Two Truths and a Lie – with a Twist! (VJI-M6-01-EN)

• To understand how our judgments are not always accurate
• To learn how inaccurate judgments can lead to ineffective communication and conflict

• Students
• Adolescent youth
• Educators, trainers, councillors, youth workers
• Any citizen

“For this new twist on a classic activity, start by breaking large groups into small discussion teams of four or five participants. Tell the teams that, one by one,

team members should tell the others on their team two truths and one lie about themselves. As each person is talking, the role of other team members is to listen. After the team has heard everyone’s “facts,” start with the first person and have team members guess what information was a lie and why they chose that item as the untruth. After everyone has had a chance to guess, ask teams to answer the discussion questions.

Tips

The why part of the guessing is the new twist and what makes this classic activity perfect for a discussion on how we form judgments and how we base our interactions and actions on these judgments, whether they are accurate or not. These judgments become the filters through which we listen. Prejudging stands in the way of effective listening, which is a necessary skill for conflict resolution.

Discussion questions

1. What were your guesses based on?
2. Were any of your guesses based on preexisting judgments?
3. Does this ever happen when you are interacting with someone else?
4. Why does this happen? What can we do about it?
5. In what ways does this affect our communication?
6. How does this impact our ability to resolve conflict?”

Quoted from Scannell (2010)

The handout in the appendix.

• Reflection on own judgments and biases
• Reflection on effects of inaccurate judgments
• Discussion

None.

Scannell, M. (2010). The Big Book of Conflict Resolution Games: Quick, Effective activities to improve communication, trust and collaboration. McGraw Hill Professional. https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2070/2016/08/The-big-book-of-Conflict-Resolution-Games.pdf

VJI