Psychiatrist (A Party Game)

1 Conversation



Psychiatrist is a party game with the guessing fun of "Who Am I?"and the revealing nature of "Truth Or Dare". This game is most fun when the people involved are free to share anything that might come up1 and is best for ages 14 and up. Understand that once you know the secret of the game, you may no longer play the part of the Psychiatrist, so if you know a party is coming up with this game featured you may not want to read the rest of the article.

Explaining the Game

First, choose a psychiatrist. This should be someone comfortable in front of crowds, an easy going friend who [optimally] knows at least one of the other players rather well2. At birthday parties, try to use the person-of-honor3. You, as the person who knows the rules, will serve as "Emcee." Encourage the rest of the players to arrange themselves in a circle of sorts (it doesn't have to be perfect). You will take the psychiatrist into a secluded area, out of earshot of the rest of the players and explain to hir this:

"You're a psychiatrist and this is anonymous group therapy. We all have the same problem, and it's your job to diagnose us. Remember this is a party game, and the problem is something everyone can pick up on in a matter of a few moments4. For the fun of the players, the more probing the questions are, they'll thank you for it. As this is 'anonymous' group therapy, there are two questions off limits: what is your name, and what are you wearing. If you have any questions during the game, or a guess as to the problem, please address me as "Emcee", or I'll answer as a patient. Got it? Now wait here for a few mintues while I get the group out there together."

Excuse yourself and leave the psychiatrist in solitude. Gather the group together and explain:

"Okay, guys, we're in group therapy, and it's the job of the psychiatrist to guess what our problem is. Please listen closely, and ask all your questions now, because once s/he's out here, you're on your own. The problem we have is: we all think we're the person to our right5. [pause as everyone looks to their right and blushes a bit]. Now, you may not be best friends with this person, and you might be asked questions that you don't know the answer to. Make them up, and try to sound as natural as possible. Don't pause, glance sideways for backup, or say "I don't know" to questions like "Where'd you go to school?" If it were you, you'd be able to answer these questions easily. So make it up. Now, if the person answering for you makes something up and it's wrong, you say, "Psychiatrist!" Everyone will get up and change chairs. Now, you are sitting next to someone else, so therefore you are someone else,and someone else is answering for you. Make sure you take a moment to calibrate yourself. Take a moment to run a short example, preferably with people who've played the game before.

Now, the questions make get a little personal. Don't worry, but try not to flinch and say "Psychiatrist" just because you don't want anyone to know the answer. I did warn you this was a bit like Truth or Dare. If you have any questions or get confused during the game, address me as Emcee and I'll take you out and explain things to you again. Lastly, don't give hints, and don't answer questions addressed to the Emcee. That's breaking character and can be confusing. If the game is dragging I'll give hir some hints."

Getting The Game Underway

Go back and give the Psychiatrist one last chance to ask questions. Bring them out and let the questioning begin. The first time a "patient" calls "Psychiatrist", be prepared to explain what happened to the Psychiatrist, whom you didn't warn.

"What you saw is a symptom of our disease. It's like a sneeze--when you sneeze, it's not the sneeze that's the problem, but it's part of the cold."

The game will go on, and your psychiatrist will (probably) get frustrated. Some hints you can give:


  • -have everyone in the room answer the question "Are you male or female?" Repeat this after a "Psychiatrist!"

    -have the Psychatrist ask questions of someone who is answering
    for someone the Psych knows well.

    -steer the Psych away from asking questions about *real* psychiatric
    disorders

    -ask some really personal (sexual?) questions. Won't help them guess, but spices up the game for the players.

    -encourage the Pysch to ask questions s/he already knows the answers
    to.
  • Solving the Puzzle

    Hints are usually good once every 15 minutes or so, further together as the game goes on. Give the Psych a time limit (45 mins to an hour and half) in which to guess, and as that time approaches, get more obvious with your clues. If your Psych isn't making any guesses, ask them if they have a guess, and encourage them to think out loud. A lot of times they get it but think they're wrong or they're only off by a little bit (ie, they know the patients are answering for someone else in the room but they don't know who). Encourage them when they're on the right track and guide them if they aren't.

    When the Psych makes the right guess, make sure you congratulate them a lot. It can be very frustrating and they might have felt pretty stupid along the way. Offer at the next party to play again and let them be a patient, or maybe even let *them* pick who the next Psychiatrist will be.

    This game may seem complicated but it's been a hit every time.

    Identity GamesImprovisational Games
    1 not really suitable for parents/children or the like2This will help them guess the problem.3Unless they know the secret, that is.4The author finds this caveat is important because most Psychiatrists start out trying to guess a real psychiatric illness [multiple personality disorder and manic depression are favored guesses]. Be prepared for those to be early guesses, and reexplain that it's a party game and you're not qualified to explain every symptom of those diseases in 5 minutes or less.5There are other variations, supposedly made so people who know the secret can be a psychiatrist, but really once someone knows the object is that you're answering for someone else, it's lost. However included are some for posterity:

  • --answering for two people over on your left
    --answering for the first person of the opposite gender to a direction (This has been the most sucessful sequel)
    --everyone answering for the same person
    --answering for the psychiatrist
    --answering for someone assigned to you

  • Bookmark on your Personal Space


    Conversations About This Entry

    Title
    Latest Post

    Entry

    A498008

    Infinite Improbability Drive

    Infinite Improbability Drive

    Read a random Edited Entry


    Written and Edited by

    References

    h2g2 Entries

    Disclaimer

    h2g2 is created by h2g2's users, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the Not Panicking Ltd. Unlike Edited Entries, Entries have not been checked by an Editor. If you consider any Entry to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please register a complaint. For any other comments, please visit the Feedback page.

    Write an Entry

    "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

    Write an entry
    Read more