"If everything else were equal then there is some truth to what you say, because one of the big findings in personality research on politics … What’s different about the personalities of people on the left and the right is that people who have one of the big five traits, the five main personality traits, one of them is openness to experience. Kids who are born … It is partly heritable. People who are born and raised … When they’re kids they just like trying different things, they like exploring different things, they’re more open to new foods and experiences, it’s a fairly stable personality trait. Such people tend to be more attracted to progressive or left-wing causes. People who like order, predictability, stability, routine, they do tend to be attracted more to conservative parties, and that’s true around the world."

During this activity, participants, define empathy, consider how perspectives toward empathy changed, examine the difference between empathy and tribalism, and learn what the "dark side of empathy" means. 

This activity focuses on teaching participants how to develop self-care guides that are inclusive of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. 

Intercultural learning experts agree that developing empathy for those who are different from us is a key component of intercultural competence. However, are there ever cases where extending empathy would be inappropriate or detrimental? This activity asks participants to consider two sides of one coin: 1. Times when they have extended empathy and connected with people who were different from them; and 2. Moments when they have chosen to not extend empathy. 

Intercultural learning experts agree that developing empathy for those who are different from us is a key component of intercultural competence. However, are there ever cases where extending empathy would be inappropriate or detrimental? This activity asks participants to consider two sides of one coin: 1. Times when they have extended empathy and connected with people who were different from them; and 2. Moments when they have chosen to not extend empathy. 

Things to think about as you are creating your original or adapted tool

The Parable is a well-known activity that teaches participants about their cultural values. In the Downloads section of the tool, CILMAR has added two new versions of the parable—“A Modern Parable” and “A Lab Parable."

This discussion starter challenges participants to reflect upon how we (often unknowingly) put new people into categories. These categories can determine how we form relationships. 

The One-Minute Paper helps participants to give quick feedback to a facilitator and demonstrate their understanding of a lesson.

This activity is designed for students who are preparing to study abroad. Students may receive an overwhelming amount of advice before they go abroad, so this activity is meant to help them prioritize and determine what is most important to them. This activity may also help them rethink their priorities or their perceptions of what it means to study abroad, as they may encounter information that had not occurred to them before.

This assortment of buttons depicting a variety of images and slogans are perfect for getting a group interacting. They make for great icebreaking conversations at the start of a program, for exploring roles and perspectives during a group experience, or as a unique processing tool.

This collection of unique postcard images are an impactful tool for vision setting, helping participants resolve conflict or establish group norms, or as a dialogue prompt in restorative justice circles. Postcards inspire creative writing and can be used as journaling prompts for self-reflection. The Pick-a- Postcard Kit is a compelling and engaging tool for practicing the use of metaphor and figurative language.

People often find it easier to express themselves through a picture or symbol rather than through verbal means. Because participants can talk about the object or image rather than about themselves directly, they sometimes express thoughts that would otherwise be left unsaid. The thoughts, ideas and connections inspired by the imagery lead to broader and deeper reflection sessions than when using dialogue alone.

Jen Stanchfield of Experiential tools created this teaching, group facilitation and reflection tool in 2002 after a facilitator in one of her conference workshops shared that they were looking for a “pocket sized” de-briefing or reflection tool that would be easy to carry into the field. The set includes 30 high-quality figural charms in a sturdy decorative tin, with carrying bag, plus suggestions for use.

This conversation was facilitated at the WISE 2020 conference.

We have been socialized to avoid using always and never when describing others' behavior, but Thiagi challenges us to break the rules and do just that.

This reflective activity will ask participants to imagine another point of view and reflect on empathy. 

This activity is based on Jamil Zaki’s concept of the empathy gym, which he discusses on the podcasts Hidden Brain and Clear + Vivid. In those episodes, Zaki describes how he developed empathic skills as a child of divorced parents with two very different sets of values and priorities. He also discusses the positive and negative aspects of empathy in addition to providing some techniques that anyone could use to increase their level of empathy. This activity adapts one of those techniques, which he calls “Disagree Better,” and provides participants with tools for better understanding and empathizing with individuals who they may disagree with.

This activity focuses on teaching participants how to develop self-care guides that are inclusive of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. 

Using Purdue University President Mitch Daniel's 2018 commencement speech and NPR's "Should We Have Empathy for Those We Hate," this activity explains tribalism and empathy.

This discussion starter challenges participants to reflect upon how we (often unknowingly) put new people into categories. These categories can determine how we form relationships. 

Participants in this activity will describe the cultural and emotional meaning of a song with a person of another culture. 

During this activity, participants, define empathy, consider how perspectives toward empathy changed, examine the difference between empathy and tribalism, and learn what the "dark side of empathy" means. 

Rejection sensitivity, a term that originates in the field of psychology, is when a person expects and reacts intensely to rejection because of past traumatic experiences. This activity aims to examine rejection sensitivity that stems from past experiences related to identity (for example, discrimination based on gender, race, sexuality, etc.). Participants will be asked to think about their own identities and how they might experience or contribute to sensitivity to rejection, for themselves and/or others.