Abstract:
A method of playing a board game designed to teach players how to control their interpersonal behavior to achieve goals. The method includes providing first and second play areas, each having a respective plurality of spaces connected to form a respective path, wherein the two paths are noncontiguous from each other. Within each path, spaces associated with a first behavior category are interspersed with spaces associated with a second behavior category. The proportion of first category spaces to second category spaces is substantially higher in the second play area than in the first. The method further includes associating the first and second behavior categories with themes of connecting and disconnecting behaviors, respectively, providing a token for each player, and moving the token along the first path. Upon the occurrence of a particular event during play, the token is removed to the second path for further movement.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/775,457, filed Feb. 10, 2004, pending, and entitled “BOARD GAME FOR TEACHING PLAYERS TO USE CONNECTING HABITS,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, and which application is a nonprovisional of and claims priority to provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/446,199 filed Feb. 10, 2003, expired, and entitled “BOARD GAME FOR TEACHING PLAYERS TO USE CONNECTING HABITS,” which is also hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Present Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to a board game, and more particularly to a board game to be used as an instructional tool in the teaching about how to create and enjoy relationships.  
         [0004]     2. Background  
         [0005]     There are numerous board games in which success is achieved according to pure chance. An important element of this game is to require players to focus on their own experiences and the experiences of others in order to come to a better understanding of how personal habits can either create or destroy interpersonal relationships.  
         [0006]     It has been hypothesized that human happiness may be achieved by fulfilling five basic needs. These needs have been characterized as “love and belonging,” “power,” “freedom,” “fun,” and “survival.” Each need has different meanings to different people. Whether they are aware of it or not, every person has tucked away mental pictures of those things that would satisfy each of these needs. Because the mental pictures are of things that we want or need most in life, the images and the area in our minds that contains these images may be referred to as “The Quality World.” 
         [0007]     It has also been hypothesized that the most important basic need in “The Quality World” is Love and Belonging, and that if this need can be met, satisfaction of the other needs will soon follow. To satisfy their needs, humans use the only tools that they have at their disposal; namely, their ability to think and to act (behave). Thinking and acting (behaving) are influenced by emotions. Humans think and act (behave) differently if they are under the control of their emotions as opposed to when they are in control of their emotions. These situations are referred to herein as “Situation A” and “Situation B.” In Situation A, one&#39;s thoughts and behavior are under the control of one&#39;s emotions, and one is much more likely to use “disconnecting habits or “disconnecting behaviors;” that is, one is much more likely to engage in certain behaviors or behavior patterns that tend to damage or inhibit the establishment or maintenance of healthy interpersonal relationships. However, in Situation B, one is in control of one&#39;s emotions, and one is much more likely to use “connecting habits or connecting behaviors;” that is, one is much more likely to engage in certain behaviors or behavior patterns that tend to enhance or facilitate the creation of healthy interpersonal relationships. One must use the “connecting habits” in order to create happy relationships that will satisfy one&#39;s Love and Belonging Need.  
         [0008]     The question then is whether one can control one&#39;s emotions. It is believed that the answer is yes—if in fact one&#39;s emotions are the only things in life that one can control. However, one can control his emotions only if one chooses to. Thus, the ability to control one&#39;s emotions is a personal choice. In other words, it is each individual&#39;s choice to either control or not to control his emotions. Once an individual chooses to control his emotions, then he may choose to use the “connecting habits.” Further, the choices one makes dictate whether one is successful in obtaining one&#39;s “Quality World” needs and whether one is the winner of the game of the present invention.  
         [0009]     The game teaches that if an individual chooses to control his emotions then he is much more likely to use the “connecting habits.” This will allow him to be successful in satisfying his Love and Belonging need (happy relationships) and will facilitate winning the game. On the other hand, if an individual chooses to let his emotions control him, then he is much more likely to use the “disconnecting habits,” which will result in unhappy relationships, and will not facilitate winning the game.  
