New Book: Games Can Enhance Empathy in Children
New Book: Games Can Enhance Empathy in Children
January 8, 2009
Is your copy of Grand Theft Childhood getting a bit lonely up there on the bookshelf?
If so, new book by psychiatrist and gamer Dr. Kourosh Dini might make a great companion piece.
Video Game Play and Addiction: A Guide for Parents addresses the controversy over game addiction, examines the impact of video games on children, and provides advice for parents who are “overwhelmed and under informed about the games their children play.”
Of his book, Dini said:
Games have lots of benefits, which unfortunately, parents aren't always aware of when the only games they're exposed to are the controversial violent ones targeted to more mature players. Age appropriate multi-player video games can allow children to learn how other people think - a key aspect of empathy. Games can also help a child become more comfortable with new and ever progressing technology...
To be sure, there are those who play problematically. Learning how to tell the difference can be critical toward promoting healthy development.
Other topics covered include:
- Improved learning and communications skills
- Emotional and mental health
- Aggression
- Motivational and withdrawal issues
- ESRB ratings
Via: PR Web
-Reporting from San Diego, GamePolitics Correspondent Andrew Eisen…
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
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Posted 11/21/09 at 10:57am
ZippyDSMlee: magic_taco:days are more specail when zippy gets up in the AM!!!!
ZippyDSMlee: magic_taco:days are more specail when zippy gets up in the AM!!!!
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:21am
magic_taco: ...ok...
magic_taco: ...ok...
Posted 11/21/09 at 08:16am
ZippyDSMlee: Welcome and goodmorning its zippy in the AM....wat OMG its 8:50AM!!!!
ZippyDSMlee: Welcome and goodmorning its zippy in the AM....wat OMG its 8:50AM!!!!
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:42pm
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:17pm
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:01pm
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:59pm
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:49pm
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:46pm
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:44pm
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:42pm
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:33pm
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:25pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:07pm
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:56pm
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
Oh Andrew ma boi, you wouldn't happen to know if this is available at Barnes and Nobles?
I have errands to run out that way, so if you know if they sell it I'll make a stop.
I can always call, but I've never been on hold for less than 30 minutes there.
It is.
Andrew Eisen
Anything outside of a scientific journal is a waste of one's time. Anyone can publish a book, regardless of its validity. Just look at Mein Kampf.
Godwin's Law, deoVIRUS.
For once, it actually works in our favor.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
How is pointing out a book full of racist lies and propaganda related to Godwin's law? Mein Kampf has predates Nazi's, seeing as Hitler wrote it in prison before coming to power.
Godwin's Law isn't limited to Nazis, it applies to anything by Hitler, as it applies to Hitler himself
岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」
But he never made any comparison to Nazi's. He just used mein kampf as an example.
He compared this new book to Mein Kampf, albeit indirectly, by calling both a waste of one's time.
Either way, Godwin's Law is invoked and this discussion is over.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
Godwin's Law: "As [an Internet] discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one."
the Hitler part was fulfilled, by mentioning 'Mein Kampf'
岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」
I think using Out of Harm's Way might have been a better analogy than Mein Kampf. While both books contain enough lies that they should be labeled fiction, Out of Harm's Way has more to do with the topic at hand I believe.
I prefer to use hyperboles, they get peoples attention.
True. It did get everyone's attention.
Only thing is, it's Nazi-related. Hence, Godwin's Law is invoked and this has long since been over.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
A Nazi-related comment does NOT automatically mean Godwin's Law is applicable. If the comment is irrelevant or overly hyperbolic in using the Nazi reference, then Godwin's Law applies. I will admit that its level of appropriateness in a given situation is somewhat subjective, but it's not a black and white thing, either.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
Really? I never felt empathy for the stormtroopers I bisected.Neither did I feel any for the ones I shoved down bottomless pits... or the ones I drained the life energy of... or...
They are talking about multiplayer games. You know, the ones where you interact with other real people. By observing how they react in gaming situations, you can gain understanding of what goes through their minds. That is the first step towards empathy.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
Yeah, but how many friendships have been destroyed by Contra?
"Damn, I died a third time. Let me get one of your lives."
"Well...alright..."
"Ok cool...argh, I fell into a pit. I'm gonna take another one."
"Stop stealing my lives you bastard!"
Hehehe, good times, good times.
Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!
I remember nearly losing one because of Mortal K Combat III... Something about me playing as Noob Saibot and them never getting a chance to land a hit.
Or apathy...
"STFU U NUB!"
"OMG your so gay!"
"Your a *** you know that? No one likes you!"
and finally
"MOM I WANT MY CHOCOLATE MILK!!!!"
I felt bad for the guys in Dues ex half of the fodder are jsut fools lead on by master minds...thus why I loved MR traq dart.....oh....those were the days....
Why is it I always have unhealthy relations with fictional characters.......
Shearing/Downloading will never be a mainstream market.
Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes
of transportation of story and thought, to take them from
society and you create a society of children and nannys
"Unhealthy relations with fictional characters" . . . Lara Croft?
Age appropriate multi-player video games can allow children to learn how other people think - a key aspect of empathy.
That's the first I've heard someone make this claim, normally I hear critics claiming video games lead to apathy. There is merit to it, considering you're interacting with real people in a controlled environment.
This is where Alevan comes in and says hitting children upside the head makes them more empathic.
More stupid maybe... And the world really doesn't need anymore of those types.
I didn't realize empathy was something that could or had to be learned. And I don't think it's necessarily a good thing that anyone has empathy for something that isn't alive and doesn't feel anything, such as a fictional character in a video game. Sure, I've felt guilty while stealing or killing in various games (like the Elder Scrolls games), but when I see an NPC drop the floor after I deplete it's health meter, I don't feel like I just killed someone, and I shouldn't. Just seems a tad unhealthy to me.
Is it just me or do most of the people writing about video games and championing/combating them know absolutely nothing about them?
Maybe this is different, I don't know, it sounds like another book written to profit off of a controversy with no real sources, or one source repeated over and over.
All things in moderation. An entire martini is fine for most people, some should avoid it. For the vast majority of the population, a large bottle of vodka is not a one night drink.
Huh. I've been wanting to pick up some books to read and this might be a good one to look into. I'll be taking a trip to my local book store when I get the chance.
Amy Levandoski
Make sure to get one on the DRM too, and any others that are in regards to topics you have no understanding of but continue to comment about.
(Inspired by Ashton. Kudos, brother!)
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon
"An Internet troll draws near!"
Dragon Quest troll FTW!
岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」
And to think we have Toriyama-sensei to thank.
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"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon