Exploring the prosociality domains of trust and cooperation, through single and cooperative digital gameplay in Path of Trust.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v3i3.125Keywords:
video games, prosocial video games, prosocial behavior,Abstract
Amidst an ongoing debate surrounding the traditional dichotomy of whether video games are good or bad for children, in this paper we present Path of Trust, a novel, prosocial game that aims at helping children understand the importance of teamwork and learn how and when to express trustworthiness. We have created a colorful, non-violent digital game, in which children aged 7-10 can be exposed to prosocial content and develop specific prosocial attitudes, such as cooperation and trustworthiness, driven by the fact that video games with prosocial content can be used to improve social interactions. The game was designed to maintain an attractive and engaging nature, which is usually associated with games that are often vilified within social circles in terms of being packed with tons of action and violence. We conducted two separate studies to test our game’s modeling of prosocial behavior, which demonstrate the potential of the game as a tool for teaching important prosocial behavior to children.
References
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[32] Greitemeyer, T., Traut-Mattausch, E., & Osswald, S., “How to ameliorate negative effects of violent video games on cooperation: Play it cooperatively in a team”, Computers in Human Behavior, 28(4), 1465-1470, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.03.009
[33] Greitemeyer, T., “Playing video games cooperatively increases empathic concern”, Social Psychology, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/1864-9335/a000154
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[43] Finnegan, D. J., Velloso, E., Mitchell, R., Mueller, F., & Byrne, R., “Reindeer & wolves: exploring sensory deprivation in multiplayer digital bodily play”, Proceedings of the first ACM SIGCHI annual symposium on Computer-human interaction in play (pp. 411-412). ACM, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2658537.2661309
[44] LeBlanc, M., “Tools for creating dramatic game dynamics”, The game design reader: A rules of play anthology, 438-459, 2006.
[45] Brams, S. J., Jones, M. A., & Klamler, C., “Proportional pie-cutting”, International Journal of Game Theory, 36(3-4), 353-367, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00182-007-0108-z
[46] Rotenberg, K. J., “The conceptualization of interpersonal trust: A basis, domain, and target framework”, Interpersonal trust during childhood and adolescence, 8-27, 2010.
[47] Apostolakis, K. C., Kaza, K., Psaltis, A., Stefanidis, K., Thermos, S., Dimitropoulos, K., Dimaraki, E., & Daras, P., “Path of Trust: A prosocial co-op game for building up trustworthiness and teamwork”, Games and Learning Alliance: Fourth International Conference, GALA 2015, Rome, Italy, December 9-11, Revised Selected Papers. Springer. To appear, 2015.
[48] Brockmyer, J. H., Fox, C. M., Curtiss, K. A., McBroom, E., Burkhart, K. M., & Pidruzny, J. N., “The development of the Game Engagement Questionnaire: A measure of engagement in video game-playing”, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45(4), 624-634, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2009.02.016
[49] Marsh, S. P., “Formalising trust as a computational concept”, University of Stirling, 1994.
[2] McClarty, K. L., Orr, A., Frey, P. M., Dolan, R. P., Vassileva, V., & McVay, A., “A literature review of gaming in education”, Gaming in education, 2012.
[3] Anderson, C. A., Gentile, D. A., & Dill, K. E., “Prosocial, antisocial, and other effects of recreational video games”, Sage Publications, Inc, 2012.
[4] Baniqued, P. L., Kranz, M. B., Voss, M. W., Lee, H., Cosman, J. D., Severson, J., et al., “Cognitive training with casual video games: points to consider”, Front. Psychol, 4, 1010, 2013.
[5] Nouchi, R., Taki, Y., Takeuchi, H., Hashizume, H., Nozawa, T., Kambara, T., et al., “Brain training game boosts executive functions, working memory and processing speed in the young adults: a randomized controlled trial”, PloS one, 8(2), e55518, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055518
[6] Owen, A. M., Hampshire, A., Grahn, J. A., Stenton, R., Dajani, S., Burns, A. S., et al., “Putting brain training to the test”, Nature, 465(7299), 775-778, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature09042
[7] Buday, R., Baranowski, T., & Thompson, D., “Fun and games and boredom”, Games for Health Journal, 1(4), 257-261, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2012.0026
[8] Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J., “Human aggression. Psychology”, 53(1), 27, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135231
[9] Anderson, C. A., Gentile, D. A., & Buckley, K. E., “Violent video game effects on children and adolescents”, New York: Oxford University Press, Vol. 10, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195309836.001.0001
[10] "Oxford: Oxford university press", Oxford English Dictionary, 1989.
