Sensitivity Training Merits Context Methodology

Psychology Paper 2 Topic

Sensitivity training

It is a method of training that makes one aware about the dynamics of group and their roles. It makes them aware of their prejudices/bias and make them sensitive to others.

Eg: - Ctx is an IT company with professionals of all generations. Subbu 57 yr and Ragz 25 yr old work in a group that works in virtual group of 10. The 8 members  of virtual group are from China, US. There may be biasness, prejudices of each member with the other.

Subbu thinks “What is this guy Ragz doing in this group which has seniors like me. He doesn’t respect my seniority and don’t even stand up when I come. He has long hair with ponytail that doesn’t suit this office”

Ragz thinks “ Subbu is not updated on latest styles of IT world. He won’t know about new UI designs and trends. I wonder how I will communicate with this guy who never parties or even tells a ‘Hi’ to me.

Each team member would be harbouring a set of such impressions which may be adversely affecting the organizational set up. The sensitivity training will help them to discover each other, it will allow one to explore his/her thoughts. At the end, the thoughts held will get altered and a new cohesion/understanding is intended to be developed.

Raghav the trainer is brought in to  give a sensitivity training. He does it in following steps

1.       A unstructured meeting is conducted when all the members (10-15, in this example 10)meet at head quarters.  The old values held by the members are challenged and an face to face interaction happens within the group.

2.       The new values are developed.

3.       The new values are freezed. Subbu feels that Ragz though looking different is sincere in work and he is rather a problem solver. Ragz feels that gesture which he thought was rude from a China team mate was infact a friendly gesture in that culture.

A self awareness of one’s attitude and bias happens in a facilitated manner. An introspection of one’s behavior can be done. This is a group psychotherapy started by Kurt Lewin.

It is useful technique in organizational structure.