ESCALATE / DESCALATE

This game is a tool to help children and adults learn that they have a choice as to how they react to certain situations.  That is, a situation can be escalated, or the reverse – “descalated”.

The game is a support tool, so it should be used under adult supervision. 

The main learning objectives are

·         You may choose the way you respond to situations

·         People get a pay-off from uncontrolled behaviour but also aquire guilt and anger

Players make decisions to manage their response to various situations – to either escalate aggression or descalate (or calm) the situation. 

There are three different colours of cards, representing different types of behaviour.  Red cards represent uncontrolled aggressive behaviour,  yellow is firm but controlled behaviour while green is a friendly response to a situation.

There are seven levels of escalation.  Number one is the lowest level of escalation, while number seven is the highest. 

Cards are shuffled, the dealer deals 5 cards to each player.  The next player picks up a card and puts it in her hand.  She can then play any card in her hand against any other player.

The opponent can respond to a card play by playing one number up or one number down in any colour.  If the player played a 5, for example, the opponent could play a 4, 5, or 6 in any colour.

Players may rebuff an opponent’s card by escalating or descalating the situation.   Once the opponent has played a response, the player can respond again playing one number up or one number down and so-on.

The winner of the round is determined by the card with the highest self esteem.  Players can choose to keep track of self esteem, guilt and anger.  Each player keeps track of total self esteem, guilt and anger.

The game finishes when there are no cards left in the pack.

Each player counts up their total self esteem and subtracts both guilt and anger points.  The winner is the one with the most self esteem at the end of the game.

Players pick up a card on each turn – sorry I haven’t finished testing game play yet.  Try it for yourself and see what you can do.