POSTSCRIPT
This is a true story. Captain Alec Holmes was confronted by Mack McKinley, the Second
Senior Officer, who insisted that the captain must not throw people overboard. Mack
claimed that it was murder. Captain Holmes pointed a gun at Mack, his friend, and ordered
him to help throw passengers overboard. Mack refused, but instead of forcing the issue,
Mack chose to go overboard with the rest of the unfortunates chosen by the captain.
Captain Holmes chose the following passengers to be thrown overboard: Dorothy
Newston, Merrick, Audrey Clark, Ruth Spencer, George Killgor, Mrs. Killgor, Mickey
Storks. His decision was based
was chosen to die, was shot by the captain when he tried to tip over the boat. Michael
Ferrone was shot by the captain when he tried to take over the boat and stop the captain
from throwing people overboard. Captain Holmes was wounded with Fe
confrontation. John Haden is accidentally knocked overboard. Captain Holmes wanted to
keep the dog as a food source, but the dog leapt into the sea when its master, Audrey Clark,
was thrown overboard.
The remaining passengers on the boat rode out the storm. Exhausted, but grateful to be
alive, they thanked Captain Holmes profusely for saving their lives. Weakened by the knife
wound, Captain Holmes pronounced himself unfit to remain aboard and jumped into the
sea. He was retrieved by several of the survivors. A rescue ship was spotted on the horizon
coming towards the boat. The passengers changed their tune and no longer supported the
found guilty of murder but given a six-month sentence due to the extraordinary
circumstances.
A. Show the movie about the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Aside from
Irish accent, this is a powerful and well
acted drama well worth the class time. I edited this lengthy movie somewhat to
about a 100 minute length.
B. Correct the quiz, explaining the reasons for each answer, applying material found in
Chapter 7 and 8 of IN MIXED COMPANY.
THIRTEEN DAYS QUIZ
ANSWERS:
M/C
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed
with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
1. b
2. d
3. c
4. a, b, c, d
5. a
6. b
7. a, b, c
8. a, c, d
9. a
10. a, b, c, d
11.c, d
12. a, c
13. b, c, d
T/F
VARIATION: Let groups take the quiz as an open-book test. They teach themselves the
main concepts.
CHAPTER NINE
Power in Groups: A Central Dynamic
I. Show excerpt of the film on Milgram studies, Obedience to Authority
A. Since the Milgram studies are explained in some detail in the text , the
first half of the movie is repetitious. Show the final 15-20 minutes.
B. Discuss the implications of the Milgram studies (see text).
C. This film can be obtained from most psychology departments at colleges
and universities.
II. Show an amazing video entitled: Derren Brown – The Heist. Type the title into the
Google search window and the video can be accessed. It is really quite captivating. It
shows the Milgram experiment redone in Britain in 2005 (about 20 minutes into the
video), and then plays out as a bank heist induced by Derren Brown. Simply
fascinating!
III. Yet another version of the Milgram studies was videotaped for ABC Primetime in 2007.
The title is An interesting
Amazon.com.
IV. Finally, the first segment of a video entitled
gives
on obedience with a quick synopsis of
http://the-human-
behavior-experiments.blogspot.com/2007/10/human-behaviour-experiments.html
V. Show excerpt of movie, Cool Hand Luke
A. Show clip about halfway into the movie. The prison gang is working in
the hot sun repaving a country road. Luke (Paul Newman) begins
making a game out of tarring a country road. He races down the road
shoveling sand as fast as he can. Soon other prisoners follow his lead. They
end up completing what was to be a day long, onerous task a couple of
hours sooner than expected. Laughing, they sit down and rest enjoying
their sabotage of the guards authority.
B. This clip shows clearly that even in a repressive prison run by sadistic
guards and a ruthless warden, power is not inherent. Luke does what he
is told to do but he does it as fun, not punishment. Thus, he is in control,
not the guards or the warden. The guards ordered the road gang to
complete the job speedily. Luke says,
defining the situation as a contest
and challenge, not a punishment. No one is completely powerless, even
in a repressive prison.
VI. “The Language of Expertise” exercise (by Debbie Analauren)
A. Purposes:
1. To show the power of information and expertise.
2. To involve students who tend to be quiet because English is their
second language.
B. Time required: 30 minutes
C. Instructions:
1. Have all students write down one or two sentences concerning their
family which they are willing to share with the class (i.e., “I grew up
in North Carolina, the youngest of three children. My brother is the
oldest and my sister is the middle child.”)
2. Form small groups. Try to arrange groups so that every group has at
least one native speaker of a language other than English (i.e.,
Spanish, Japanese, etc.). If this is not possible, then native speakers
of a language other than English can be used as a resource with
more than one group.