         [0010]     These principles are taught and illustrated through the use of a playing board having two main areas, representing Situation A and Situation B. Each area includes a circular sequence of spaces, each representing an aspect of the human experience. Because all humans have a basic need of loving and belonging and humans tend to start out in life choosing to allow their emotions to control their thoughts and actions, humans tend to begin in Situation A. The game teaches its players how to get out of Situation A by choosing to control their emotions and using “Connecting Habits.” The Connecting Habits are harder to use in Situation A because of the relatively lower proportion of Connecting Habits spaces to the total number of spaces. Thus, this relatively smaller percentage represents the fact that emotions are controlling the player&#39;s thinking and acting and causing the player to use “Disconnecting Habits.” This is indicative of the human experience, in that escaping Situation A is difficult without personal growth and education on how to control emotions and how to use the Connecting Habits. Once a player moves to Situation B, the reverse is true: the proportion of Connecting Habits spaces to the total number of spaces is much higher. This higher percentage represents the fact that in Situation B the player is in control of his emotions and that he uses the Connecting Habits to create happy relationships.  
         [0011]     In summary, as long as a player or person remains in Situation A, he will not achieve a happy relationship, nor will he win the game. Only by controlling his emotions and practicing the Connecting Habits will he be able to move to Situation B, where he will build closer human relationships and win the game.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0012]     The playing board includes two play areas corresponding to Situation A and Situation B, respectively, as well as areas for storing various stacks of cards. Each of the Situation A and Situation B areas includes a circular sequence of playing spaces of different colors, with each color having a different significance. The pale yellow spaces denote pleasurable experiences; the red spaces denote painful experiences; the green spaces denote neutral experiences; and the gold spaces denote the five basic needs of a person&#39;s “quality world.” In Situation A, the spaces denoting painful experiences are as numerous as, or even more numerous than, the spaces denoting pleasurable experience, in correlation to the situation that individuals find themselves in when they allow themselves to use disconnecting habits as often as they do the connecting habits. In Situation B, the spaces denoting pleasurable experience are far more numerous than those denoting painful experiences, in correlation to the desired goal of practicing connecting habits and eliminating disconnecting habits.  
         [0013]     Several stacks of cards are placed on the board, with each stack of cards corresponding to human experiences or needs. Included are pale yellow cards, each of which corresponds to a particular connecting habit; red cards, each of which corresponds to a particular disconnecting habit; and gold cards, each of which corresponds to a basic human need. A stack of green cards may also be included, each of which corresponds to a particular neutral experience, habit or relationship.  
         [0014]     Players take turns rolling a die and moving their token around one of the two play areas, beginning with the area marked “Situation A.” If the player&#39;s token lands on a space corresponding to one of the various cards, then the player must draw a card from the corresponding stack and read it aloud. In addition, the player must give an example of the type of experience, behavior, need or the like that is shown on the card. Finally, the player is credited with positive or negative points, depending on the type of card and other factors.  
         [0015]     The objective of each player is two-fold: first, the player needs to gain enough points in Situation A in order to be able to advance to Situation B; and second, the player needs to gain enough points in Situation B in order to be able to win the game. Each player is rewarded with positive points for practicing Connecting Habits and penalized with negative points for practicing Disconnecting Habits. If the player is in Situation A, then when the Connecting Habits outweigh the Disconnecting Habits, the player is able to advance to Situation B. This is achieved by collecting a predetermined number of points via the cards. If the player is in Situation B, then if the player use Connecting Habits often enough, the player wins the game. This is likewise achieved by collecting a predetermined number of points via the cards.  
         [0016]     Broadly defined, the present invention according to one aspect is a board game designed to teach players how to control their behavior to achieve one or more goals, including: at least one play area, the play area including a plurality of spaces, wherein a first portion of the plurality of spaces of the play area are associated with a first behavior category and a second portion of the plurality of spaces of the play area are associated with a second behavior category; and a token, representative of a particular player, for moving from space to space in the at least one play area; wherein the first behavior category comprises a theme of connecting behaviors and the second behavior category comprises a theme of disconnecting behaviors.  
