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Video Games and Well-being

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  • © 2020

Overview

Editors:
  1. Rachel Kowert

    1. Take This, Seattle, USA

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  • Presents research to demonstrate how gaming can be a pro-social, mentally healthy activity
  • Contributes a psychological perspective to an emerging body of cross-disciplinary research on the positive aspects of gaming
  • Synthesizes research from psychology, education, communication science, and media studies

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Cyberpsychology (PASCY)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
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  2. Digital Games and Well-Being: An Overview

    • Felix Reer, Thorsten Quandt
    Pages 1-21

  3. Press Reset

    • Chelsea Hughes
    Pages 23-36

  4. Explore the Map

    • Shane Tilton
    Pages 37-47

  5. Oh Me, Oh My! Identity Development Through Video Games

    • Sarah Sawyer
    Pages 49-63

  6. Forever Questing and “Getting Gud”

    • Jamie Madigan
    Pages 65-76

  7. Positive Psychology and Gaming: Strength and Resilience +1

    • Ryan Kelly
    Pages 77-96

  8. Gaming the Mind and Minding the Game: Mindfulness and Flow in Video Games

    • Mark D. Cruea
    Pages 97-107

  9. Follow the Trail of Enemies

    • Emory S. Daniel Jr.
    Pages 109-123

  10. You Are the One Foretold; Finding Yourself Through the Journey

    • Megan Connell, Kelli Dunlap
    Pages 125-140

  11. Extra Lives

    • Raffael Boccamazzo
    Pages 141-157

  12. Concluding Comments

    • Rachel Kowert
    Pages 159-164

  13. Back Matter

    Pages 165-166
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Keywords

About this book

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.





Reviews

“This is an interesting book. Video games and well-being is an evangelistic work, defending the worth of video games in providing innocent pleasure along with educational, intellectual, and emotional value. … Whether video games will be a valuable tool in the psychological growth of 21st century youth will be determined by clinical studies and, more importantly, the test of time.” (James Van Speybroeck, Computing Reviews, February 4, 2021)

“The book is worthwhile reading as it provides you with a solid understanding how video games can help us grow, learn, thrive, and acquire new skills. It is a must-read book for parents who are perturbed with their children being confirmed gamers. … the book should be considered a good choice for game developers who want to understand how to entice people into buying a brand-new game and at the same time to push up the value of it.” (Kateryna Nykytchenko, Acta Ludologica, Vol. 3 (1), 2020)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Take This, Seattle, USA

    Rachel Kowert

About the editor

Rachel Kowert is the Research Director of Take This, a US non-profit mental health organization that provides resources and information to the gaming industry and gaming communities. As a research psychologist, she has been studying games and gamers for more than 10 years with a specific focus on video game effects.  She has published multiple scientific articles and books on this topic.

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