Redefining the psychology of games: A unifying framework beyond play and gaming

This article proposes a novel theoretical framework for understanding the psychological processes involved in playing games, distinguishing it from broader concepts like play and narrower concepts like gaming. By identifying and delineating the core psychological dimensions inherent in game-playing experiences, the aim is to provide a structured approach for experimental psychology to study this form of human activity as object of inquiry and to use it as an experimental tool in psychological research. The framework emphasizes the interplay between symbolic, perspectival, performative, and metacognitive processes during game-playing, offering insights into how games can serve as tools for psychological research. The implications of this framework for experimental design, measurement, and interpretation highlight its potential to advance our understanding of human behaviour through the lens of game-playing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).