         [0017]     In features of this aspect, when a player&#39;s token lands upon a space associated with the first behavior category, an example of a connecting behavior is provided, and when a player&#39;s token lands upon a space associated with the second behavior category, an example of a disconnecting behavior is provided; the respective examples are provided on cards drawn by the respective player from a collection of cards associated with the respective theme or the respective examples are provided by the player whose token landed on the respective space; when the player provides an example of a connecting behavior, the player is awarded a number of points, the number of points being determined by another person based on the example provided by the player; the board game further includes one or more cards entitling the player possessing such a card to decline to provide an example of a connecting or disconnecting behavior when otherwise required by the rules of the game; when an example of a connecting behavior is provided, the respective player is awarded a number of points; the winner of the game is determined based upon the accumulation of points by the players; and the number of points awarded the player is predetermined.  
         [0018]     In other features of this aspect, each example of a connecting behavior that is provided must be of a particular type of connecting behavior, selected from a set of connecting behavior types according to the rules of the game; the set of connecting behavior types include at least four of the following: “listening,” “supporting,” “encouraging,” respecting,” “trusting,” “accepting” and “negotiating;” each example of a disconnecting behavior that is provided must be of a particular type of disconnecting behavior, selected from a set of disconnecting behavior types according to the rules of the game; the set of disconnecting behavior types include at least four of the following: “criticizing,” “blaming,” “complaining,” “nagging,” “threatening,” “punishing” and “bribing;” the board game further includes a set of cards associated with the theme of connecting behaviors, each card being marked with an indicium corresponding to a particular type of connecting behavior; and the board game may be implemented on a computer.  
         [0019]     The present invention according to another aspect is a board game designed to teach players how to control their behavior to achieve one or more goals, including: a first play area having a first plurality of spaces; a second play area having a second plurality of spaces; and at least one token, each representative of a particular player, for moving from space to space in the first play area, and upon the occurrence of a particular event during play, for moving from space to space in the second play area; wherein each token is more likely to land on spaces associated with a first behavior category, the first category comprising a theme of proper behavior patterns, and less likely to land on spaces corresponding to a second behavior category, the second category comprising a theme of improper behavior patterns, in the second play area than in the first play area.  
         [0020]     In features of this aspect, the theme of proper behavior patterns comprises a theme of connecting behaviors, and wherein the theme of improper behavior patterns comprises a theme of disconnecting behaviors; each token begins in the first play area, and the preliminary goal of each player is to move his token from the first play area to the second play area; each player must accumulate a predetermined number of points in the first play area in order to move his token to the second play area; each player must accumulate a predetermined number of points in the second play area in order to win the game; the first plurality of spaces includes at least some spaces corresponding to proper behaviors and at least some of the spaces corresponding to improper behaviors, the second plurality of spaces includes at least some spaces corresponding to proper behaviors and at least some of the spaces corresponding to improper behaviors, and the proportion of spaces corresponding to proper behaviors to spaces corresponding to improper behaviors is substantially higher in the second play area than in the first play area; the board game further includes a first set of textual messages whose content corresponds in theme to improper behaviors and a second set of textual messages whose content corresponds in theme to proper behaviors, and the first and second sets of textual messages are used to control play when tokens land on spaces corresponding to improper behaviors and spaces corresponding to proper behaviors, respectively; the first and second sets of textual messages are contained on cards; and the board game may be implemented on a computer.  
