The ACCA Critical Dialogues session offered participants a unique opportunity to explore themes of trust, judgment, and group dynamics through the interactive game Werewolf. This activity, often used in workshops and team-building exercises, served as a springboard for reflection on how individuals make decisions, assess risk, and build alliances in uncertain situations.
Participants engaged in multiple rounds of the game, each with slight variations in rules to challenge their strategies and perceptions. The roles within the game, such as villagers, werewolves, and other characters, created a dynamic environment where collaboration, suspicion, and deduction were key.
Key Themes Explored
The session emphasized how personal biases and relationships influence decision-making. Whether players were choosing whom to trust or whom to accuse, their choices often reflected pre-existing connections or assumptions, rather than objective reasoning. This highlighted the complexity of navigating group dynamics, especially in scenarios with incomplete information.
The reflections following each game provided valuable insights into how participants evaluated one another’s actions and motives. Discussions revealed the tendency to rely on intuition and familiarity, even in situations where logic and strategy might have been more effective.
Lessons Learned
By altering the rules and conditions of each game, the activity demonstrated the importance of clear structures and defined goals in collaborative decision-making. The absence of a clear “enemy” in one round sparked interesting conversations about the necessity of clarity and purpose in group settings. Meanwhile, the inclusion of hidden roles, like the werewolves, added layers of strategy and unpredictability, mirroring real-life scenarios where not all factors are visible.
Takeaways
The Werewolf activity proved to be more than just a game—it became a lens through which participants could examine their own behaviors and assumptions. It underscored the value of critical thinking, adaptability, and effective communication in navigating complex group interactions.
This session reaffirmed the importance of creating safe and engaging spaces for dialogue, where individuals can reflect on their decisions and learn from one another. By blending fun with thought-provoking exercises, the ACCA Critical Dialogues continue to inspire meaningful conversations and foster deeper connections among participants.