3. Task: every student must learn his or her sentence/s in both English
and another language. The grammar and pronunciation must be
correct. Native speakers of a language other than English can assist
group members who speak only English and native English speakers
can assist group members whose first language is not English if
needed.
4. Each group member will be asked to read his or her sentence/s to the
class in two languages after about 15 minutes. GOAL: The entire
class successfully masters sentences in two languages.
D. Processing the exercise:
1. Students who speak English as a second language become experts
for the native English speakers. Expertise creates status and power.
Discuss the implications with students.
2. Shy students often become the center of attention in their role as
experts. This can be empowering.
3. Native English speakers learn empathy for those students who speak
English as a second language.
4. This exercise teaches cooperative interdependence.
VII. “The Power Carnival” exercise
A. Purposes:
1. To provide practical applications of cooperative group decision
making in a power context.
2. To demonstrate how power resources can be utilized to balance
power.
3. To show how power is transacted and the implications of such
transactions.
B. Time required: Two 50-minute class periods to run the full exercise plus
a third 50-minute period to process the exercise. Two 75-minute class
periods or one 3-hour class period also work well.
NOTE: This is potentially the best exercise of the term. The Power Carnival was
devised by a synergistic effort of myself and Rod Stanton and Char Morrison. It
has been classroom tested in over 60 sections of Small Group Communication by
five different instructors. All instructors have been extremely pleased with the
results. Students are very enthusiastic about the experience and its practicality.
THE POWER CARNIVAL
GOAL: 2,000 total points (To provide real motivation for this exercise, give 10 Extra
Credit term points for any team reaching 2,000 points. Extra credit is easily justified
since in order to reach such a high number of points, teams will have to apply text
material on cooperation). All groups can reach 2,000 points if they use their heads and
make wise decisions. No group is penalized because the points are extra credit, not part
of the regular class points.
NOTE: Potential game points to be earned increase with each phase of
the exercise. Keep a running point total on the chalkboard for
each team as the exercise progresses.
Phase #1: Spin and Play
A. Determine point totals for each team by spinning the Wheel of Fortune
(drawing cards from a face-down stack will also work but isn’t as visually
exciting and dramatic). A Wheel of Fortune can be made out of an old
bicycle tire mounted on a frame which is nailed to a board. Point values
B. The most “powerful” team (the one with the most points) designates
which less powerful team must perform the HUMILIATION ROUND.
1. Group chosen plays “The Star Spangled Banner” on Kazoos in front
of the class.
2. Every group member who refuses to perform the humiliation or does
a half-hearted job of it in the judgment of the facilitator penalizes
his/her group 25 points apiece.
C. The most powerful team also chooses one of following (put these
choices on the board or have a
1 minute to decide):
1. Seize 50 points from any other team and add to its own
team total.
2. Spin the Wheel of Fortune for points (DOUBLE THE POINTS).
3. Do nothing; continue the exercise
4. Distribute any positive points gained from #1 or #2 above in any way
group sees fit
Phase #2: Trivial Pursuit
A. Hand out a sheet with 5 questions (see “Materials Needed” at end
of the exercise).
E. Most powerful team chooses one of following (1 minute to decide):
1. Seize 100 points from any other team and add to its own team total.
2. Spin the Wheel of Fortune for points (TRIPLE THE POINTS ON
WHEEL).
3. Do nothing; continue the exercise.
4. Distribute positive points gained in #1 or #2 any way group chooses.
Phase #3: Blind Draw (5 Rounds)
A. Shuffle the 7 blind draw cards and place in a stack on a table. Do not
indicate point values of cards. Simply indicate that each of these cards
has a point value (positive or negative).
B. The 7 cards will have the following point values: -25, -50, -100, 50, 75
100, 250.
C. Most powerful team will do one of the following (1 minute to decide):
1. Have team member draw one of the cards, earning points (+ or -) for
the powerful team.
2. Designate another team to draw the card, thus giving the points
(+ or -) to that team.
F. Most powerful team will choose one of the following (1 minute to
decide):
1. Seize 150 points from any other team and add to its own total.
2. Spin the Wheel of Fortune for points (QUADRUPLE THE POINT
VALUES).
3. Do nothing; continue the exercise.
4. Distribute positive points from #1 or #2 in any fashion designated.
Phase #4: Talent Show
A. This is a lip-sync talent show. All groups will lip-sync “The Lion Sleeps
Tonight” (or “Monster Mash,” “Heard It Through the Grapevine,” or
another choice) in front of the class.
B. Teams will draw for order of presentation (or volunteer).
C. Each team must choose a lead singer. The rest of the team will act as
backup singers and soprano. Props will be provided (simulated
microphones).
