wow-psychology
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Nick Yee's new book delves into the psychology of MMO players
Researcher Nick Yee, who has often enlightened us on the subject of MMO player psychology, hasn't been on our radar much since the Daedalus Project went into hibernation (no, not druid-inflicted) back in 2009. Since then, he's done some interesting research with PARC's PlayOn Group, but without hearing much from him in 2013, we had wondered if he'd found a new favorite research subject and had left us behind. But now we can cut out the /weeping, because Yee has released a new book called The Proteus Paradox: How Online Games and Virtual Worlds Change Us--And How They Don't. Here's what it's all about: Using player surveys, psychological experiments, and in-game data, Yee breaks down misconceptions about who plays fantasy games and the extent to which the online and offline worlds operate separately. With a wealth of entertaining and provocative examples, he explains what virtual worlds are about and why they matter, not only for entertainment but also for business and education. He uses gaming as a lens through which to examine the pressing question of what it means to be human in a digital world. His thought-provoking book is an invitation to think more deeply about virtual worlds and what they reveal to us about ourselves. If you've enjoyed reading Yee's previous work, we think you'll enjoy this, too. You can pick up a hardcopy on Amazon now.
Does playing WoW increase your social competence?
A study that looks into how playing World of Warcraft effects players' social competence and loneliness, done by the Tilburg Center for Cognition and Communication at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, was recently released by the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. To players, especially those who are shy or socially anxious, it's no surprise that getting into the game can be an easy way to socialize -- but our perceptions of the game are a long way from scientific evidence. This study surveyed 790 high school students and found an indirect correlation between those who played WoW and those who were more socially competent. From the study itself, "Adolescents who play WoW vary more in their communication partners, leading to an increase of social competence and a decrease of loneliness." This study is a long way from concrete proof one way or the other, but it's nice to know that WoW might not be outright bad for our social skills. [Via NZGamer]
