Social and psychological effects of computer games
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Transcript of Social and psychological effects of computer games
Social and psychological effects of computer gamesErica Gallinaro, Marta Grodzicka, Michał Skrzypek, Błażej Grzechnik
The product
Motivation& Selection
Reception & Process
Effects & Consequences
KUHL- survey
Concentrates on:1. Negative effects of violent entertainment
games2. Utility of educational games3. General effects of game playing
Positive effects of violent entertainment games (except for the catharsis theory) and negative effects of educational games are not discussed.
Research on the effects of game playing
Consequences/ Sort of games
Negative effects Positive effects
Violent entertainment games
Affect (hostility, anxiety)Agressive behaviorsArousalEmpathy toward othersPhysiological responses (heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance)Priming agressive thoughtsProsocial behavior
Catharsis
Nonviolent entertainment games
Addiction or game dependencyGender stereotypingPhysical health problems
TrainingSociabilityAcademic performancesTherapySpatial visualizationCognitive abilities
Educational games LearningMotivationRetention memoryUtility for special groups (attention-deficit children, patients)
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Learning Motivation Retention memory Utility for special groups
(attention-deficit children, patients)
1. Positive effects of educational games
Why might computer games be more effective?
(Malone, 1981)
Characteristics of the computer game Fantasy- attractiveness, attention
Endogenous fantasy- it has to do something with thelearning material (Rieber, 1996)
Challenge- goals must be uncertain to gain, obvious, meaningful to players and the player needs feedback if he had achieved them
Curiosity
Learning
Electronic simulations/games vs. conventional methods
(Randel, Morris &Wetzel, 1992)
Learning
56%39%
5%no difference
simulations/games are better
conventional in-structions are better
Depend on subject matter Math has the best results (Randel et al., 1992)Mathematics problem solving, reading
comprehension, word study (Blanchard, Stock & Marshall, 1999)
Visual and interactive components (Sedbrook, 1998)no improvement in the knowledgeincrease of enjoyment
Learning
Is it the effect of the game or of the computer? Wiebe & Martin: geography“non-computer classroom games and activities” vs.
“computer-based adventure games”no differences
Antonietti & Mellone (2003): computer-based and traditional version of Pegopolisno differences in performance
or strategy Perhaps it is the effect of the game,not the computer
Learning
Educational games have positive effects on motivation.
For example in studies with learning-disabled children (Malouf, 1987) intermediate-level students with learning disabilities
(Okolo, 1992)higher level of continuing motivation was found.
Does a higher motivation lead to better learning effects?• Yes (Lepper, 1992)• No (Druckman, 1995)
Motivation
Why should computer games improve retention memory?
1. attention for media stimuli is higher than for other stimuli
2. higher engagement
In 86% of the studies educational computer games produced greater retention memory than conventional classroom instruction (Randel et al., 1992)
personalized vs. neutral messages (Moreno & Mayer, 2000)personalized messages are better for retention memory andproblem solving
Retention Memory
1. Children with learning disabilities or attention-deficit disorder• difficulty of the game increases, when the child
becomes less attentive (brainwaves)(Pope & Bogart, 1996)
2. Elderly people• faster reaction times and higher sense of well-
being after playing Super Tetris (Goldstein et al. 1997)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWn32bCXnRE
Utility for special groups
Learning In 39% of the studies they are better than conventional
methods This might be the effect of learning during play, not the
effect of the computer as a mediaMotivation
is higher, but do not necessarily increase the learning effectRetention memory
Increases Utility for special groups
It can help children with learning disabilities or attention-deficit disorder and elderly people
Positive effects of educational games- Summary
Training Spatial skills Sociability Academic performances Therapy Cognitive abilities
2. Positive effects of nonviolent entertainment games
Games and simulations created for Military Doom was modified (by the Marine Corps
Modeling and Simulation Management Office) to teach the combats tactics
America’s Army has been used for Army recruitmenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iedBodvPLiY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpgD5yuUAA4&feature=related
Training
Playing computer games showed a developmentin 2 and 3-dimensional mental rotation among• students (McClurg & Chaille, 1987; Miller & Kapel, 1985)• boys and girls equally (Greenfield, 1996; De Lisi & Wolford, 2002)• Kindergarten children (Perzov & Kozminsky, 1989)• college students (Pepin & Dorval, 1986)
But there are also results that suggest noimprovement, e.g.• Seventh-grade students (Pepin & Dorval, 1986)• Elderly participants (Pepin & Dorval, 1986; Gagnon, 1985)
Possible explanation• Noncontrollable variables in the study, e.g. experience with computer
games
Spatial Skills
Popular hypothesis: children who play computer games stay at home alone what has a negative effect on their social adjustment
Computer game players• scored higher sociability (Shimai, Masuda & Kishimoto, 1990)• more often see their friends after school (Colwell, Grady & Rhaiti, 1995)• In an Australian study (Durkin & Barber, 2002) among sixteen- year-old