[11] Penner, L. A., Dovidio, J. F., Piliavin, J. A., & Schroeder, D. A., “Prosocial behavior: Multilevel perspectives”, Annu. Rev. Psychol., 56, 365-392, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070141
[12] Vuillier, L., & Cook, C., “ProsocialLearn: D2.1 User requirements”, 2015.
[13] Greitemeyer, T., & Mügge, D. O., “Video games do affect social outcomes a meta-analytic review of the effects of violent and prosocial video game play”, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 0146167213520459, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0146167213520459
[14] Gentile, D. A., Anderson, C. A., Yukawa, S., Ihori, N., Saleem, M., Ming, L. K., et al., “The effects of prosocial video games on prosocial behaviors: International evidence from correlational, longitudinal, and experimental studies”, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0146167209333045
[15] Greitemeyer, T., & Osswald, S., “Effects of prosocial video games on prosocial behavior”, Journal of personality and social psychology, 98(2), 211, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0016997
[16] Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J., “Effects of violent video games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature”, Psychological science, 12(5), 353-359, 2001. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.00366
[17] Metacritic. (n.d.)., “High Scores”, Retrieved March 10, 2016, from Metacritic.com: http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/all/all/filtered?sort=desc
[18] Matysiak, S. A., & Soute, I., “Support of social skill development in children age 7-10 through technologyaided game”, Wydawnictwo PJWSTK, 2010.
[19] Dunn, J. R., & Schweitzer, M. E., “Feeling and believing: the influence of emotion on trust”, Journal of personality and social psychology, 88(5), 736, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.88.5.736
[20] O'Hara, K., “Trust: from Socrates to spin”, Icon Books, 2004.
[21] Uslaner, E. M., “The moral foundations of trust”, Cambridge University Press, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511614934
[22] Jones, G. R., & George, J. M., “The experience and evolution of trust: Implications for cooperation and teamwork”, Academy of management review, 23(3), 531-546, 1998.
[23] Rotenberg, K. J., Boulton, M. J., & Fox, C. L., “Cross-sectional and longitudinal relations among children's trust beliefs, psychological maladjustment and social relationships: are very high as well as very low trusting children at risk?”, Journal of abnormal child psychology, 33(5), 595-610, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-6740-9
[24] Ferguson, C. J., “Violent video games and the Supreme Court: lessons for the scientific community in the wake of Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association”, American Psychologist, 68(2), 57, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0030597
[25] Anderson, C. A., “An update on the effects of playing violent video games”. Journal of adolescence, 27(1), 113-122, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2003.10.009
[26] Anderson, C. A., Carnagey, N. L., Flanagan, M., Benjamin, A. J., Eubanks, J., & Valentine, J. C., “Violent video games: Specific effects of violent content on aggressive thoughts and behavior”, Advances in experimental social psychology, 36, 200-251, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(04)36004-1
[27] Anderson, C. A., Shibuya, A., Ihori, N., Swing, E. L., Bushman, B. J., Sakamoto, A., et al., “Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and prosocial behavior in eastern and western countries: a meta-analytic review”, Psychological bulletin, 136(2), 151, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0018251
[28] Ferguson, C. J., “Evidence for publication bias in video game violence effects literature: A meta-analytic review”, Aggression and Violent behavior, 12(4), 470-482, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2007.01.001
[29] Ferguson, C. J., “The good, the bad and the ugly: A meta-analytic review of positive and negative effects of violent video games”, Psychiatric Quarterly, 78(4), 309-316, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11126-007-9056-9
[30] Ferguson, C. J., & Kilburn, J., “The public health risks of media violence: A meta-analytic review”, The Journal of pediatrics, 154(5), 759-763, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.11.033
[31] Jerabeck, J. M., & Ferguson, C. J., “The influence of solitary and cooperative violent video game play on aggressive and prosocial behavior”, Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2573-2578, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.06.034
[32] Greitemeyer, T., Traut-Mattausch, E., & Osswald, S., “How to ameliorate negative effects of violent video games on cooperation: Play it cooperatively in a team”, Computers in Human Behavior, 28(4), 1465-1470, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.03.009
[33] Greitemeyer, T., “Playing video games cooperatively increases empathic concern”, Social Psychology, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/1864-9335/a000154
[34] Eron, L. D., & Huesmann, L. R., “The relation of prosocial behavior to the development of aggression and psychopathology”, Wiley, 1984.
