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Simulations of Physical Ailments
Sue L. Basdikis
Salem High School, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Purpose:
- The purpose of this exercise is to allow students to experience the frustrations of people who must deal with the physical disabilities that may accompany the aging process. The demonstration is a very humorous one that also provides ample opportunity for reflection on how they would react if presented with similar challenges. Many students report an insight in relation to the elderly population that they may interact with at home, the community, or the work situation.
Materials:
- First aid tape (I prefer at least 1 inch width), a student's purse with a checkbook.
Instructions:
- Choose a male and a female volunteer to be your subjects. Choose students who are wearing lace-up shoes, shirts with buttons (that can modestly be removed), jewelry, a female who carries and uses a purse, a male with a wallet in his pocket. Ask them to be seated in chairs in front of the class so that everyone can see them.
- Use the medical tape to securely tape their fingers and thumbs so that the fingers and thumb are drawn tightly together and overlap each other. The student should be left with limited mobility in their digits.
- Ask both students to perform tasks. We also like to generate some tasks from the class. This task-doing can be brief or extended depending on your time frame. It is usually an interesting experience and quite frustrating for the subjects. Suggested tasks include:
- Untie, remove and put shoes back on your feet.
- Unbutton, remove and put a shirt back on.
- Remove jewelry and put it back on (especially a watch).
- With the help of another student volunteer, simulate a shopping trip where the students must write a check, and/or use paper money and coins to purchase items. If using coins, have the "clerk" place them on a table so the subject must try to pick them up.
- Try some personal grooming tasks such as brushing hair or applying make-up.
Discussion:
- The discussion that follows is very enlightening for the observers as well as the subjects. A new insight into the clothing selected by the aging population always emerges (slip-on shoes vs. lace-ups). The frustration witnessed and experienced leads to discussion of crankiness or exasperation that may be exhibited by the elders. We also explore the reluctance of the aging population to explore new activities perhaps due to a fear of embarrassment or incompetence.
- I believe the most lasting result is the realization by my students that none of these problems are related to the mental functioning of the individual. Therefore, people who experience these problems are fully aware of how poorly they are performing. This is a humbling experience for us all.
The above activity was originally published in the March/April 1995 issue of The Psychology Teacher Network. The activity is reprinted here with the permission of the Education Directorate of the APA. Further publication of the activity is not permitted without the express written consent of the Education Directorate.
For information on subscribing to The Psychology Teacher Network, write to:
Psychology Teacher Network
Education Directorate
APA
750 First Street, NE,
Washington, DC 20002-4242.