(N=1304) High players scored higher family closeness and attachment to school Low players scored lower in depressed mood, aggression and disobedience
and higher in self-esteem Nonplayers did not score high in any measure
Playing computer games is a positive feature of a healthy adolescent (playing with friends, exchanging game experience)
Sociability
Popular hypothesis: decrease of academic performance, because time that should be spend on homework is spend on playing
It was found that• there is a positive correlation between time spent on
nonviolent entertainment games and intelligence among children in elementary school (van Schie & Wiegman, 1997)
• heavy use of computer games has a positive relation to low self-esteem, poor academic performance and less sociability (Roe & Muijs, 1998)
The results are mixed; further research needed
Academic performance
Application of video games in psychotherapy session (Gardner, 1991) Common grounds between the therapists and his patient Behavioral observation opportunities
Diversion from side effects of cancer chemotherapy and reduction of pain (Redd et al., 1987)
Increase of motivation to exercise and metabolic activity during wheelchair use (O’Connor, Fitgerald, Cooper, Thorman & Boninger, 2001)
…. New tool for psychology and medicine
Therapy
To play a computer game certain skills are needed e.g.: proactive and recursive thinking, systematic organization of information,
interpretation of visual information, means-ends analysis,… (Pillay, 2003) Playing might develop cognitive skills, which are then transferred to other
tasks
Research has shown that playing computer games has a positive effect on• understanding and interpreting scientific and technical information presented
graphically on a computer screen (Greenfield, Brannon & Lohr, 1994)• generating a wide variety of alternative hypotheses for a problem situation
(Doolittle, 1995)• inductive reasoning (Camaioni, Ercolani, Perrucchini & Greenfield, 1990)• complex thinking in problem solving (Keller, 1992)• strategic planning (Jenkins, 2002; Keller, 1992)• self-regulated learning (Rieber, 1996)• development of different learning styles (Jenkins, 2002)
Cognitive abilities
Training Computer games and simulations can be used for training, for example in
militarySpatial skills
Playing computer games develops spatial skills there are also results which suggest no improvement
Sociability Playing computer games has no negative effect on children and youths’
sociability; players even score higherAcademic performances
Children playing computer games scored higher in intelligence tests Heavy playing is correlated with poor academic performances
Therapy Computer games may be used in a wide range of therapeutic methods
Cognitive abilities Playing computer games develops cognitive abilities
Positive effects of nonviolent entertainment games- Summary
Addiction or game dependency
Gender stereotyping
Physical health problems
3. Negative effects of nonviolent entertainment games
08.08.2005, South Korea: an adult gamer died after 50 hours ofcontinuous playing
Addiction is a compulsion to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life.
Current studies do not support the game addiction hypothesis. Results, which suggest an addiction, are either based on a unrepresentative sample or focus on nonpopular games.
It is suggested not to use the word “addiction” but “dependency”
Dependency means that playing is not only a preoccupation, but also serves special social and psychological functions in the player’s life. (Shotton, 1989)
Addiction or game dependency
Survey with 387 adolescents (12-16 years old)
(Griffiths & Hunt, 1998):
20% were dependent on computer games boys played more regularly and were
oftener classified as dependent the earlier a child starts to play, the more
likely it is that it becomes dependent
Game dependency
“Children Now” surveyed 1716 characters of video games (2001)
Gender stereotyping
Female characters were less likely to be player-controlled
Male and female characters were portrayed in a stereotypical way Female characters were very sexy Male characters were
hypermasculinized Female characters = victims Male characters = heroes
Affect on the self-image of girls and expectations of boys
64%17%
19%
Male Femaleno gender
Study of 387 patients, who were extremely sensitive to electronic visual simulation (Kasteleijn-Nolst et al., 1999)
Patients became more sensitive when playing than when viewing games; especially Super Mariohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_wsEtxpj14&feature=related
Consequences if sitting in front of the computer (vision, spine) instead of outdoor activities
Physical health problems
Addiction or game dependency No reliable surveys on addiction Dependency concerns 1 out of 5 players, especially
boys and those, who started earlyGender stereotyping
Stereotypic image of male and female characters, which might effect the self-image and expectations of children
Physical health problems Especially, when playing becomes a substitute for
outdoor activities
Negative effects of nonviolent entertainment games- Summary
Symbolic Catharsis Hypothesisdischarging aggression by purging aggressive emotionsor emotional purification
Psychoanalytic theory: aggression and sexuality are the major drives emotional catharsis is based on the hydraulic model of anger release may happen in real life or in fantasy (for example while
playing video games)
Players can release their aggression in a nondestructive way, what has the effect of relaxing (Bowman & Rotter, 1983; Kestenbaum & Weinstein, 1985)
4. Positive effect of violent entertainment games
There is no empirical support for the catharsis effect. (Bushmann, 2002)
What could be the reason? Catharsis means “intellectual clarification” and may not