D. Hand out lyrics. Play the song through once. Provide 15 minutes for
groups to practice. If the class is 50-minutes long, explain lip-sync, then
hold the lip-sync the next class. (Groups will oftentimes do elaborate
routines and construct amazing props for this stage of the exercise when
they have time.)
E. Performances will be judged by facilitator (or neutral party):
1. 1st Place= 500 points
2. 2nd Place= 400 points
3. 3rd Place= 300 points
4. 4th Place= 200 points
5. Every team member who refuses to participate or is lackluster in
performance penalizes his/her group 25 points apiece.
F. HUMILIATION ROUND:
1. Team with the lowest total points must suffer the humiliation.
2. Team members must wear
will then be linked together by a rubber band.
3. Nylons will be worn throughout the 5th phase.
4. Penalize group 25 points for every group member who refuses.
G. Most powerful team must choose one of the following (1 minute to decide):
1. Seize 200 points from any other team and add to own total.
2. Spin the Wheel of Fortune for points (QUINTUPLE POINT
VALUES).
3. Do nothing; continue the exercise.
4. Distribute positive points any way the team chooses.
Phase #5: The Egg Drop
A. Goal: Drop protected egg from the second story of a building and have it
land on hard ground unscathed.
B. Each group will choose a single uncooked egg.
C. The following resources will be displayed: 2 file folders, 1 set of 3″ by 5″
index cards (4 in the set), 2 sets of flex straws (5 in one set and 6 in the
other), 1 set of loose paper (3 sheets), a bag of rubber bands (6-12),
small box of paper clips (about 10 clips), 2 lengths of string (each about a
meter in length), 1 piece of cardboard (about 8″ x 11″), 2 rolls of scotch
tape with dispensers. NO OTHER RESOURCES MAY BE USED.
D. Auction the resources one at a time after groups have discussed their
strategy for 5 minutes. Each group is given 30 points for bidding (not
related to the total points in the game). Once the points have been
bid or the resources are gone the auction is over.
E. Weigh each egg chosen by the groups, and record.
F. Groups have 15 minutes to prepare their eggs for the drop.
G. Weigh the final product (egg and protection).
H. Proceed to the drop point and drop the eggs, one group at a time.
I. POINTS:
1. Degree of Success:
2. Weight: (subtract weight of each
a letter scale available from a stationery store)
Phase #6: The Auction
A. There will be 10 rounds to this phase.
B. In each round, teams will make a bid for 1 of the 10 cards shuffled and
placed in a stack face down.
VARIATIONS:
A. Make phase #5 a negotiation “power card” round.
1. The most powerful group must choose ONE of four cards placed
face down on the table. Only the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 will appear
on top of the cards.
4. Three envelopes will be distributed at random, one envelope to
each of the teams that is not the most powerful. The first
envelope will contain a slip of paper which reads: “Card #1 is
these designations with the “Bonus” card as card #3.
5. Tell the teams that information contained in each of the envelopes
relates to the cards.
6. The most powerful team will have 10 minutes to negotiate
with any and/or all teams for information that would help
them choose which card to pick. Collect all 3 envelopes from
the teams prior to negotiations (Most powerful team must
trust the word of each team regarding what information is in
agreement).
7. All negotiated transactions between the most powerful group
and any of the other 3 teams must be in writing.
8. The most powerful team will now choose 1 of the 4 envelopes
on the table.
NOTE: Teams could all pool their information and devise an equitable
distribution of the Bonus, thereby all becoming “winners.” If the most powerful group
chooses to pick a card without negotiating, they may do so, but impress upon them how
bad the odds are if they do that and that they are inviting potential disaster for
themselves.
B. Reward defiant group with bonus points if the entire group refuses to
obey the authority and perform the humiliation.
C. Conduct only some of the phases of “The Power Carnival” but not all. The goal if
only the first three phases are conducted would be 500 points in order to earn the
extra credit. The goal for phases one through four would be 750 points and for
MATERIALS NEEDED FOR EXERCISE
1. Trivia questions.
2. Wheel of Fortune (or substitute a set of cards with designated points on each
card).
