The Request: Carman Crowe, a famous writer and director, discloses to you that he has been struggling horribly with the details for his next movie. Specifically, he tells you that he has been commissioned to produce a dramatic, but very realistic script that is based upon family relations. The problem is that he has been unable to decide "who should play what part".

He knows he needs:

• at least one major hero (or heroine),
• two or more minor heroes (or heroines),
• at least one major antihero (or antiheroine), and
• one or more minor antiheroes (or antiheroines).

He asks for your assistance. You agree to help him.

The Materials: He leads you into his study, and asks you to sit at his desk. On the desk is a row of four small ballot boxes. The box on the extreme left is marked with two minus signs ( - - ) and has the words "major antiheros" written upon it. Its nearest neighbour is marked with a single minus sign ( - ) and has the words "minor antiheros" written upon it. The third box is marked with a single plus sign (+) and the words "minor heroes". The box on the extreme right has two plus signs ( + + ) and says "major heroes".

The Task: He picks up a deck of 16 cards from the desk. Each card has a phrase typed on it, like "foster parent" or "cousin", that represents a specific family role. He shuffles the deck vigorously and then hands it to you while providing the following instructions:

"Work your way through the deck, one card at a time. Start with the card on top. Read it silently, and then consider what the role depicted means to you. Take as much time as you need to come to the most realistic appraisal possible given your personal experiences and thoughts. Then place that card into one of these four boxes to show how you feel someone in that role should be cast in the movie. The only restriction is that every box must end up with at least one card in it."

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Instructions:

First, complete Part 1 to show your gender, age and stepfamily history.

Then complete Part 2 to show which roles you would assign to each of the individuals depicted.

There are no "right" or "wrong" answers. Every item requires a response from you. All of the information you provide is completely anonymous.

PART 1: Demographic Information:  

1. Indicate your gender Your gender Male Female  and your age  Your Age 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 Over 70

2. Are you currently living in a stepfamily?:

   Select One: Yes No
   

3. Have you lived in a stepfamily in the past?:

   Select One: Yes No

PART 2: Assigning Roles: Select the role that best fits the individual depicted.

1. Adoptive Father:

   Select One: Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

2. Adoptive Mother:

   Select One: Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

3. Adoptive Son:

   Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

4. Adoptive Daughter:

   Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

5. Biological Father:

   Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

6. Biological Mother:

   Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

7. Biological Son:

   Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

8. Biological Daughter:

   Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

9. Foster Father:

   Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
   

10. Foster Mother:

    Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
    

11. Foster Son:

    Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
    

12. Foster Daughter:

    Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
    

13. Stepfather:

    Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
    

14. Stepmother:

    Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
    

15. Stepson:

    Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
    

16. Stepdaughter:

    Select One Major Antihero ( - - ) Minor Antihero ( - ) Minor Hero (+) Major Hero ( ++)
    

     

That's it. Now hit the "Submit" button once to send your answers to the Stepfamily Foundation of Alberta. In a few seconds you will receive a confirmation message indicating if your answers were successfully transmitted. 

All rights reserved. The reproduction, use, distribution or storage or of this work, in whole or in part, by any and all means, without the express written permission of the author, is strictly prohibited.

Stepfamily Foundation of Alberta