[35] Buchman, D. D., & Funk, J. B., “Video and computer games in the '90s: children's time commitment and game preference”, Children today, 24(1), 12, 1996.
[36] Dill, K. E., Gentile, D. A., Richter, W. A., & Dill, J. C., “Violence, sex, race and age in popular video games: A content analysis”, In E. Cole & J. Henderson Daniel (Eds.), Featuring
females: Feminist analyses of the media. Washington, DC:American Psychological Association, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/11213-008
[37] Lenhart, A., Kahne, J., Middaugh, E., Macgill, A. R., Evans, C., & Vitak, J., “Teens, video games, and civics: teens' gaming experiences are diverse and include significant social interaction and civic engagement”, Pew internet & American life project, 2008.
[38] Olson, C. K., “Children's motivations for video game play in the context of normal development”, Review of General Psychology, 14(2), 180, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0018984
[39] Olson, C. K., Kutner, L. A., Warner, D. E., Almerigi, J. B., Baer, L., Nicholi, A. M., et al., “Factors correlated with violent video game use by adolescent boys and girls”, Journal of adolescent health, 41(1), 77-83, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.01.001
[40] Ferguson, C. J., “Blazing angels or resident evil? Can violent video games be a force for good?”, Review of General Psychology, 14(2), 68, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0018941
[41] Purchese, R., “Temple Run 2 is the fastest-spreading mobile”, Eurogamer: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-01-temple-run-2-is-the-fastest-selling-mobile-game-ever, 2013.
[42] Marsh, J., Plowman, L., Yamada-Rice, D., Bishop, J. C., Lahmar, J., Scott, F., . . . others. (2015). Exploring play and creativity in pre-schoolers’ use of apps: Final project report. Sheffield: University of Sheffield. www.techandplay.org.
[43] Finnegan, D. J., Velloso, E., Mitchell, R., Mueller, F., & Byrne, R., “Reindeer & wolves: exploring sensory deprivation in multiplayer digital bodily play”, Proceedings of the first ACM SIGCHI annual symposium on Computer-human interaction in play (pp. 411-412). ACM, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2658537.2661309
[44] LeBlanc, M., “Tools for creating dramatic game dynamics”, The game design reader: A rules of play anthology, 438-459, 2006.
[45] Brams, S. J., Jones, M. A., & Klamler, C., “Proportional pie-cutting”, International Journal of Game Theory, 36(3-4), 353-367, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00182-007-0108-z
[46] Rotenberg, K. J., “The conceptualization of interpersonal trust: A basis, domain, and target framework”, Interpersonal trust during childhood and adolescence, 8-27, 2010.
[47] Apostolakis, K. C., Kaza, K., Psaltis, A., Stefanidis, K., Thermos, S., Dimitropoulos, K., Dimaraki, E., & Daras, P., “Path of Trust: A prosocial co-op game for building up trustworthiness and teamwork”, Games and Learning Alliance: Fourth International Conference, GALA 2015, Rome, Italy, December 9-11, Revised Selected Papers. Springer. To appear, 2015.
[48] Brockmyer, J. H., Fox, C. M., Curtiss, K. A., McBroom, E., Burkhart, K. M., & Pidruzny, J. N., “The development of the Game Engagement Questionnaire: A measure of engagement in video game-playing”, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45(4), 624-634, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2009.02.016
[49] Marsh, S. P., “Formalising trust as a computational concept”, University of Stirling, 1994.
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Exploring the prosociality domains of trust and cooperation, through single and cooperative digital gameplay in Path of Trust. (2016). International Journal of Serious Games, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v3i3.125
