Cao(Appendix 8), I decided to use a game as my intervention(Appendix 5). I invited one of the stakeholders to play the sport game with her family. Results determined that playing games can indeed strengthen the relationship between family member and make you temporarily forget about power and status. However, when playing games, most of your energy is on the game, and you forget to communicate. After that, I reached out Yifei Shen(Appendix 6), she gave me some suggestions on game design and recommended a game for me to use as a reference. It prompted me to produce my iterative intervention— a board game. Games are common methods of psychological counseling, which use abstract questions to allow visitors to express their truest thoughts. 

In the game, there will be question cards(Appendix 9)(Cover the four aspects of money concept, family concept, values, and emotional bottom line)and interactive cards(The content of the interactive card will include some art therapy activities). You can give yourself and your family member an opportunity to express yourself through the choice of both parties, communicate emotions, and feel the similarities and differences by answering questions. Before playing the game, completing the questionnaire(Appendix 7), and then a 30-minute game will begin. After the game, there will be a 2-3 minute interview(Appendix 7). In order to consider that participants may lie and are unwilling to tell their true feelings, the game and interview process will all be recorded by video so that they can record the most real reaction when they communicate.

Reflection and Analysis

In the project journey, I kept challenging myself by trying many things I never did before, such as writing e-mail to experts, writing articles on the blog, writing report, at the same time, I learned how to develop interventions to check question, how to refine my question and intervention strategy to make it sharper and more purposeful.

My previous interventions and research focused on how to reduce the conflict between different generations and find the solution for the question, but I found that communication is a long-term process, this problem cannot be changes in the short-term. From my first intervention(Appendix 1), it resolved a little embarrassment, but it also increased the difficulty of communication, through this failed intervention, I have learned more about my stakeholder and family therapy. I have learned the concept of different communication pattern. I have learned that games are common methods of psychological counseling, such as sand table and tarot cards, which use abstract questions to allow visitors to express their truest thoughts. This knowledge allowed me to successfully find a breakthrough point—power dynamic, contact the experts, and got their valuable opinions, and the game facilitates communication and provides insight into individual and family dynamics. 

Conclusion

This year of research and experiences have shown and taught me that communication is a long-term process, this problem cannot be changed in the short-term. However, finding from my research had made me feel that I am making a small contribution on the development of family dynamic in China. 

In the early stage of the project, I think that a solution must be found for my project, otherwise it will be a failed project, but now my idea is that as long as someone participates in my project, their ideas have changed because of my project, which is a big step for success.

For the intervention, the board game and art-based interactive card provide families the opportunity to communicate, work as a team, learn more about each other, explore thoughts and feelings,  and have a different relational experience of each other. This has the potential to increase  emotional intimacy. This increased emotional intimacy is the support that offers family  members a secure base from which to grow.  Accordingly, how to help family members of different generations to connect and understand each other in the long term further research and more people to engage, consistent documentation, intervention, and testing.

(actually my iterative intervention has not received feedback yet, and it is still in progress. I am still designing the question card and interactive content in the game. I expect to finish my iterative intervention in the next two weeks, if I get the feedback from my intervention, I will write the feedback into the reflection and analysis part)

Bibliography

Bienvenu Sr, M. J. (1969). Measurement of parent-adolescent communication. Family Coordinator.

McLeod, J. M., & Chaffee, S. H. (1972). The construction of social realty. In J. T.Tedeschi (Ed.), The Social Influence Process.

Olson, D. H., & Barnes, H. (2004). Family communication. FACES IV Package.Minneapolis, MN: Life Innovations, Inc

Ariel, S. (2005). Family play therapy. In C.E. Schaefer, J. McCormick, & A. Ohnogi (Eds.), International  handbook of play therapy: Advances in assessment, theory, research, and practice. New York: Jason  Aronson.

Gil, E., & Sobol, B. (2000). Engaging families in therapeutic play. In C.E. Bailey (Ed.), Children in  therapy: Using the family as a resource. New York: W.W. Norton. 

