Kokology: In the Bag

Kokology- [Japanese, kokoro, mind, spirit, feelings + Greek, logia, the study of] 1. A series of psychological games designed to uncover emotional and behavioral traits of the players  2.  A popular term for the interpretation of the hidden meanings of human behavior and situational responses -- kokologist n -- kokological - adj -- kokologize v

"When we set out to develop Kokology, our first and foremost goal was to make it fun.  After all, who in their right mind would want to play a game that isn't?  The basic concept was already there --- or plan was to create a game where people would imagine themselves in everyday situations and unusual scenarios and respond to simple questions.  The answers are interpreted from a psychological perspective and tell us something about the way that person's mind works.  It's kind of like a Rorschach test that uses words instead of inkblots". -- Tadahiko Nagao

 Eight Tips For Playing Kokology

1. Say the first thing that pops into your head.  The game works best if you don't hesitate or agonize over your choice of words.  There is no right or wrong answer.
2. Play with other people if you can. 
3. Don't try to predict the answer. 
4. Be honest with yourself.  Kokology may be only a game, but like any good game, it can teach you something about yourself if you let it.  Don't be afraid to accept the truth when a minor fault or shortcoming of yours is exposed. 
5. Be prepared.  Some of the quizzes will ask you to write something down or draw a picture, so it's a good idea to have a pen or pencil and some paper handy before you start. 
6. Don't read ahead.  Don't be tempted to skew your answers by peeking at the interpretations.  What fun is that?
7. Watch people's reactions (including your own).
8. Keep an open mind.    As in life, it's important when playing Kokology to keep things in perspective.  There are no correct answers and there is more than one way of reading any situation.   

Kokology, The Game of Self-Discovery by Tadahiko Nagoo and Isamu Saito  ©1998  Pages 67-69

 
In the Bag

All of us lose things.  Sometimes we don't even realize they're lost.  Think about the last time you lost something; that sense of frustration as you retraced your steps, scanning the ground, looking under furniture and sifting through trash.  Remember the felling of desperation as you checked your pockets for the fifth time just to make sure you didn't miss it?  Lost objects have a way of staying lost, only to turn up months after you've given up looking and forgotten all about them.  Finding things lost by other people works the same way.  You don't find dropped wallets in the street or lost purses on the train by consciously going out to look for them.  If you find one, it's usually just by stumbling across it while you're doing something else.  

You're walking down the street when you come across a closed black briefcase.  There's no one else around, and when you open it to check for the owner's name, out spills a bundle of cash.  What is your first reaction to this sudden windfall?

1. "Hey, this must be my lucky day!"

2. "Oh, no, what am I going to do now?"

3. "I'd better take a night to think this over."
4.  "God must have wanted me to have this."

Don't read ahead before you make your choice!

Key to "In the Bag"

Your reaction on finding the bag of money reveals how you would react if an attractive person suddenly asked you out on a date.

1. "Hey, this must be my lucky day!"

You have a childlike capacity for joy at your own good fortune.  If more people could express their happiness like you, the world would be a better place.

2. "Oh, no, what am I going to do now?"

It's normal to feel a little uncertain at times like these.  But in the end the decision is all up to you.  Take your time and think it over, but don't spend too long wringing your hands or someone else might just come along and snatch your good fortune out from under your nose.

3. "I'd better take a night to think this over."

Big decisions should be made with a clear head after a good night's sleep.  There's a lot to be said for your policy of looking before you leap, but wouldn't it feel good every once in a while to cross the street without looking both ways?  Sometimes you need to go with your instincts, even if it means taking some unacceptable risks.  Love and danger go hand in hand.  

 4.  "God must have wanted me to have this."
Either you don't take divine intervention very seriously, or you think of dating as a religious experience.