Reduced judgment through role playing games

Study: RPG on the computer lead to „increased robotic behavior in the real world "

02/02/2015

If you frequently play role-playing games on the computer, you may lose much of your natural judgment in the long term. This is the conclusion of a recent study by the University of Witten / Herdecke, published in the renowned specialist magazine „Journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review“ has been published.

Computer role-playing games influence the behavior of people in the real world
Role playing on the computer is not only a popular leisure activity for many adults. Even children are already turning into virtual avatars - often robot-like beings - and experiencing bold adventures in fantasy worlds.

What may initially appear to promote imagination and creativity, but in the long term has a negative impact on human behavior in the real world. This is pointed out by Prof. Ulrich Weger from the University of Witten / Herdecke. „Role-playing games on the computer promote robotic behavior“, so his conclusion from a recent study.

Weger and his team had test subjects play a role-playing game on a computer for seven minutes during a test series. One control group stayed in the same room, but was only allowed to look over the shoulder of the other subjects, but did not play on their own. Subsequently, all study participants should identify suitable candidates for specific occupations. Each candidate received a brief description of their abilities from two candidates. In each case, this resulted in a much better qualification. In addition, the study participants were presented with two recommendations from virtual assistants, but these were not always correct in terms of suitability.

Robotic behavior through role-playing games on the computer reduces judgment
„Of particular interest to the study were the cases in which the virtual assistants gave false judgments“, reports Weger. „In these cases, it turned out that people who had previously played a virtual role-playing game themselves were more inclined to blindly follow the assessments of the virtual assistants - they then often gave the wrong judgment.“ From a psychological point of view, it is not surprising that the mental merging with a robot-like nature in the real world influences the ability to judge and to experience, the psychologist continues.

Earlier research had already shown that playing computer role-playing games can reduce sensitivity to emotional information, such as those of others and others. „The results speak a clear language. With these studies in mind, we should ask ourselves what these games do to us and how we want to handle them. Even the longer-term effects are completely unknown“, reminds Weger. „If we wait until we have complete certainty about such long-term effects, it is certainly too late for appropriate countermeasures.“ (Ag)