Video Games And Well-being: Press Start

Description

This book examines how video game mechanics and narratives can teach players skills associated with increased psychological well-being. It integrates research from psychology, education, ludology, media studies, and communication science to demonstrate how game play can teach skills that have long been associated with increased happiness and prolonged life satisfaction, including flexible thinking, openness to experience, self-care, a growth mindset, solution-focused thinking, mindfulness, persistence, self-discovery and resilience. The chapters in this volume are written by leading voices in the field of game studies, including researchers from academia, the video gaming industry, and mental health practitioners paving the way in the field of “geek therapy.” This book will advance our understanding of the potential of video games to increase our psychological well-being by helping to mitigate depression, anxiety, and stress and foster persistence, self-care, and resilience. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Digital Games and Well-Being: An Overview (Felix Reer, Thorsten Quandt)....Pages 1-21 Press Reset (Chelsea Hughes)....Pages 23-36 Explore the Map (Shane Tilton)....Pages 37-47 Oh Me, Oh My! Identity Development Through Video Games (Sarah Sawyer)....Pages 49-63 Forever Questing and “Getting Gud” (Jamie Madigan)....Pages 65-76 Positive Psychology and Gaming: Strength and Resilience +1 (Ryan Kelly)....Pages 77-96 Gaming the Mind and Minding the Game: Mindfulness and Flow in Video Games (Mark D. Cruea)....Pages 97-107 Follow the Trail of Enemies (Emory S. Daniel Jr.)....Pages 109-123 You Are the One Foretold; Finding Yourself Through the Journey (Megan Connell, Kelli Dunlap)....Pages 125-140 Extra Lives (Raffael Boccamazzo)....Pages 141-157 Concluding Comments (Rachel Kowert)....Pages 159-164 Back Matter ....Pages 165-166