Keith, D.V., & Whitaker, C.A. (1981). Play therapy: A paradigm for work with families. Journal of Marital  and Family Therapy, 7, 243-254.

video：https://www.bilibili.com/video/av42164412?p=1 (question card in the game)

the reality show: https://www.ifsp.tv/play?id=zMx3wfq0RJM (study case)

Appendix 1:https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/24/experiment-wear-mask-to-communicate/

Appendix 2:https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/23/communication-pattern-survey/

Appendix 3: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/23/four-modes-of-family-communication/

Appendix 4: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/25/discuss-with-stakeholder-about-the-impact-of-seating-arrangements-on-communication/

Appendix 5: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/22/intervention-5-game/

Appendix 6: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/10/17/expert-response-and-outline-of-the-game/

Appendix 7: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/10/24/questionnaire-before-playing-the-game/

Appendix 8: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/10/26/complement-previous-conversations-with-experts%ef%bc%9ajunyi-cao/

Appendix 9: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/10/23/reference%ef%bc%9athink-about-the-question-in-the-game/

Appendix 10: http://www.lianalowenstein.com/lWorkshops.html

https://lianalowenstein.com/articleFamilyTherapy.pdf

Junyi Cao is a creative and energetic service designer with the background in product design. She has been exploring the relationship between people and studying how to deal with the relationship between people delicately, so that this relationship is at a balance point.

DISCUSSION POINT

expression art therapy

• The direction of expressive art therapy painting can break through the definition of age, language, cognitive range, especially for people who are not good at talking or are unwilling to communicate. 
• The direction of expressive art therapy painting creates a relatively safe and free atmosphere for people, which will help people reduce their inner defenses.
• Many people can relate the thoughts and emotions expressed to a piece of specific time in the past, present or future. Thinking in different time and space and sometimes even inner conflicting emotions can be expressed in the same painting.

a game with strategies and tactics(A balance board social game)

• It challenges people’s cognition of the ideal interpersonal communication mode in a playful and ironic way, and helps people to reorient into those nuanced social dynamics.  
• When we go back to the home not only the space, but the cultural and power structure.  For example, territorial behaviour like fighting for the best place, even conflict. 
• Through strategy and tactics, you can get to know your family member from a new perspective. It can test the tacit understanding and trust between each other,

A good family relationship is based on the communication between family member, and the process of communication is also a mode of interaction with the family. Many researchers actively exploring communication skills between family, including by family communication surveys prepared (Bienvenu Sr, 1969) Bienvenu, McLeod and Chaffee establishment of Family Communication Pattern Scale(McLeod & Chaffee, 1972). Olson its family function theory has developed two communication-related measurement tools and parent-child, “open communication Scale” and “problem-based communication Scale”(Barnes & Olson, 1985), etc.

After doing some research on above family communication scale(Barnes & Olson, 1985), I have decided to do questionnaire with participant before playing the board game. Because this can create a comparison, you can see how much the game really helps communication

This study uses the Family Communication Scale to evaluate the interaction of members during the game. The content of family communication assessment includes: listening skills; speaking skills; self-disclosure; continuity tracking; respect, plus overall satisfaction with family communication, a total of 15 questions. The calculation method is 1-5 points, 1 is very dissatisfied, 5 is very satisfied. According to the original questions of FCS, this research was revised into a questionnaire suitable for this research. Before playing the game, fill out the questionnaire and calculate the family communication score based on the evaluation criteria.

After completing the questionnaire, a 30-minute game will begin. After the game, there will be a 2-3 minute interview. In order to consider that participants may lie and are unwilling to tell their true feelings, the game and interview process will all be recorded by video so that they can record the most real reaction when they communicate.

