Reflection of Lego Serious Play

I found David Gauntlett's research project on "creative explorations" very interesting and relevant to my interest in mental health. Visual techniques such as drawing and painting are already used in psychologists' offices to help people uncover and express their emotions. This is especially the case in offices that work with children.

Gauntlett explains that it can be difficult for people to synthesize their knowledge, thoughts, and feelings when put on the spot. In the traditional interview setting, people are often asked a question that they have to respond to immediately. Due to social norms, people can be uncomfortable asking for "time to think." This exercise solves this problem because thinking time is built in.

Participants can also use their products to cue themselves as they tell their stories. I think that this could be very useful for people who have difficulty speaking to unfamiliar people, such as those with Social Anxiety Disorder. It is very difficult to interview this segment of the population because their inherent fear of people makes them 1) unlikely to volunteer to be interviewed, 2) so charged with anxiety and other negative emotions that they often have difficulty communicating even when they want to.

I plan to explore Art Lab further and will also look into getting a copy of Gauntlett's book, "Creative Play."