SENSORY ACUITY: MAKING SENSE OF IT

Goal To increase awareness of subtle physical cues through heightened sensory acuity.

Participants will make observations of bodily reactions based on true or false responses to questions.

Time Required Approximately 20 to 30 minutes

Group Size Any number of pairs

Materials

• One copy of the Making Sense of It Instruction Sheet for each pair of participants

PROCESS

1. Introduce the session by stating that sensory acuity can increase awareness of the subtle nuances in physical reactions that occur as we interact with others.

2. Instruct the participants to form pairs. Ask the pairs to introduce themselves and provide some basic personal information—for example, where they were born, marital status, children, pets, and so forth.

3. Distribute one copy of the instruction sheet to one member of each pair and ask them to read the instructions to Part A.

4. Tell the pairs to begin. Allow approximately 5 minutes for the partners to complete Part A of the instructions.

5. Ask the partner with the instruction sheet to read Part B and then have the pairs begin the task.

6. Allow approximately 5 minutes for the partners to complete Part B and then ask them to stop.

7. Facilitate a discussion with the large group by asking the following questions:

• For questioners, what were some of the physical changes you observed in your partner when he or she was not completely truthful?

• How well did the questioner do in predicting the accuracy of the responses in Part B? Why?

• Why is it necessary to look for patterns of behavior when using your observational skills? (If you use isolated incidents or reactions, you can misjudge actions or people.)

• How can awareness of the external body language of others help in our interactions with customers? (Empathize when others are upset, probe for more information if you feel there is more information needed, handle anger.)

MAKING SENSE OF IT INSTRUCTION SHEET

You will be asking your partner a series of questions. Your task is to watch the changes in facial expression, body posture, and breathing as your partner answers your questions.

Notice and remember all the unconscious visible responses to the YES questions and compare them to those for the NO questions. Be aware of the differences in breathing, skin color, and lower lip, and any minute muscle movements of the face.

Part A

1. Tell your partner that you will be asking a series of questions and that he or she is to honestly answer yes or no.

2. Referring to the introductory personal information you received from your partner, ask three questions you know will be answered yes. (For example, if your partner stated that he owned a dog, you ask if he had a pet.) Then ask three questions you know will be answered no. (For example, if your partner stated that she was married, you ask if she is single.)

3. Continue to alternate YES and NO questions until you feel confident that you recognize the difference in your partner’s responses.

Part B

1. Tell your partner that you will be asking a series of YES or NO questions again and that he or she can choose to answer truthfully or not.

2. Ask a series of obscure questions to which you do not know the answers. For example,

• Did you wear your hair long when you were a teenager?

• Is your mother older than your father?

• Did you ever own a motorcycle?

• Would you like to visit Egypt?

After each question, try to guess whether the answer is true or not by using your “extra” sensory perception. Check the accuracy of your prediction with your partner.