Video Games in Well-Being

Video Games and Well-Being

Third time's the charm...

Student: Janne Ludwig, 13 T2 EngAdvisor: Mrs. Ruth Pregla

Date: 13th of March , 2022

Index

Introduction

Theses

Video Games

Well-Being

Discussion

Sources

Introduction

Importance of Video Games

- 40% of all people are involved- massive influence on economy, society, culture and media

Not just a hobby

Relevance of Video Games and Well-Being

Importance of Well-Being

- central aspect of the state of physical, psychological and spiritual health - increasement goes with many benefits

- Why the topic Video Games? - Why three diferent kinds of Well-Being?

Previous Research

- Is the act of playing video games likely to increase a gamers agression?- What is responsible for the increase of one's well-being?

Theses

t1

Playing video games has positive effects on the psyche of those who play.

Playing video games satisfies the needs of gamers for well-being.

t2

t3

Playing video games is not generally connected to violent behaviors of those who play them.

Video Games

How we should understand Video Games

General

- are widely considered as part of digital entertainment media- an electric game which is played on a computer or a consol, using the images and sounds the monitor is making as feedback

Keyelements of Video Games

Specific

- commonly used features in video game designing

Gameplay

Story

- extent of interaction and control a player has in the game

- the plot a game is revolving to

Challenge

Art / Graphics

- extent of difficulty a player is confronted with in the game

- visual and audial characteristics a game contains

Video Games

Genres

Shooter (FPS)

Shooter

Casual Games

Action Games

Real-Time-Strategy (RTS)

e.g. Battlefield 1, Apex Legends

e.g. Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Bros.

e.g. Tetris, Plants Vs. Zombies

Horror and Survival

Role-Playing (RPG)

39%

39%

63%

Simulations and Sport

Action-Adventure

- soucre of database: US american survey by ESA, 2021

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)

Video Games

Sideffects of Gaming

The Benefits

Physical

Psychological

Social

- enhanced problem-solving- relieve of stress - faster making of decision

- better eyesight- better hand-to-eye coordination - better concentration

- enhanced prosocial behaviors- Teamwork gets promoted

Video Games

-soucre of database: US american survey by ESA, 2021

Collaboration Skills

Problem Solving

Stress Relief

87 %

81 %

37 %

Video Games

Sideffects of Gaming

The drawbacks

Anxiety

Alexithymia

Depression

- people with depression tend to depress their negative emotions by playing video games

- inability to recognize one's own emotions due their suppression- boys and men are affected more likely

- by excessive playing, gamers often get distracted - causes to develop more anxious thoughts

Video Games

Aggressive Behaviour

And Video Games

- positive correlation between temporarily aggressive tendencies and violent video games- adolescents and teenagers especially susceptible - reinforcing factors were bad family environment, basic aggressive personality of the subjects and misleading convictions about aggression - limitations were self-reports as measurement method and no inclusions of other daily life events containing violence

Diagram linking supporting factors of aggression and violent video game exposure, 2019

Well-Being

Overview

And why you should care about it

- generally defined as a state of mental, physical and psychological health - fundamental sense of well-being makes dealing and overcoming problems more easier - depends on life quality, life satisfaction, social and economic circumstances, political system, etc.

Well-Being

Variety

- no single definition of well-being- depends on field of science how well-being will be defined - for example subjective and objective well-being, individual and environmental well-being, etc.

Hedonic Well-Being

Eudaimonic Well-Being

Social Well-Being

- true happiness comes from the fulfillment of one's own goals and the solving of issues- is often addressed in SDT

- true happiness comes from both the pursue of pleasure and the avoidance of displeasure, especially obligations

- true happiness comes from the active and beneficial interaction with people in different communities

Well-Being

Hedonic Well-Being

- Gaming mainly for the enjoyment of the player- study found that interaction plays a crucial role in one person's happiness and curiosity - making a differcence builds self-conciousness and self-confidence - basic condidtions are generally given in video games due their huge possibilties to interact

1. Video Games are not mandotory. 2. The difficutly a player is facing is free to choose. 3. They itself are posing no consequences.

- Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Ubisoft 2018

Well-Being

Self-Determination Theory

Autonomy

- control of one's issues, behaviours and life in total

Competence

- set of skills needed to master physical and psychological challanges

- refers to a persons ability to live an independant life and make independant decisions - is connected to happiness, mental growth and well-being - fulfillment of three psychological needs necessary

Connection

- sense of belonging, given by friends, family, colleagues, etc.

