Psychologists Claim Games Alter Personal Reality

[Fbuh]

It isn't just games though. It's pretty much and type of information media that get's across to us. It's called human behavior. As a social species, our inherent instincts and reactions are to want to bond with our environment and the people around us. Commonly accepted information medias help bring us together. In short, it helps us to feel accepted and fill a niche in society. Or I'm just spouting bullshit. With me, you can never tell (much to the chagrin of my family).

 

[zontelfonzo]

Didn't some people say the same things about dungeons and dragons about 30 years ago. It seems to be that claims like these are just recycled every 20-30 years and stuck on something that a previous generations is unused to. Although claims that aren't 100% factual aren't really something to be bothered about until, someone starts accepting it as 100% truth, especially because of ignorance.

 

[RobfromtheGulag]

I think the study is valid, but if anything I'd extrapolate it to say that gamers are open to viewing reality in more ways and hence are more open minded.

 

[Mauso88]

Games are more immersive now, I still find myself looking into the sky for UAV's after a MW2 marathon. I just think it shows that people have imaginations.

Just last night I was still clicking my right index finger into the underside of my pillow as I was dozing off, I also dream I'm still at work sometimes after coming home and falling asleep.

I don't think we know even the smallest fraction of how the human mind works.

 

[SemiHumanTarget]

I realized this was true a few weeks ago when, after a long Black Ops session, I looked outside my window at a woman riding a bicycle and saw a red player tag above her head. Luckily, I didn't have my MP5 on hand, or I would have pwned her.

 

[Pebblig]

Haha, I can only really recall slight feelings or sensations, like feeling exceedingly happy when performing a certain action that reminds me of something in a game etc.

But when it comes down to dreams...well. I know I'm playing too much of a game 'cos I'll have particularly strange dreams about it the next night xD

Although I absolutely love feeling like I'm going on a quest when I leave the house, or carrying something on my back!

 

[THE M3RCENARY]

Am I the only one thought of Largo when they read the thread title?

I guess I fall victim to this a little bit.

I was walking around at school and I felt like I was was playing AC: Brotherhood in real life.
I've looked at buildings thinking that they are perfect for Zombie defense.
I have also seen white walls and thought "Hey, I could put a portal there!"

It is quite fun actually.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

From interviews with 42 Swedish gamers between the ages of 15 and 21,

5 reasons why this study is unscientific.

Griffiths and his colleagues claim that games can cause "intrusive thoughts, sensations, impulses, reflexes, optical illusions, and dissociations."

And there's the killer.

Psychological studies are required to be blind, encapsulate a large group, have a control group, and not test groups that are likely to be undergoing other such alterations in their personal life.

They also can't state that anything can cause another without strong (95% correlation) statistical evidence. And they certainly can't prescribe symptoms that are subjective, correlated to other findings or untested.

Griffiths paper also notes that these momentary bursts of games affecting real world perceptions don't seem to have any affect on a person's ability to differentiate between what is real and what is fictional.

So it can't cause reality differentiations but can cause disassociations? I think Griffith is the one with dissasociation problems.

 

[Goldeneye1989]

Sadly the sample size for this is far to small to be "game changing" .hahahahahaha ...i am so alone.

 

[Kedos]

Games, books, movies, art, what doesn't alter your reality? It can sometimes be bad if it OVERWHELMS you, but in natural moderation it's just like any other life experience, in the topic context of course.

So I don't see video games as a mysterious, brainwashing, reality invader pseudo-drug.
Except for WoW, WoW is evil!

 

[keideki]

When I read the title of this article all I can think of is a boring lecture in the To aru majitsu/kagaku anime(s) about how personal realities are the basis of all psychic powers via expression in an AIM field.

 

[AngloDoom]

Makes sense.

Hell, thanks to hanging around a group of free-runners over the Summer I view every building in terms of hand-holds.

I think it's quite nice, actually. It's harmless and kind of quirky.

 

[dietpeachsnapple]

An upside: If we ever want to perfect virtual reality, this will be an important step; understanding how the mind internalizes virtual content.

The perceived downside: Panic - assume this will make all FPS players into murderers. To console those making this lead, what the authors are talking about happens with EVERY form of media or simulation of reality. One cannot read a BOOK without the contents of that book having an influence on future thought or actions. They do not control us, and we have an entire history of experience that informs our consciousness as to the attribution of the information.

 

[ArtanisCreed]

an here people go again blaming things other than what the problem is... the person.

 

[Rex Fallout]

When I'm home alone at night, sometimes I hear a little girls voice saying, "Come along now Mr. Bubbles." And she mutters things about chocolate being better than grapes... it's creeping me out.

But in all seriousness, I could *somewhat* see how this is true. Many games have had a big impact on what I believe, but maybe not exactly in the confusing reality sense...

 

[CardinalPiggles]

what are you guys talking about, i understand the concept, but i dont remember anything like this happening to me.

although now i think about it i do have compulsion to fit everything neatly, and tetris was my favourite game ever.

i dont experience these short term perceptions though.

 

[Ekonk]

Any good work of art alters how you see reality.

In books: 1984, Oryx & Crake, House of Leaves.
In films: Fight Club, The Matrix, The Truman Show.
In games: Deus Ex, Korsakovia, The Path, The Void.

And those are just the ones I can think of right now.

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

I actually agree with this theory. I may have done some things mentioned.....like Metal gear

 

[Paragon Fury]

Well, obviously this explains my inexplicable need to shatter every single light I see after a marathon session of Splinter Cell.

Still haven't figured out how to turn off the sun though.