Reflection and Perspective: Yes, it does that too

One common approach to circumvent ChatGPT has been to have students reflect on their personal journeys or write about an experience they had in class. I was curious about whether the program could take on a perspective and write from it. There are extensive examples of people jailbreaking ChatGPT, but I did not do any of these things. I simply told the program to adopt a perspective, gave it some parameters, and asked it to write from that perspective. I fed the program some specifics like made up names, a few things that happened and asked the program to produce a reflective essay for a small group from a Communication class. 

Looking back on my experience in CMST 132, Small Group Communication, I can see how our group's journey closely aligns with various small group theories. Our group was composed of five people: Tim, Xavier, myself (Maria), and Cliff. Unfortunately, Tim dropped out early in the semester, which was an initial setback for us.

During the early stages of our group development, we went through Tuckman's forming phase, where we were getting to know each other and trying to understand our goals. As the group leader, I made an effort to facilitate open communication and create an atmosphere where everyone felt comfortable sharing their thoughts.

We faced some challenges during the storming phase, such as Tim's departure and adjusting to each other's personalities and work styles. It was during this time that I noticed tension between Xavier and Cliff. They had different approaches to our tasks, and their personalities occasionally clashed. There was even an instance where they had an argument, and I had to step in to mediate.

Drawing from my communication skills, I encouraged both Xavier and Cliff to express their concerns openly and respectfully. We worked through the conflict by finding common ground and setting expectations for how we would communicate moving forward. This experience helped us transition into the norming phase, where we established norms for collaboration and defined our roles within the group.

Xavier, despite being quiet, contributed significantly to our work, while Cliff brought humor and positivity to balance out the group dynamic. Once we had overcome our initial challenges, we were able to move into the performing stage, working cohesively to complete our final presentation, which earned us a B.

As we reached the adjourning stage, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in our accomplishments and the friendships we formed. My bond with Cliff, in particular, is one that I cherish, and I can see us remaining friends for a long time.

Our group's journey in CMST 132 not only exemplifies aspects of small group theories like Tuckman's stages of group development, but it also taught me valuable lessons in conflict resolution and adapting to diverse personalities. These experiences have enriched my personal growth and will undoubtedly serve me well in future endeavors.

The results are a little stiff, but no doubt they are serviceable and the kind of writing that would be easy to edit and make more personal. 

I then asked it to adopt the perspective of Mary, an ethical vegan babysitter who no longer wants to prepare chicken nuggets. The results seemed even better. 

Dear Dave and Julia,

I hope this letter finds you both well. I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the opportunity to be Jojo's babysitter. She is an absolute joy, and I truly cherish the time I get to spend with her.

As you know, I am an ethical vegan, and I am committed to living a lifestyle that aligns with my beliefs. In light of this, I wanted to discuss a small change regarding meal preparation for Jojo.

I have given it some thought, and I feel that I can no longer make chicken nuggets for Jojo, as it conflicts with my personal values. I understand that this may come as a surprise, but I hope you can appreciate my perspective.

To ensure that Jojo still has a variety of delicious and nutritious meal options, I am more than happy to prepare vegan alternatives that she may enjoy. There are many plant-based "nuggets" available, which often have a similar taste and texture to traditional chicken nuggets. I can also provide you with some easy and kid-friendly vegan recipes if you are interested.

I hope you understand my decision and that we can work together to find a solution that respects both my beliefs and Jojo's dietary needs. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out. I truly value the trust you have placed in me as Jojo's babysitter, and I want to maintain open and honest communication with you both.

Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to our continued collaboration in providing the best care for Jojo.

Warm regards,

Mary

This realization hits hard for me. Part of what we teach in communication is perspective taking to try and increase both empathy and message effectiveness. If we understand the people we are speaking with a little better it produces outcomes better for everyone. I want to think I am much better at it than ChatGPT, but the fluidity with which it changes perspectives is something I cannot match. I went into this exercise thinking this would be a shortcoming, perhaps one that we are a year or so away from having to deal with. Instead I felt like the rebellion attacking the Death Star in Return of the Jedi–assuming the thing wasn't working because it looked half built only to have the Emperor mock me “Now witness the power of this fully armed and operational battle station.”