Date of Award

12-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Psychology

Abstract

An analysis of how video games display psychological concepts and facilitate psychological experiences. Video games are an extremely competent medium for experiences and learning psychology due to the manner in which they elicit emotions and teach procedurally. Psychological concepts are explained in a brief way, then specific examples are brought up from video games connecting the concept to an element in the game, specifically in gameplay mechanics, narrative story, or aesthetics and elements in the game world. Behavioral science is examined both on a conceptual level and on a technical level showing how video games, in general, display the theories within behavioral science. Other psychological concepts shown in video games include the fields of psychoanalysis, cognitive psychology, dreams, and social psychology. Psychological experiences that video games emotionally facilitate include stress, addiction, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and many other specific mental disorders. Video games also show applications of mindfulness and acceptance. Video games competently show that they are a medium that allows for a safe and effective way to understand and experience psychological concepts.

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Faculty Mentor

Rylish Moeller

Departmental Honors Advisor

Scott Bates