Group-dynamic games are experiential education exercises which help people to learn about themselves, interpersonal relationships, and how groups function from a group dynamics or social psychological point of view.

Group dynamics can be understood as complex from an interpersonal relationships point of view because it involves:

• relationships between two people
• relationships between a person and a group
• relationships between groups

Group-dynamic games are usually designed for the specific purpose of furthering personal development, character building, and teamwork via a Group-dynamic milieu. The group leader may sometimes also be the game leader, or between peers, the leadership and game-rules can change.

Some games require large spaces, special objects and tools, quietness or many before-game and after-game needs. When aged, frail or disabled people ("special needs") are involved, existing games may need modification to be used.

The use of group dynamic activities has a history of application in conflict resolution, anger management and team building and many other areas such as drug rehabilitation and drama therapy.

Types of group-dynamic games

• Dancing (some types)
• Dramaturgy (sociology)
• Group problem solving activities (or initiative tasks)
• Ice-breaker games
• Large group games
• Leadership-games
• Psycho-drama
• Role-playing games
• Team building games
• Trust-building games
• Win-win games (= 'cooperative games', 'new games')

Tips for running group-dynamic games

• Get a book or go a website on this subject written by a professional.
• Make sure you have basic knowledge on leadership, teamwork, group dynamics and psychology. Some specific knowledge of specialist areas such as neuro-linguistic programming and transactional analysis is useful, but not necessary.
• The more intense work you want to do, the more background knowledge and experience you as (one of) the group facilitator(s) should have
• Know your limits
• Create a comfortable physical space and a relaxed atmosphere
• Participants should wear comfortable clothing
• Ensure a minimum of disturbances during sessions (no visitors during sessions etc)
• Treat the event holistically: care for body, mind and spirit
• Be aware that we learn best (experience things most intensely) when seeing, hearing and touching is involved at the same time (audio, visual, kinesthetic aspects)
• Start with ice-breaker games
• Then introduce trust-building games
• Then tackle group problem solving activities (or initiative tasks)
• Use an experiential learning model (e.g., do-review-plan), which includes debriefing and feedback
• Use time-outs to clarify problems
• Enjoy and have fun, but understand the serious sides of the exercises as well

There are many books and websites which help explain how to set up groups (fun groups or self-help groups) and which tell you which games are safe to play without a professional (psychologist, etc) being at hand.

See also

• Alternative education
• Training

External sources

• Index to Group Activities, Games, Exercises, Initiatives
• David Farmer's Drama Games Description of group drama games and activities
• So You Wanna Be a Playa: Cooperative Games for Social Change - A free booklet of activities for teambuilding, problemsolving, and more.

Games