"Like so many technological and cultural innovations, video games went through a phase of being blamed for all manner of society's ills as they became more popular. But as all but the most committed opponents gave up on the idea that video games might cause violence, a possibly more productive question has emerged - in what ways might playing games actually be good for us?"
""So a lot more research has been done on the harms." The potential psychological benefits of video games are a fairly new area of study, but the work that's been done there does look promising. In one of the best-known studies of its kind, researchers from universities in Canada and the United States found that playing Thatgamecompany's Flower produced effects almost identical to practicing mindfulness meditation among 80 students."
Video games moved from being widely blamed for societal harms to being investigated for positive psychological effects. Cozy games prioritize calm, cute aesthetics and appear to be one promising context for mental-health benefits like stress reduction and increased positive emotion. Research is still emerging but shows encouraging results: one study found Flower produced effects similar to mindfulness meditation. Multiple studies link gaming to reduced loneliness and improved mood, with benefits observed in both cozy titles and more challenging or violent games. Ongoing questions include whether cozy games are uniquely restorative and how to define the genre.
Read at Inverse
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