3. Kazoos for “The Star Spangled Banner”; container of alcohol and cotton
TRIVIA QUESTIONS
1. Allen Ginsberg is noted as
a. an unsuccessful Supreme Court nominee who admitted smoking
marijuana
b. an American poet who wrote “Howl”
c. a mystery writer of some renown in Great Britain
d. a German Jew who has brought World War II Nazis to justice
2. “I think, therefore I am” was a famous statement made by
a. Descartes
b. Aristotle
c. Ayn Rand
d. Sartre
3. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution is commonly considered to be
a. the official declaration of hostilities by the United Nations that began
the Korean War
b. the beginning of a series of wars between Israel and the Arab world
c. the “official” beginning of the Vietnam War for the United States
d. a resolution passed by Congress authorizing the 1991 Gulf War
4. He threw more touchdown passes in a single Super Bowl than any other
NFL quarterback
a. Dan Marino
b. Joe Montana
c. Terry Bradshaw
d. Steve Young
5. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds” is a famous
statement made by
a. Oscar Wilde
b. George Bernard Shaw
c. Ralph Waldo Emerson
d. H. L. Mencken
VARIATION:
1. The Battle of Hastings was fought in
a. 1917
b. 1607
c. 1066
d. 1860
2. The youngest President of the U. S. when he took office was
a. John Kennedy
b. Teddy Roosevelt
c. Bill Clinton
d. Thomas Jefferson
THE POWER CARNIVAL
Instructor Reminder List
Potential game points increase with each
phase.
Phase #1: The Big Spin
A. Spin the Wheel
B. HUMILIATION ROUND (Most powerful team designates): Kazoos
C. Most powerful team choose 1 (1 minute):
1. Seize 50 points
2. Spin (DOUBLE PTS.)
3. Stand pat
4. Distribute positive points from #1 and #2 any way chosen (indicate in
advance) e.g., “Are you going to keep all the points or share with
other teams?”
Phase #2: Trivial Pursuit
A. Distribute Quiz
1. Right Answer: +100 pts.
2. Wrong Answer: -100 pts.
3. No Answer: -50 pts.
B. HUMILIATION RD. : Bunny Hop
C. Most powerful team chooses 1:
1. Seize 100 points
2. Spin (TRIPLE POINT VALUES)
3. Stand Pat
4. Distribute positive points from #1 and #2 any way chosen
(indicate in advance).
Phase #3: Blind Draw (5 rounds)
A. Stack the 7 cards face-down in a pile
B. Most powerful team:
1. Has member draw for it (keep points)
2. Designate another team to draw (that team keeps points)
C. 5 DRAWS (shuffle all 7 cards each time)
D. HUMILIATION ROUND: Barnyard Animals
E. Most powerful team chooses 1 (1minute):
1. Seize 150 points
2. Spin (QUADRUPLE POINT VALUES)
3. Stand pat
4. Distribute positive points from #1 and #2 any way chosen (indicate in
advance)
Phase #4: Talent Show
A. Lip-sync “Lion Sleeps Tonight”
B. 15-minute preparation for all teams (play the song 2 times)
C. Draw order of presentation
D. Point values:
1st Place: 500 points
2nd Place: 400 points
3rd Place: 300 points
4th Place: 200 points
E. HUMILIATION ROUND: NYLONS ON HEADS
F. Most powerful team chooses 1 (1 minute):
1. Seize 200 points
2. Spin (QUINTUPLE point values)
3. Stand pat
4. Distribute positive points from #1 and #2 any way chosen (indicate in
advance)
Phase #5: Egg Drop
B. Weigh and record each egg selected by groups
C. 15 minutes to protect egg
D. Weigh protected egg and record (subtract weight of egg later)
E. Each group drops egg off a second story onto asphalt (unimpeded)
F. POINTS
1. Degree of Success:
2. Weight:
Phase #6: Auction
A. 10 rounds.
B. High bid wins; subtract points bid from points won
C. Between Round 5 and 6, offer same 4 choices as before (Seize
points, etc.
PROCESSING “THE POWER CARNIVAL”
Phase #1: Spin and Play
A. Spin the Wheel
1. Power is often the luck of the spin (born into wealth, position, etc.).
2. Those in power don’t necessarily earn it nor deserve the power.
3. Those with little power don’t necessarily deserve such a fate.
B. Humiliation Rounds
1. Ask participants how they felt about the humiliations.
2. The humiliation of relative powerlessness, someone else controlling
your life, is suggested by this part of exercise.
3. Three basic choices available:
a. Refuse to be humiliated (defiance). Why didn’t you defy?
this diminishes the power of the humiliators.
c. Conform to group pressure to acquiesce in the humiliation,
especially if the legitimate authority (facilitator) threatens loss of
points for defiance.
4. Draw parallels to Milgram studies. If you feel humiliated, why obey
legitimate authority? Where’s your beltline? Relate to real life
choices (women told to wear skimpy and degrading outfits for their
employment, etc.).
C. Four choices for most powerful group
1. Seize points from another group
b. Similar to taking credit for someone else’s work to gain a
fosters retribution.
2. Spin the Wheel
b. Similar to parents betting their life savings on the stock market
or a small business scheme. It may pay off or it may end in a big
loss for family.
3. Do nothing
a. Cautious, play it safe choice
b. Growth (personal or otherwise) rarely comes from playing it safe.