Operation Slaps

I found this image on a site for The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad's Youth Service. It's a picture of college-age kids playing a school-age game. On one hand, so to speak, they are clearly having fun. On the other, they are about to hit each other.

Psychologist Frank Froman finds the game redolent with diagnostic utility. In his article "Hit Me" (scroll towards the end of the page), Dr. Froman lists some of his observations. Here are a few:

* Kids who are depressed always lose. Most don’t even want to play. When they get slapped, they don't respond much. They lose interest after 2-3 slaps, and don't even want to get even. They walk away looking downward.
* Kids who are aggressive/conduct-disordered love to play and play, and hit to inflict as much pain as possible. They often grunt or scream as they smack you. The look of satisfaction on their faces is palpable. After each kill, they smack harder and harder.
* Social phobics don’t like the game and won’t play.
* Hysterics scream in pain when they've even been slightly hit. They always shout a perfect "OW!" quite loudly when they've even been lightly tapped.

What's weird about games like these is how much fun they are. Even though you get slapped or wind up hurting someone you might actually love. There's a certain silliness about them all, and a certain sense of safety. After all, it's only a slap on the hands.

And for those of you who want virtually immediate, and pain-free handslapping gratification, there's Operation Slaps to remind you of what you're missing, and why.