

The Gaming Persona
Daniel Kaufmann Ph.D. | Dr. Gameology
Welcome to The Gaming Persona, a unique podcast that traverses the exciting crossroads of gaming and mental health. With your host, Dr. Gameology, peel back the layers of the gaming world to discover its profound impact on our cognitive and emotional health. You'll understand how video games, far from being mere entertainment, can act as powerful tools for personal growth, stress relief, and mental resilience. Join fellow gamers and enthusiasts in thought-provoking discussions, unraveling the intricacies of game design, the psychology of gaming, and the surprising ways in which these elements influence our well-being. Immerse yourself in The Gaming Persona, the one-of-a-kind podcast that seamlessly blends the worlds of video gaming and mental health. Guided by our resident (but not evil) expert, Dr. Gameology, we endeavor to unlock the untapped potential of gaming as a catalyst for enhancing our mental resilience, stimulating personal growth, and promoting stress relief. The Gaming Persona is fascinated by the intricacies of game design, exploring the careful balance of challenges, rewards, narratives, and immersion that makes video games captivating experiences. Through engaging discussions, we illuminate the psychological aspects of gaming – the motivations, the emotional connections, and the gratification that players derive from their virtual adventures. But our exploration doesn't stop there. We also examine the transformative potential of video games on our mental landscapes. Drawing from a wide swath of research, anecdotal evidence, and personal experiences, we highlight how gaming helps shape cognitive abilities, emotional resilience, and social skills. The Gaming Persona is more than just a podcast. It's a platform for gamers and non-gamers alike to gain a new perspective on gaming - not as a mere hobby or a form of escapism, but as a powerful medium of self-improvement and well-being. Each episode of our show is meticulously crafted to provide a balanced blend of immersive storytelling, engaging discussions, and knowledge-packed content. We delve into the heart of game design, unraveling the intricate weave of elements that make video games a compelling form of entertainment and a profound tool for personal development.But we're not just about games. We're about you, the gamer. The Gaming Persona aims to cast a fresh light on the psychological facets of gaming that resonate with players. We decode the motivations, the emotional bonds, and the sense of fulfillment that gamers derive from their digital exploits. And it doesn't end there. As you tune in week after week, you'll discover the transformative power of gaming on cognitive flexibility, emotional resilience, and social connections. You'll hear from researchers, mental health professionals, game developers, and fellow gamers who share their insights, experiences, and personal anecdotes.Imagine a podcast that can simultaneously entertain, educate, inspire, and challenge your perspectives. That's The Gaming Persona for you. By making us a part of your weekly routine, you're embarking on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery, all while indulging in your love for video games.So, if you're ready to challenge the status quo and explore the intersection of gaming and mental health, join Dr. Gameology and a vibrant community of like-minded individuals on this enlightening journey. So, why wait? Subscribe to The Gaming Persona today. Challenge your perspectives, enrich your mind, and game your way to mental resilience. With each episode, you won't just be playing; you'll be growing, learning, and evolving. Subscribe to The Gaming Persona now, and game your way to a healthier mind.#gaming #mentalhealth #thegamersjourney #wellbeing #gameology #gamingpersona #podcast #gamerlife #gamingcommunity #healthygaming #healthygamer #psychologyofgaming #continuethejourney
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 24, 2022 • 44min
Overwatch 2 Has Released, & Doc is Playing It!
Send us a textOverwatch 2 was released in October 2022. Dr. Gameology decided to (finally) play a PVP First-Person Shooter on Twitch, and he really liked it!Doc and Jenny decided to read books and look up reddit posts to get a full idea of where the research on Overwatch players has already gone, and they share their preliminary findings.Support the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Oct 17, 2022 • 52min
Education & Video Games (featuring ESA President Stanley Pierre-Louis)
Send us a textThis week, Dr. Gameology and Gene bring in the President and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, Stanley Pierre-Louis!!Topics included how video games support varied learning styles, which game titles assist with learning and other important experiences, and how our soft / hard skills are used to solve complicated puzzles in rapid ways while gaming.Support the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Oct 10, 2022 • 58min
Gambling on Twitch & Playing Video Games
Send us a textThis week, The Gaming Persona reflects on the September 2022 policy update for Gambling on Twitch Streams. Dr. Gameology taps into his past as the Clinical Director for statewide gambling treatment in Florida to shed light on the ways this impacts people requiring treatment in order to search for a pathway back to being their best self.Support the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Sep 27, 2022 • 54min
We Did This Show For 2 Years!!