occur for aggression in general or for violence in media Problems with research. What should an experiment to test
this hypothesis look like?a. The subjects must feel aggressive and angry at the beginning.b. Two experimental groups:
1. can use media in any way they like 2. control group without media choice
c. Second measure of aggression Further research needed
Symbolic Catharsis Hypothesis
Affect (hostility, anxiety) Agressive behaviors Priming aggressive thoughts Physiological responses
(heart rate, blood pressure) Prosocial behavior
5. Negative effects of violent entertainment games
1. Social cognitive theory (Bandura) players identify themselves with the characters justification of violence might be internalized and transferred to the real world
2. Excitation transfer model (Zillmann) the player gets excited while playing the emotional state of a player is intensified after
that3. Cognitive priming (Berkowitz)
playing increases accessibility to a subset of cognitions related to violence and aggression
transfer to real-world aggressive behavior
Why playing violent games can have an effect on aggression- Theoretical foundation
(Anderson & Bushman, 2002; Carnagey & Anderson, 2003; Buckley & Anderson)
Violent media • teaches how to aggress• increases arousal and affective aggressive states• primes aggressive cognitions
When playing is repeated• aggression-related cognitive structures• aggressive perceptual schema• aggressive behavioral scriptsare reinforced and• the aggressive personality of a person increases changes in the environment, e.g. new peers groups, which are more
aggressive use of more violent media
General Aggression Model (GMA)
(Anderson & Bushman, 2002; Carnagey & Anderson, 2003; Buckley & Anderson)
GMA explains short-term effects on aggressive
cognitions, affects, behaviors and phisiological arousal
long-term effects on aggressive attitudes, schemata, personality and aggression desensitization
of violent media.
General Aggression Model
Playing violent games causes a feeling of aggression; Mortal Kombat and Corner Pocket
have been compared (Ballard & West, 1996) induces temporary higher level of anxiety (Anderson & Ford, 1986) correlates with general hostility and anger (Chory-Assad & Mastro, 2000)
But other surveys suggest that playing video games is a weak predictor for anger state (Abel-Cooper, 2001) has no effect on hostility (Anderson & Ford, 1986; Anderson & Dill, 2000) is in no relation with aggressiveness measured by Buss-Durkee
Hostility Inventory and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (Scott, 1995)
Anderson and Dill suggest that playing violent video games does not influence behavior through the affective path, but the cognitive
Affect
Postgame aggressive behaviors such as
the duration and intensity of noise blast to opponents (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Cohn, 1996)
attacking Bobo doll (Shuttle et al. 1988) childrens’ aggressive behavior in free play
(Silvern & Williamson, 1987) time spent playing with an aggressive toy
(Cooper & Mackie, 1986)
showed a relationship between playing violentcomputer games and later behavior in experimentalconditions.
Aggressive behaviors
Violent computer games have no effect on
withholding money from another (Winkel et al., 1987) pushing buttons that could punish or reward
others (Graybill et al., 1987) suggesting punishment or reward to friends
(Cooper & Mackie, 1986; Kirsch, 1998)
Which behaviors do you find more adequate for real life situations?
Aggressive behaviors
Cognitive priming hypothesis would predict that playing violent games increases the accessibility to aggressive thoughts.
It is found out that players of aggressive games• have shorter the reaction time to aggressive words
(Anderson & Dill, 2000)• list more aggressive thoughts (Calvert & Tan, 1994)• interpret ambiguous situations negative (Kirsch, 1998)
after playing (short-term effects).
Continuous playing makes aggressive thoughts chronically accessible to players. Aggressive thoughts can be internalized in players’ mind.
Aggressive thoughts
Playing violent games • increases heart rate for 15 minutes after play
(Griffiths & Dancaster, 1995)• causes more arousal change among girls than
among boys (Fleming & Rickwood, 2001)• increases systolic blood pressure (Ballard & West, 1996)
Winkel et al. (1987) did not find such effect (N=56).
Physiological arousal
Playing violent games reduces the amount of monetary donation to charity among children (third, fourth, seventh and eighth graders) (Chambers & Ascione, 1987)
Children with high preference for violent games show less prosocial behaviors, especially boys(N=278,
10-14 years old) (Wiegman & van Schie, 1998) have a lower self-perception of behavioral
conduct (N=364, fourth and fifth graders) (Funk, Buchman & Germann, 2000)
Playing violent games predicts delinquent behaviors (drinking alcohol and destroying school property) among college students (N=227) (Anderson & Dill, 2000)
Prosocial behavior
Affect results are mixed, it is not clear if hostility and anger are in a
relation with game playingAgressive behaviors
results are mixed; the adequacy of the postaggressive behaviors should be questioned
Priming aggressive thoughts the majority of surveys found a positive relation between playing
violent games and aggressive thoughts after doing soPhysiological responses (heart rate, blood pressure)
Increase of blood pressure and heart rate Prosocial behavior
negative effect of prosocial behavior
Negative effects of violent entertainment games- Summary
Discussion
And next time more about theoretical foundations empirical research findings critic of methodologyin research of the relationship between
violentgame playing and aggression