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Competence-impeding electronic games and players' aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behaviors
Andrew K Przybylski1, Edward L Deci, Edward Deci1
1Department of Clinical and Social Sciences, University of Rochester.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|January 1, 2014
Summary
Video games can increase aggression by frustrating players' need for competence. This study found that when games impede competence, players experience more aggressive feelings and behaviors, regardless of game violence.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Media Psychology
Background:
- Debate exists on whether electronic games foster aggression.
- Mechanisms linking gaming to aggression require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if gaming is associated with aggression due to impeded psychological need for competence.
- To explore the motivational hypothesis derived from self-determination theory.
Main Methods:
- Seven studies were conducted using multiple methods.
- Player competence was manipulated, and aggression was evaluated using various approaches.
Main Results:
- Competence-impeding gameplay led to increased aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
- Perceived player competence positively correlated with gaming motivation.
- Gaming motivation was negatively associated with player aggression.
Conclusions:
- Gaming-related aggression is linked to the frustration of the need for competence, not necessarily violent content.
- Findings support psychological need frustration theories in the context of gaming aggression.
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