WHAT IS DIVERSOPHY？

Reading time: 6 min

So, what is diversophy® ?

Created in the early 1970s by Dr. George Simons, diversophy is more than just a card game; it’s a transformative experience that uses storytelling and gamification to build bridges across cultures, perspectives, and identities. diversophy champions cultural inclusion and has put a huge amount of effort into helping organizations and individuals across the globe start the learning process. The game has many goals but ultimately aims to provide players with the opportunity to increase their understanding and acceptance of themselves and diverse individuals and groups of people, building a platform through which we can converse authentically and without fear.

The name was created from the Latin "divertere", which means to turn in different directions, and from the Greek "sofia", meaning skill, intelligence, and wisdom. diversophy, then, is a tool intended to engage and develop your skills, intelligence, and wisdom when you connect with people who are different from you.

The game diversophy brings participants together to respond to and discuss questions on a wide range of topics, including identity, women’s empowerment, cultural competence, climate change, human rights, populism, and leadership. With over 100 versions available in 13 languages, thousands of unique cards have been created since the game's inception more than 50 years ago. This game can be played with as few as two people or with a group of several hundred, making it a versatile tool for fostering meaningful conversations and deeper understanding.

Why storytelling and gamification?

In recent years, neuroscientists have discovered that storytelling can enhance predictive processing and create a powerful emotional connection between the storyteller and the audience. Stories do fascinating things to the way that our brains engage. diversophy therefore uses both gamification and storytelling because these are effective learning techniques that allow people to engage in fundamentally more powerful ways. diversophy presents challenges that are stimulating and imaginative, and these create almost endless scenarios to help players recognize complacency and biases and work out effective strategies for addressing these, both within themselves and in the people around them.

diversophy creates a psychologically safe environment where all players feel respected, included, and free to express themselves without fear of rejection. Psychological safety means fostering a space where individuals, especially those from underrepresented groups, feel assured that their perspectives will be valued rather than dismissed. While the game may bring moments of discomfort, it ensures they are addressed constructively to enhance learning and cultural competence. By prioritizing inclusion and emotional security, diversophy encourages meaningful engagement, establishing discussions and genuine reflection, making it a safe and impactful tool for diversity education.

Why are the key storytelling elements in diversophy® ?

diversophy uses some powerful elements to help the participants tell, share, listen, learn, and reflect across cultures and languages. This is what brings us together and helps us to communicate fluidly across cultures. Over the years, we have created the “5 diversis.” These are our core approaches to the key storytelling components.

diversiSMARTS – These cards give you information about another culture, telling you about statistics, history, geography, etiquette, rules, the shape of institutions, and more. Here, you learn basic facts about the realities that have been used to shape another cultural narrative, giving you a better sense of the origin and significance of others’ norms and perspectives.

diversiGUIDE – These cards give you insights into others’ cultural perspectives by providing you with literature, common sayings, proverbs, etc., that exist in that culture or have been observed about it. We can learn much about each other when we look at the language and expressions used regularly. This sheds light on facets of their cultural stories and everyday lives .

diversiRISK – These cards offer situations that lead you to imagine and assess the way in which you would respond to unforeseen or unexpected events, and explore your immediate reactions to what is happening, whether it seems positive or negative. How do you react to surprises? How do you behave when somebody says, does, or assumes something that seems outside of your expectations or “norms,” or is just unfamiliar to you?

diversiCHOICE – These two-sided cards ask you to consider how best to think or respond to an event, situation, pattern of thought, or routine that may be common in another group but unfamiliar to your own. You now get a sense of how your culture is affecting you and how the other culture operates, and you can share your initial insights and best guess about how to react.

diversiSHARE – These cards present you with what a different group of individuals is likely to believe or how they are likely to perform in a certain situation, and then invite you to explore how you and the group you belong to might feel or perform in a similar situation. You might learn about how etiquette is handled in another country and be encouraged to think about and share how this differs from etiquette in your own country.

Why diversophy®  and why now?

diversophy is a powerful tool for education, training, and personal growth. It enhances cross-cultural competence, strengthens team dynamics, and develops key skills like conflict resolution and active listening. Whether used in leadership development, coaching, or inclusion programs, it fosters meaningful conversations that lead to lasting change. Designed for groups of all sizes, diversophy is adaptable to classrooms, workplaces, and global teams, making it a valuable asset in an increasingly interconnected world.

In a landscape often focused on division, diversophy shifts the narrative toward understanding and inclusion. The game encourages participants to explore differences, not to create barriers, but to build empathy and connection. Through storytelling, interactive gameplay, and reflective discussions, players celebrate cultural richness and replace the fear of the unknown with mutual appreciation.

Time to get hands-on!

Discover the power of meaningful conversations with diversophy® : Connecting Our Stories for a More Human Future, authored by Dr. George Simons and Dr. Darren Chong. This book offers a glimpse into the transformative experience of diversophy, where storytelling, reflection, and open dialogue foster deeper connections across cultures and perspectives. But this isn’t just a book; you’ll actively engage as you play along with the included cards, immersing yourself in thought-provoking discussions. Plus, you can read testimonials from other players who have experienced the impact of diversophy firsthand. Get your copy today and start your journey toward a more connected and inclusive world! Let’s hear from the authors themselves on why you should play diversophy:

Connecting people through their differences and similarities has been my lifelong mission, and diversophy has proven to be a powerful tool in making that vision a reality. Through its games and training events, it challenges players to bring their perspectives, energy, and creativity to the table, fostering deep understanding and meaningful dialogue. diversophy is a powerful tool for creating a healthier, more inclusive society - one free of war, genocide, and bias. Dr. George Simons

diversophy is powerful and impactful. I played diversophy in both Europe and Asia, and I witnessed participants' behavior change in the room. For example, the Asian participants, who were initially shy and uncomfortable speaking up in public, became much more active once they understood the game’s rules, especially the psychological safety aspect. In Europe, the game was conducted with over hundreds of people at a conference, and it was incredible to see how the interactive format fostered collaboration and openness in such a large group. It truly highlighted how diversophy breaks down barriers, builds trust, and encourages inclusive participation across diverse cultures. Dr. Darren Chong