'bad' video game behavior may lead to pro-social behavior in real world

[eShirl]

'Bad' video game behavior increases players' moral sensitivity: May lead to pro-social behavior in real world

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140627163750.htm

"Rather than leading players to become less moral," Grizzard says, "this research suggests that violent video-game play may actually lead to increased moral sensitivity. This may, as it does in real life, provoke players to engage in voluntary behavior that benefits others."

The study, "Being Bad in a Video Game Can Make Us More Morally Sensitive," was published online ahead of print on June 20 in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking.

Grizzard points out that several recent studies, including this one, have found that committing immoral behaviors in a video game elicits feelings of guilt in players who commit them.

The current study found such guilt can lead players to be more sensitive to the moral issues they violated during game play. Other studies have established that in real life scenarios, guilt evoked by immoral behavior in the "real-world" elicits pro-social behaviors in most people.

[littlemissmartypants]

1. I am dubious. eom

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. I knew it!

I just knew that whacking people's heads off with a shovel in 'Postal' made me a more morally sensitive person in rl!

Oh wait, I wasn't ever planning to whack anybody's head off with a shovel in rl anyway. So I guess that being 'more sensitive to the moral issues' involved in whacking off heads with a shovel doesn't actually mean much in my life. Oh well.

[groundloop]

3. I didn't have video games as a kid ....

so maybe that's why I'm such an asshole now.