Send us a textThe Live Stream Twitch Celebration of the Two Year Gaming Persona Anniversary occurred on September 14th. Join Dr. Gameology (Dr. Daniel Kaufmann), Jenny Lebron, and Gene Wong on a free flowing conversation looking back at Season 2 of the show, favorite moments, and hopes for the next season. Most of all, Continue the Journey! Thanks to all of our listeners and supporters. We could not have made the show what it has become without the support and interest from all of you. Gaming Library:Dead By Daylight, Final Fantasy XIV Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Genshin Impact, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Castlevania, Pokémon, Mortal Kombat 2, Fallout 3, Cyberpunk 2077, WWE 2K22, Game Dev StorySupport the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Sep 19, 2022 • 42min
The Psychology of Pokémon Is Out in the Wild!
Send us a textDr. Gameology is joined by Jenny and Gene to discuss the growth of the show and the release of "The Psychology of Pokémon: The Power to Catch 'Em All." Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, the real life person behind Dr. Gameology, wrote Chapter 15 of this book, and is getting ready to talk about it at Orlando Nerd Nite. The Gaming Persona crew talks about different ins and outs of seeing the Pokémon party have an impact in daily life so we can all aim to be our very best!Gaming Library:Pokémon, Danganronpa 2, Dark Souls, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Fallout 3 / Fallout 4, Bioshock, Griftlands, Temtem Support the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Sep 12, 2022 • 1h 7min
Feeling Nostalgia in Our Video Games - Interview with Dr. Jamie Madigan
Send us a textThe host of The Psychology of Video Games podcast - Dr. Jamie Madigan - joins the show this week to discuss one of the chapters from his book; Getting Gamers. This week, we dive into nostalgia, how games use it, when it works, and why it sometimes doesn't work as well. Gaming Library:Elden Ring, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Final Fantasy XIV Online, God of War / God of War: Ragnarok, Jedi: Fallen Order, The Last of Us: Part 1, Mario Kart 64, Rock Band, Resident Evil, Minecraft, Fortnite, Roblox, New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, Devil May Cry 4 / Devil May Cry 5, Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat 9 / MK Trilogy / Mortal Kombat 11, Dark Souls / Demon’s Souls, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, PokémonSupport the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Sep 5, 2022 • 1h 18min
Are Orcs Depicted in a Racist Way - Interview with Dr. Chris Ferguson
Send us a textThe Gaming Persona welcomes Dr. Chris Ferguson to the show! This week, we review one of his research studies which explored perceptions from players related to whether orcs are portrayed in a racist way in Dungeons and Dragons.Gaming Library:Elden Ring, Final Fantasy XIV Online, Pokémon, Dead By Daylight, Assassin's Creed, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dungeons & Dragons, PathfinderSupport the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Aug 29, 2022 • 60min
Quitting Games Can Be a Good Thing
Send us a textDr. Gameology and the Gaming Persona cast review games they have had to step away from. This difficult decision comes accompanied by research and player experiences from the entire group. This thoughtful discussion aims to bring gaming habits into a real-life context that helps to emphasize the value of knowing your in-game goals, and using play time as a way to help you move forward as your best self.Gaming Library:Live A Live, Assassin's Creed, Dead By Daylight, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Darkest Dungeon, Bioshock, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XIV, Resident Evil 5 / VII / VIII, World of Warcraft, Mega ManSupport the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Aug 22, 2022 • 1h 4min
Dead By Daylight and Asymmetric Multiplayer
Send us a textDr. Gameology has played Dead By Daylight for the first time. After an evening of getting chased down by Killers of all kinds, he reflects on the experience and discovers the research on this style of multiplayer. Spirited debate ensues on what winning and competition mean in the context of a game in this style. Gaming Library:Dead By Daylight, Borderlands, Oregon Trail, Among Us, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat 2Support the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!

Aug 15, 2022 • 56min
Video Games Do NOT Reduce Wellbeing
Send us a textThe Gaming Persona reviews a recent publication by Vuorre et al. (2022) which found no significant reduction in wellbeing due to gameplay patterns. Dr. Gameology talks with Jenny and Gene to uncover what it is about video games that works for their week, and what they pay attention to so they can stay on the right path.Gaming Library:Persona 5, Persona 3 Portable, Final Fantasy XIV Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Spiritfarer, Journey, Danganronpa , Candy Crush, World of Warcraft, Kingdom Hearts, Resident Evil, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeSupport the showIf you would like to support the show and help us unlock additional possibilities for future episodes and projects, this can now be done through Patreon!You can watch us play games LIVE and join our communities to get more connection from every episode: DrGameology on Twitch - Continue the Journey LIVE in 2025!! MarcusB814 on YouTube - BOOMBA Subscribe on YouTube for more content on the Psychology of Gaming or Follow on Twitch to catch the Live Streams! For more info, check out DrGameology.com!More Links Here!Thanks for Listening, and Continue The Journey!