QUESTIONNAIRE （before playing game）2-3min

I am satisfied with the current way of communicating with family members 1 2 3 4 5
I think my family members are good listeners 1 2 3 4 5
My family members and I can express each other’s emotions 1 2 3 4 5
My family members and I can discuss each other’s ideas 1 2 3 4 5
My family members and I will truly express our feelings 1 2 3 4 5

My closeness with family members 1 2 3 4 5
The quality of my communication with family members 1 2 3 4 5
Ability of family members to reduce conflict 1 2 3 4 5
Fairness in handling disagreements with family members 1 2 3 4 5
Degree of mutual care with family members 1 2 3 4 5

I hope that my family members will be willing to listen to my thoughts 1 2 3 4 5
I hope my family members will share with me when they have information 1 2 3 4 5
I hope my family members to treat me as a friend 1 2 3 4 5
I hope my family members will be willing to tell their thoughts 1 2 3 4 5
I hope my family members can refer to my suggestions 1 2 3 4 5

interview question（after playing game）2-3min

• What did you learn?
• What was the most surprising thing you learned about someone else?
• Did you lie in the game just now？
• How will you work towards making changes/improvements?

Bibliography

Bienvenu Sr, M. J. (1969). Measurement of parent-adolescent communication. Family Coordinator.

McLeod, J. M., & Chaffee, S. H. (1972). The construction of social realty. In J. T.Tedeschi (Ed.), The Social Influence Process.

Olson, D. H., & Barnes, H. (2004). Family communication. FACES IV Package.Minneapolis, MN: Life Innovations, Inc

REFERENCE ONE:

I did some research on how to set up the question in the game, I used a psychologist’s （GUANZHONG HUANG) research as a reference. His research content is: Emotional Communication-Change of Perception and Self-Awareness. The following questions are examples of his research and the meaning behind the questions. I will extend and adapt from his example to apply to my game

question：

• 1. When people first see you, what impression do they generally have of you?
  Suppose you meet a group of new friends, and after getting along for a while, you hear them talking about you in the bathroom. What impression will they talk about?
• 2. What is your biggest fear in childhood?
  It’s not a specific event, but how the thing you fear feels about you.
  ​For example, you said that my biggest fear in childhood was spiders. Then you have to describe why you are afraid of spiders and what spiders mean to you.
  For example, it means hidden fear, hidden harm.
• 3. What do you think is the greatest strength of your character?
• 4. What are the personality traits that you admire others have, but you don’t have?
• 5. You always get into trouble because of what characteristics of your personality?
• 6. What personality traits do you particularly hate in other people?
  

Problem reveals

• Question 1
  
  • This problem, we call it a mask. You hide your fear by wearing this mask.
  • Some people use positiveness to hide their fear of being isolated

• Question 2

problem represents our fear.

• Question 3
  
  • Because masks cannot hide fear, we need weapons. This is the answer to the third question.
  • How do you deal with your fears now?
  • But weapons will probably be useless, because if they are useful, your fear will disappear.

• Question 4
  
  • This is the real you, the real self.
  • In fictional parlance, it’s called your bright side.
  • It is what kind of person you are if one day your fear disappears.
  • The reason why you envy this advantage in others is because you want to be this kind of person.

• Question 5
  
  • This is your weakness.
  • Why can’t I be my true self, why can’t my fear be defeated by my weapon, because I have weaknesses.

• Question 6
  
  • This is your dark side.
  • When your mask cannot conceal fear, and weapons cannot overcome fear, when your weakness is tested, you will have two paths: overcome your fear and enter the light side; if you do not overcome it, you will enter the dark side.
  • Why do you hate this kind of person, because you might become this kind of person.

reference：

• video：https://www.bilibili.com/video/av42164412?p=1
• note of video: https://mubu.com/doc/28DAqD5lyM

REFERENCE TWO:

Another card game “The Second Half of My Life” （expert mentioned) will also serve as my reference. I will refer to the problems set in this game, adapt it and apply it to my intervention. This is by far the fastest and easiest way to go as soon as possible to complete my intervention.