         [0021]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     Further features, embodiments, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an exemplary board for playing a game in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of exemplary game components to be used with the board of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of an exemplary set of “Connecting Habits” cards;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary set of “Disconnecting Habits” cards; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of an exemplary set of “Quality World Needs” cards. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like components throughout the several views, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are next described. The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0029]     In a preferred embodiment, the game  10  includes a board  12 , a token  16  for each player, a random number generator  18 , a scorecard  19  and a collection of cards  14 , and may also include written background materials and instructions (not shown) for playing the game  10 .  FIG. 1  is a plan view of an exemplary board  12  for playing a game  10  in accordance with the present invention. The board  12  includes two play areas  20 ,  22  corresponding to Situation A and Situation B, respectively, as well as areas  24 ,  26 ,  28  for storing various stacks of cards  14 . Each of the Situation A and Situation B areas  20 ,  22  includes a circular path or sequence of playing spaces  29  of different types, which may be denoted with different colors, labels, decoration, images, or the like, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the path in each of the respective Situation A and Situation B areas  20 ,  22  includes at least four different types of spaces  29 : pale yellow spaces  32 , red spaces  34 , green spaces  36  and gold spaces  38 , wherein the pale yellow spaces  32  denote pleasurable experiences, the red spaces  34  denote painful experiences, the green spaces  36  denote neutral experiences, and the gold spaces  38  denote the five basic needs of a person&#39;s “quality world.” 
         [0030]     In the Situation A path, the spaces  34  denoting painful experiences are as numerous as the spaces  32  denoting pleasurable experience, in correlation to the situation that individuals find themselves in when they allow themselves to use disconnecting habits as often as they do the connecting habits. In the Situation B path, the spaces  32  denoting pleasurable experience are far more numerous than those spaces  34  denoting painful experiences, in correlation to the desired goal of practicing connecting habits and eliminating disconnecting habits. Because of the different proportions of the various spaces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  to the total number of spaces  29  in each of the Situation A and Situation B paths, it may be preferable to arrange the Situation A area  20  on the inner portion of the board  12  and the Situation B area  22  on the outer portion of the board  12 . However, it should be apparent that a wide variety of alternative arrangements are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of exemplary game components to be used with the board  12  of  FIG. 1 . As shown therein, the tokens  16  may be small automobile-shaped objects of different colors or shapes, but may generally be any objects small enough to fit comfortably on the spaces  29  of the board  12 , heavy enough not to be easily blown or shaken off the board  12 , and easily distinguishable from the other tokens  16 . The random number generator  18  may be a die as shown or any other device capable of generating small random whole numbers. The scorecard  19  may simply be a blank chart printed on paper as shown, or even a blank sheet of paper. Preferably, however, a plurality of such sheets of paper are provided in order to facilitate repeated playings of the game  10 . Background materials may include books, pamphlets or even a single sheet of paper explaining the purposes of the game  10  so that the players may better understand and learn from the game  10 . Instructions may be printed on the front or back of the board  12 , on a separate sheet of paper, or the like.  
         [0032]     The cards  14  are preferably divided into several different sets, including at least a set of “Connecting Habits” cards  40 , a set of “Disconnecting Habits” cards  42 , and a set of “Quality World” cards  44 .  FIG. 3  is an illustration of an exemplary set of “Connecting Habits” cards  40 ;  FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary set of “Disconnecting Habits” cards  42 ; and  FIG. 5  is an illustration of an exemplary set of “Quality World Needs” cards  44 . Each card  40 ,  42 ,  44  in each set corresponds to a particular theme, which may be a connecting habit, a disconnecting habit, or a basic need. As illustrated, the set of Connecting Habits cards  40  includes at least one card each for “listening,” “supporting,” “encouraging,” respecting,” “trusting,” “accepting” and “negotiating.” The set of Disconnecting Habits cards  42  includes at least one card each for “criticizing” or “being critical,” “blaming,” “complaining,” “nagging,” “threatening,” “punishing” and “bribing” or “rewarding control.” The set of Quality World cards  44  includes at least one card each for “love and belonging,” “power,” “freedom,” “fun” and “survival.” It should be apparent, however, that the teachings of the game  10  are applicable to a wide variety of human needs and behaviors, and that the habits and needs identified herein may be supplemented, revised, minimized or otherwise changed. In addition, those skilled in the art will recognize that human behavior and psychology may be classified in other ways, and thus the cards  14  may be categorized and otherwise organized in different manners to achieve the principles being taught or studied.  
