People-Watching

Intention:

From the first impression, we make judgments and react emotionally to what we notice in other people. These inner experiences lead to behaviors that can ease or hinder the development of healthy relationships. This exercise aims to draw attention to the thoughts and emotions that we experience about and towards people we do not know.

It is recommended that people examine their internal experiences and explore their determinants. Our thoughts and emotions towards strangers are often related to earlier experiences with others who have something in common with them. Being aware of this phenomenon allows us to truly meet and get to know people as individuals, without too much interference from outside sources.

This exercise is also recommended for when we want to expose ourselves more to a certain group of people to get to know their characteristics and typical behaviors. For example, the person who does not have much experience talking with men or women can do this exercise to deliberately observe strangers in their natural surroundings, and thus notice the reactions and internal processes generated by the observation.

Instruction:

Go to a public place (park, beach, market, shopping center) where you can observe people without attracting attention. Select the individuals to be observed, one at a time, and for each of them record your responses to the questions on the following pages.

Inspection:

·       How did you feel watching people you didn't know were being watched?

·       How did you select the people you chose to observe?

·       How easy or difficult was it to identify your thoughts and biases?

·       How easy or difficult was it to identify your feelings and emotional reactions?

·       What thoughts and emotions might those who noticed that you were observing them experienced?

PEOPLE-WATCHING

Person #

Basic characteristics (apparent gender, age, and ethnic origin, physical description, etc.)

What prompted you to select this person to observe?

What thoughts (associations, ideas, interpretations, questions, biases) did you think of while observing this person?

What emotions (feelings, reactions, desires, urges) did you feel when observing this person?