Jane McGonigal, a PhD game designer, champions the power of video games in fostering skills and mental health recovery. She discusses how challenging games can build confidence and a growth mindset. The impact of gaming on decision-making, mental resilience, and post-traumatic growth is explored. Jane shares insights on using games for education and creativity, emphasizing the importance of balancing play with real-life skills. Additionally, she touches on navigating misinformation and the potential of gaming in future technologies.
Challenging video games can instill a growth mindset and resilience to handle difficult situations.
Incorporating game elements in recovery can help individuals feel motivated, optimistic, and engaged in their own healing process.
Playing video games can improve future thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and preparation for changes and disruptions.
Deep dives
Building Confidence and Learning Skills Through Games
Playing challenging video games can provide transferable benefits such as increased confidence, the belief in one's ability to learn and improve, and the development of new skills. Whether it's League of Legends, Fortnite, or Candy Crush, games designed to be challenging can instill a growth mindset and resilience to handle difficult situations.
Using Games for Recovery and Rehabilitation
Jane McGonigal, a game designer and PhD researcher, developed the game SuperBetter to aid in her own recovery from a brain injury. SuperBetter has helped over a million people recover from various challenges, including brain injuries, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and more. By incorporating game elements, SuperBetter helps users feel motivated, optimistic, and engaged in their own healing process.
The Benefits of Gaming in Personal Growth and Future Thinking
Playing video games can benefit individuals by improving future thinking and anticipation skills. Gamers often develop the ability to think several steps ahead and imagine different scenarios and outcomes. This skill can be valuable in various real-life situations, including problem-solving, decision-making, and navigating complex systems. Further, games can help individuals explore and imagine future possibilities, enabling better preparation for changes and disruptions.
Benefits of Single Player vs Multiplayer Games
There are distinct benefits to playing both single player and multiplayer games. Single player games are great for focusing attention and managing anxiety, as they provide a solo gaming experience that helps with concentration and emotional wellbeing. On the other hand, multiplayer games, even if played remotely without direct interaction, offer social support and a sense of community. People who engage in multiplayer games with the same group of players often report increased social connections and a support network in their everyday lives.
The Skills Developed Through Gaming
Gaming can develop valuable skills that are applicable in real-world scenarios, particularly in the context of virtual collaboration and remote work. Leading guilds or coordinating resources in games can cultivate skills such as collaboration, managing virtual environments, and adapting to new technologies. As the future of work continues to involve virtual and remote collaborations, gamers who have honed these skills are well-positioned to navigate the changing work landscape. Playing challenging video games can be a practical way to prepare for the future of work, which may resemble the dynamics of multiplayer games more than traditional office jobs.
Jane McGonigal is a PhD Game Designer who advocates for the use of video games to help people learn skills that transfer to the real world, heal physical problems like concussions and improve attitudes and self-esteem in children. Shane and Jane discuss how video games help with decision making, post-traumatic growth as well as how much is too much, what to watch out for and so much more.
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