Well-Being

Extrensic Motivation

Intrensic Motivation

- motivation for activities a person didn't get to chose freely, e.g. homework or jobs- contains pursueation of a goal, to fulfill a duty or to evade a state of unpleasure - extrensical rewards by doing an activity, e.g. money, acceptance, prestige, etc. - potentionally able to decrease one's self-determination

- motivation for activities a person chose freely, e.g. hobbys- activity is important and self-rewarding, e.g. brings enjoyment or increases knowledge - boosts self-determination, yet very easy to dirsturb

- no seperation between those two kinds of motivation- many actions contain both intrensic and extrensic motivations

Well-Being

Eudaimonic Well-Being

Three Psychological Needs

Autonomy

In- and Extrensic Motivation

- Gaming can satisfy need for independance if player is able to choose the majortity of options

positive feedback in video games able to increase intrensic motivation- "Meta-rewards" as a new method of rewarding frequent gaming - looting weapons. materials and other resources is another way to boost extrensic motivation

Competence

- variety of interaction and new challenges needed to provide satisfaction

Connection

- achieveable by playing games with multiple players- NPCs work as well

Well-Being

-Subnautica, Unknown Worlds Entertainment 2018

Well-Being

Social Well-Being

People who play with their friends

53%

- social capital as the main factor for benfical relationships - crucial for social trust, coordination and collaboration - Gaming mostly beneficial for preexisting relationships - more effective if players are physically near each other, e.g. in E-Sport teams

People who play with online only friends

23%

Video Games provided more active connection

53%

People who played more during the pandemic

55%

Average hours spent playing with others in person

4,5 hours per week

-soucre of database: US american survey by ESA, 2021

Review on Theses

t1

Playing video games has positive effects on the psyche of those who play.

- physical, psychological and social benefits by playing video games - however, potential to become addicted is relativley high

Playing video games satisfies the needs of gamers for well-being.

t2

- generally able to satisfy all pychological needs in order to create more subjective well-being

t3

Playing video games is not generally connected to violent behaviours.

- preexisting aggressive tendecies of gamers will most likely increase by playing violent video games

Dicussion

Question 1: Are video games "healthy"?Question 2: Should video games further be investigated in relation of health risks or benefits? Question 3: What is your personal experience video games?

Sources

Adair, Cam (2022): 11 Positive Effects of Video Games, Game Quitters, [online] https://gamequitters.com/positive-effects-of-video-games/ [abgerufen am 05.03.2022].Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Ubisoft Quebec, Playstation 4, Microsoft Windows, XBox One, Ubisoft 2018Cherry, Kendra (2021): How Does Self-Determination Theory Explain Motivation?, Verywell Mind, [online] https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-determination-theory-2795387 [abgerufen am 12.03.2022]. Makeham, Aimee (2021): What is wellbeing and why should I care?, Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, [online] https://www.crrmh.com.au/blog/what-is-wellbeing-and-why-should-i care/#:%7E:text=Research%20has%20shown%20that%20a,employment%20and%20personal%20lives4. [abgerufen am 05.03.2022]. Pavlovic, Dwight (2020): Video Game Genres: Everything You Need to Know, Hewlett-Packard Store, [online] https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/video-game-genres [abgerufen am 03.03.2022]. Röhrle, Bernd (2018): BZgA-Leitbegriffe: Wohlbefinden / Well-Being, Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung, [online] https://leitbegriffe.bzga.de/alphabetisches-verzeichnis/wohlbefinden-well-being/ [abgerufen am 27.02.2022]. Samdo (2021): 2021 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry, Entertainment Software Association, [online] https://www.theesa.com/resource/2021-essential-facts-about-the-video-game-industry/ [abgerufen am 12.03.2022]. Subnautica. Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Microsoft Windows, XBox One, 2018 Video Games and Mental Health Explained | Healthy Gamer (o. D.): Healthy Gamer, [online] https://www.healthygamer.gg/blog/video-games-and-mental-health-explained [abgerufen am 06.03.2022]. Shao, Rong/Yunqiang Wang (2019): The Relation of Violent Video Games to Adolescent Aggression: An Examination of Moderated Mediation Effect, Frontiers, [online] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00384/full [abgerufen am 13.03.2022]. What Makes a Good Video Game? (2020): Pluralsight, [online] https://www.pluralsight.com/blog/film-games/what-makes-a-great-game-the-key-elements-of-successful-games [abgerufen am 27.02.2022].

Thanks for your attention

Any questions?