         [0033]     One side of each card  40 ,  42 ,  44  in a set is decorated to indicate the set to which the card  40 ,  42 ,  44  belongs, while on the other side of each card  40 ,  42 ,  44  is printed a textual message  46  related to the particular theme of the card  40 ,  42 ,  44 . The decorations on each set of cards  40 ,  42 ,  44  preferably match one of the designated card areas  24 ,  26 ,  28  on the board  12  and with one of the types of spaces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  described above. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment described herein, the Connecting Habits cards  40 , which correspond to pleasurable experiences, are pale yellow in color; the Disconnecting Habits cards  42 , which correspond to painful experiences, are red in color; and the Quality World Needs cards  44 , which correspond to basic human needs, are gold in color.  
         [0034]     The textual message  46  preferably includes some type of indication of the card&#39;s theme (a particular habit or need) as well as a point value indication, which may be positive or negative. In an exemplary embodiment, the theme indicator is a one-to-three word name for a particular habit or need, but it should be apparent that the theme indicator may include a longer description of the habit or need, an example of the habit or need, or the like, or any combination thereof. The point value indicator is preferably a number representing the number of points for which the card  14  is worth. The number of points is preferably chosen in conjunction with the point targets of the game  10 , and may be adjusted upward or downward relative to those targets to lengthen or shorten the game  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, the point values for the Connecting Habits cards  40  range in value from +50 to +150 points; the point values for the Disconnecting Habits cards  42  range in value from −25 to −50 points; and the point values for the Quality World cards  44  range in value from +100 to +200 points.  
         [0035]     The game  10  may be best played by at least two and no more than six players, but the game  10  may also have value for a single player playing alone or by larger numbers of players, particularly if modifications are made to the primary preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein to accommodate additional players. Before play may begin, it may be useful to designate a scorekeeper. The scorekeeper may be one of the players or a non-playing individual, such as a moderator, counselor, teacher, facilitator, or other observer. The cards  14  should be organized into their various sets and may be shuffled if desired, and each set of cards  40 ,  42 ,  44  may then be placed in its designated location on the game board  12 . A token is assigned to each player and placed on the designated “Start” space  30  in the Situation A area  20  of the board  12 . If there are multiple players, then their order of play may be chosen through the roll of the dice  18  or by some other conventional means.  
         [0036]     To play, the players take turns, according to the selected order, rolling the dice  18  and moving their token  16  the indicated number of spaces  29  around the inner path of the Situation A area  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, all token movement, whether in the Situation A path or the Situation B path of the board  12 , occurs in a clockwise direction. If after moving the indicated number of spaces  29  a player&#39;s token  16  lands on a green “neutral” space  36 , then the player&#39;s turn is over and play passes to the next player in order. On the other hand, if the player&#39;s token  16  lands on any other space  32 ,  34 ,  38 , then the player&#39;s turn may continue according to the type of space  32 ,  34 ,  38  in which the player&#39;s token  16  lands.  
         [0037]     If a player&#39;s token  16  lands on a pale yellow “Connecting Habits” space  32 , a red “Disconnecting Habits” space  34 , or a gold “Quality World” space  38 , then the player draws one card  14  from the top of the corresponding stack of cards  40 ,  42 ,  44  and reads aloud the textual message  46  printed thereon. As described previously, the message  46  on each card relates to a particular habit or need. Next, the player thinks of an example of that habit or need, either from personal experience or observation or one that he invents himself. Requiring the players to give examples of the habits or needs further teaches the importance of controlling emotions and of using Connecting Habits rather than Disconnecting Habits. If the game  10  is to be utilized by players who are not very familiar with the themes on the various cards  40 ,  42 ,  44 , then modified cards  40 ,  42 ,  44  that include complete examples or scenarios of the various themes (habits or needs) may be particularly useful. Optionally, a player drawing a “scenario”-type card may read the scenario aloud and relate it to similar occurrences in their own lives or that happened with someone they know. Regardless, in order to enable others to benefit from his thoughts, and/or to facilitate discussion, the player should describe the example (either his own or, if available, the one provided) orally. Once the player completes this task, the point value printed on the card  40 ,  42 ,  44  is credited to, or debited from, the player&#39;s score, and the card  40 ,  42 ,  44  is returned to the bottom of the pile from which it was drawn. Alternatively, in an advanced version of the game  10 , points could be awarded subjectively by a moderator or even by the other players, although this may detract from the cooperative and sharing experience provided by the cards  40 ,  42 ,  44 .  
