12Spotting the Games People Play

As you connect with someone in conversation your trust in each other gradually develops as the conversation proceeds. However, sometimes people act as if they are connecting when they are only pretending, and with this false connection they play all manner of games.

If someone is playing a game with you, you might feel uncomfortable and then attribute the reason to your own failings in conversation. So it's good to be able to recognize when someone is playing a game and have counter-moves ready.

12.1    The Status Game

Keith Johnstone includes a chapter on status in Impro, his book on improvisation for actors. In observing people he noticed how status plays a major part in human conversation and he describes how ...

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