Analysis: The Bafa Baf

Bafa Bafa Simulation

Planet Earth as we know it is a melting pot of people from different places, with different races, and different faces. The Bafa Bafa experiment helps students understand the meaning behind those different cultural backgrounds we encounter daily and their impact worldwide. The experiment shows students to appreciate diversity in our world and assess the attitudes and behaviors we express towards those who are different than us. To proceed, it must be acknowledged that a border crosser is an individual who crosses from one society to another. However, what is hardest to unveil is the challenge one faces in acceptance into an unknown culture.

The Bafa Bafa experiment is intended to create a cross cultural scenario by isolating

The Alpha game involved three cards, however the majority of the game was only played with two. The game was based off of an idea of match and play. The initiator (always male) would shuffle the card and keep his first card face down while the opponent would do the same. Finally, both players would flip over their cards. If they matched, there was no winner. If they were opposite, the opponent who did not initiate the game lost. The Alphans also carried sticky notes with them and if the game was enjoyable, they would sign each other’s. Societal members wanted to earn as many signatures as possible. The Alpha culture was expected to use this game as a social tool amongst each

During the discussion, we were asked to describe the opposite culture in one word. Alphas described Betas as exclusive, cold, independent, and individualistic. Betas described Alphas as bipolar, insensitive, and touchy. According to the guidelines of the experiment, the Betas were supposed to be independent and individualistic but the Alphas were not supposed to be insensitive or bipolar.

During the discussion, students were then asked about how they felt when visiting different groups. A common idea was the fact that people felt uncomfortable when visiting the different groups. When an Alpha member visited a Beta, they typically felt excluded, taken advantage of, and the language barrier made Alphans feel weak compared to the Betans. However, when Betans visited Alphans, they felt hesitant and left out. Inadequacy for the patriarch and the goal-less community made them feel like they were pointless and could provide nothing to the