LEGO® SERIOUS® PLAY® for Positive Psychology is an effective group oriented method that also deals with some of the problematic forces that often happen within a group of people.
One of the common challenges when working with groups is the way the group dynamic influence individual behavior, attitudes, and opinions. One group member may not personally agree with something the group does, but nevertheless just go along with the norm and publicly agree with the group and keep the private beliefs to themselves.
This mostly happens because the person is unsure of what to do, or because he/she is afraid of being different and starting a conflict. Years of research show that people tend to go along with the majority view, even if that view is objectively incorrect or even contravenes someone’s beliefs. This phenomenon is what researchers call groupthink and it refers to faulty decision-making in a group.
Groupthink dominates personalities and reduces innovation as it prevents the group from exploring all alternatives. One of the important features in a LEGO® SERIOUS® PLAY® for Positive Psychology process is that it seeks to create an environment in which participants feel safe and comfortable. There is no right or wrong answer in LEGO® SERIOUS® PLAY® for Positive Psychology and individual differences are considered as a gain rather than an obstacle.
Time for reflection
At the same time the participants get room for reflection during the building process without interruption. The result is a response not based on a hasty answer but a deeper reflection represented in a physical and visual outcome – the LEGO® model. This model cannot change during the sharing process which makes LEGO® SERIOUS® PLAY® for Positive Psychology an ideal method to encourage a more open and honest reflection process. It creates a more comfortable and safe environment for people that tend to be introvert and reluctant. This will not only strengthen the individuals, but also the group as a whole, because everybody’s opinion will be heard.