         [0038]     Although in the exemplary embodiment illustrated herein, no cards are included that correspond to the green neutral spaces  36 , the game  10  may be further enhanced through the use of a set of “Neutral” cards (not shown). The themes of these cards would be neither pleasurable nor painful, but would be “neutral.” Neutral spaces  36  are included on the game board  12  because the human experience includes many relationships that are neither positive or negative, and although not necessary, cards could be used to illustrate behavior, experiences or the like that are likewise neither positive nor negative. Whether or not Neutral cards are included, it is suggested that no points be awarded to any player whose token  16  lands on a neutral space  36 .  
         [0039]     Each player continues rolling the die  18 , moving his token  16 , and when a card  14  is drawn, providing an example of the habit or need shown on the card  14  and receiving the corresponding number of points shown on the card  14  until the player accumulates a predetermined number of points. As noted previously, the predetermined number may be chosen in conjunction with the point values that are chosen for the cards  14 , and may be adjusted up or down to create a longer or shorter game, respectively. In one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined number of points is 100. When the player accumulates the predetermined number of points, he removes his token  16  from the Situation A area  20  and places it on the designated “Start” space  31  in the Situation B area  22  of the board  12 . Because positive point values are awarded to the player when his token  16  lands on Connecting Habits spaces  32 , and provides examples thereof, and negative point values are awarded to the player when his token  16  lands on Disconnecting Habits spaces  34 , a player who more quickly achieves more Connecting Habits than Disconnecting Habits will generally reach the predetermined number of points sooner. Thus, the game  10  teaches the players that for a person to move from a “Situation A” type of existence to a “Situation B” type of existence, one should employ more Connecting Habits and fewer Disconnecting Habits.  
         [0040]     Once one or more players&#39; tokens  16  move to the Situation B area  22 , play continues in a similar manner to play in the Situation A area  20 . When it is his or her turn, each player rolls the die, moves his token, and if applicable, draws a card  40 ,  42 ,  44  and provides a corresponding example. Once the player reaches the Situation B area  22 , however, the player may win the game  10  by accumulating a second predetermined number of points. The second predetermined number of points may or may not be the same as the number of points needed to advance past Situation A. The rules of the game  10  might call for resetting the player&#39;s accumulated points to zero when his token  16  moves from the Situation A area  20  to the Situation B area  22 , or they might permit the player to carry his points over from the Situation A area  20  to the Situation B area  22 .  
         [0041]     Preferably, in order to emphasize to the players the importance of using the Connecting Habits rather than the Disconnecting Habits, more of the game  10  is played in the Situation B area  22  than in the Situation A area  20  because of the higher proportion of Connecting Habits spaces  32  in the Situation B area  22  than in the Situation A area  20 . In addition, if the game  10  is further enhanced through the inclusion of “Emotional Pitfall” spaces, described below, than it may be preferable to reduce the amount of time that a player is required to spend in the Situation A area  20  because of the greater likelihood of being forced to return to the Situation A area  20  over and over again, which may significantly prolong the game  10 . In the exemplary embodiment described and illustrated herein, the predetermined number of points that must be accumulated in the Situation B area  22  is 1000.  
