Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) & Gaming: Annotated Bibliography
John R. Gates, Victoria L. Pocus
Department of Education, Michigan State University
MAET Overseas Summer
July 14, 2022
Bartle, R. A. Players Who Suit MUDs. https://mud.co.uk/richard/hcds.htm. Accessed 14 July 2022.
Bartle formulated a taxonomy with four different types of players: Achievers (players who give themselves game-related goals and persevere until they achieve them), Explorers (players who try to find out as much as they can about the game’s virtual world), Socializers (players who use the game’s communication facilities to interact with other players), and Killers (players who use the tools provided by the game to cause distress or to beat other players.
Bethesda Softworks. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Official Trailer. (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSRtYpNRoN0
Some audio and images from the trailer for this video game were used in the video accompanying the poster for this project.
Dittrick, C. J., Beran, T. N., Mishna, F., Hetherington, R., & Shariff, S. (2013). Do Children Who Bully Their Peers Also Play Violent Video Games? A Canadian National Study. Journal of School Violence, 12(4), 297–318. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2013.803244
Geek & Sundry. Curious Beginnings | Critical Role: The Mighty Nein | Episode 1. (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byva0hOj8CU
Some audio and images from this show were used in the video accompanying the poster for this project.
Hamilton, F. (2021). How video games can teach your brain to fight depression. Painted Brain. https://paintedbrain.org/news/how-video-games-can-teach-your-brain-to-fight-depression/
There is a strong correlation found between gaming and positive emotions. It made sense that a metacognitive mindset for learning would lend itself to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) due to the encouragement of their mindful thinking-about-thinking approaches. This resource also mentions that CBT is, “one method of treating depression.” The whole following quote is relevant but especially the second sentence, “According to statistics, more than 1.23 billion people enjoy playing computer games, but more importantly, we now understand what is going on in these people’s heads. According to research, when a person plays video games, two areas of his brain are constantly stimulated: the one responsible for motivation and the one that makes him want to achieve new goals.”
Higgin, T. (2014). Inventive games that teach kids about empathy and social skills. (n.d.). KQED. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/35117/inventive-games-that-teach-kids-about-empathy-and-social-skills
This resource gives short overviews of games that focus on SEL and related skills. They provide pro-social environments and encourage experiential learning. “We’re in the midst of a multiplayer video game renaissance that’s bringing people together.”
Jones, C. M., Scholes, L., Johnson, D., Katsikitis, M., & Carras, M. C. (2014). Gaming well: links between videogames and flourishing mental health. Frontiers in psychology, 5, 260. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00260
"Video games have innate design elements that affiliate with aspects of well-being and playing them can provide scopes for a flourishing mental health."
Quinn, Z. Depression quest: An interactive (Non)fiction about living with depression. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2022, from http://www.depressionquest.com/
Ratini, M. (n.d.). Video game addiction. WebMD. Retrieved July 14, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/video-game-addiction
This resource provides a World Health Organization (WHO) definition of “Gaming Disorder” as well as the fact that the only activity currently listed as an addiction is gambling. There is a detailed list of signs to watch for, questions to ask to evaluate whether or not gaming is problematic, additional resources if professional help is needed, and tips for not exceeding a healthy amount of gaming.