In the last week I reached the psychologist in the variety show (SEE YOU AGAIN) . I am very happy that I received her reply. She gave me some information on how to design a card psychology game. To help people who need intimacy get to know each other better, she also recommended me a card game for me as a reference.

next step：

think about the outline of the game

think about the question card and interactive card in the game ( The questions in the game will be based on the questions designed by some famous psychologists. For example, American psychologist Arthur Aron did a study. He designed a series of questions to test the degree of improvement in the relationship between each other. Eexperiments have shown that these problems make the participants feel that the intimate relationship between each other has increased.)

feedback:

try to reach more expert, getting more support to my project

my weakness is communication :think about who I know relate to my project, expand my network, communicate with audience

painting portrait/ art-making hire a artist ? It anyone access to hire a artist? have drawing skills? think about these factor

• arts.ac.uk/subjects/fine-art/short-courses/creative-process/health-and-wellbeing-through-art-making-short-course-csm
• arts.ac.uk/students/student-services/counselling-health-advice-and-chaplaincy/counselling

next step:

try to reach more expert to set up some question can be used in the game, and how to solve the power dynamic issues

think about what activity can be used in the game as the interactive part, like painting.

at the same time, design the outline of the game

How to resolve power dynamics in family relationships?

The first step is to recognize that the power dynamic . Recognize how you look in the eyes of others. See if parents or children can see themselves correctly and have a clear understanding of themselves

art therapy painting

• The direction of art therapy painting can break through the definition of age, language, cognitive range, especially for people who are not good at talking or are unwilling to communicate. 
• The direction of art therapy painting creates a relatively safe and free atmosphere for people, which will help people reduce their inner defenses.
• Many people can relate the thoughts and emotions expressed to a piece of specific time in the past, present or future. Thinking in different time and space and sometimes even inner conflicting emotions can be expressed in the same painting.

study case

Inviting a painter to draw portrait, according to the description given to yourself by yourself and the description given to yourself by the other person, see if you can see yourself correctly.

the left one portrait is her friend described , the right one is described by herself

from the portrait we can see that there is a difference between one’s own perception of oneself and others’ perception of oneself. We can know how we look in the eyes of others, whether it is serious or easy-going, and we can further have a clear understanding of ourselves.

I feel like painting portrait can be used as an interactive part in my further game intervention.

some point discuss with Zuleika

try to test stakeholder with online game

power dynamic

family therapy

how to design the game to persuade parents to relinquish power and let them admit problem

reach out some expert to help me

some link Zuleika gave:

goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/power

penguin.co.uk/books/230/23075/power/9780241435083.html

mitpress.mit.edu/books/families-play

in the last few weeks. I just watched the Chinese latest reality show, called “see you again”, its about 3 pairs of divorced couples that come to an 18 day vacation to see if they can save their marriage. There are also 4 hosts and 2 psychologists that form the observation team.

I feel like I learnt a lot from this TV show so far, because these 3 couple decided to divorce because of communication problem. and I will use the TV show as a study case. I think this reality show is a successful intervention, although I still don’t know the final outcome, whether the three couple are really divorced. but when I read the comments, I found that this show has already affected some people.

reflection:

In the TV show, A big factor that disrupts communication is when you want to use your correct value to get another person to follow your correct value. because when you do it , you will not see that person, you just only see the right thing. this is the point to affect communication.

like in my project, parents want to give the best things to their children, so they unconsciously let their children follow their value. they do not have a clear understanding of themselves, and also don’t realize the difference between themselves and their children

based on my previous intervention feedback, the family status and power also is a factor, and playing game can help them forget about the status and power.

next step

I will design a mental game as my intervention, everyone in the game can have an opportunity to express themselves, communicate their emotion, interact and feel the similarities and differences between themselves and others through the game. The result of the game is not important, the important things is the process, they can have a clear understanding of themselves, and at the same time also understand and connect each other.

The purpose of the game

• have a clear understanding of oneself, perceive the similarities and differences between themselves and others
• increase interaction
• overcome the barriers of power and family status