         [0042]     As noted previously, the game  10  may be further enhanced through the inclusion of one or more “Emotional Pitfall” spaces  48  in the outer path of the Situation B area  22 . Emotional Pitfalls represent those times in a person&#39;s life when, although the person has gained more effective control of his emotions, certain emotional events cause the person to lose control of his emotions and push him back into Situation A, where his thoughts and actions are once again governed by his emotions rather than the other way around. When a player&#39;s token  16  lands on an Emotional Pitfall space  48 , the player must return to the designated “Start” space  31  in the Situation A area  20  and start over. This corresponds to a player once again using Disconnecting Habits more than he should and having to learn to control his emotions once again. In the game  10 , the player must once again accumulate enough points, by using Connecting Habits, to return to the Situation B area  22 . The rules of the game  10  may allow the person to “bank” the points that he had already accumulated in the Situation B area  22  such that when he returns to the Situation B area  22 , he is able to reclaim those points, or the rules may dictate that all points accumulated in Situation B are forfeited if a player suffers an Emotional Pitfall.  
         [0043]     In another optional enhancement, the game  10  may further include a set of “Escape” cards (not shown). Although the exact name given to such cards is not important, these cards may facilitate the inclusion of an additional dimension to game play by permitting players to decline to give an example when otherwise required to through the selection of a Connecting Habit card  40  or a Disconnecting Habit card  42 . In a suggested method of playing the game  10 , each player may be provided with one Escape card at the beginning of the game  10 . During play, the player may then pass on having to give an example by surrendering his Escape card. Play would then pass to the next player with no further obligation due. However, each player would only be able to use his Escape card once during the game  10 .  
         [0044]     In playing the game, players are thus taught that Disconnecting Habits are present in both the Situation A area  20  and the Situation B area  22 , just as they may be in life. In the Situation B area  22 , players are encouraged to practice Connecting Habits through the inclusion of a larger proportion of Connecting Habits spaces  32  in the Situation B area  22 , making it easier to succeed. Although not required, Emotional Pitfall spaces  48  may be included to demonstrate that there are times when a person operating successfully in Situation B may lose control of his emotions, thus triggering a return to Situation A in which such a person is much more likely to use Disconnecting Habits. Finally, Quality World spaces  38  are included to help players focus on the ultimate goals in life. When a player&#39;s token  16  lands on such a space  38 , it illustrates the achievement of one of the Quality World needs, which are important in both the game  10  and in life.  
         [0045]     The game  10  may be played in a variety of settings, including the classroom, individual or group counseling sessions, seminars, as one component of a larger program (including corporate or other organizational training programs), and many other situations. In many settings, it may be useful to have a moderator, counselor, teacher, facilitator, or other instructor, commentator or observer present to explain the game  10 , provide background information and training about the principles of the game  10 , encourage players to more actively participate in the example-sharing process, and the like, but it will be apparent that the use of an experienced third party is not necessary to the enjoyment or utility of the game  10 .  
         [0046]     Although the game  10  described and illustrated herein is in the form of traditional tabletop board game, it will be apparent that the game may be easily implemented in an electronic, software- or microcode-based form. The board game  10 , cards  14 , tokens  16 , random number generator  18 , background materials and instructions may all be provided on a personal computer or a handheld device (not shown), such as a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), a dedicated game unit, or the like, using a graphical user interface, the design of any of which could be easily accomplished by one of ordinary skill in the art. Such an implementation may also provide teaching and playing opportunities not available via a traditional tabletop board game, such as the enhanced ability for one player to play against a computer-driven opponent, or for players and moderators to participate from remote locations via a computer network, such as the internet Although some individual features, such as scorekeeping, may be automated for convenience, play would otherwise be similar to that of the traditional tabletop board game described herein, except that it may be useful for the electronic version of the cards  40 ,  42 ,  44  to be modified to include complete examples or scenarios of the various themes (habits or needs) as described previously. This may be particularly useful for any versions of the game  10  in which a person is playing by himself and thus has no one to whom behavior examples may be orally described.  
         [0047]     It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.