Have you ever found yourself mucking something up, and thinking to yourself, “Oh, it’s okay – I’ll just reload a checkpoint”? If so, you’re probably pretty normal.
According to a study over at the universities of Nottingham Trent and Stockholm (via SBS), something researchers are now calling “game transfer phenomena” is responsible for this weird thinking, and not some misfiring synapse in your medulla oblongata.
More than half of the 42 research subjects reported using video game strategies to resolve real life problems, which in some cases included reflexive movement like pressing a controller or mouse button. Some of the more bizarre examples included people actually seeing icons over other people’s heads – so maybe we shouldn’t rule out those misfiring synapses just yet.
“We believe this is the first study to attempt to explore game transfer phenomena, and these initial findings have proved extremely interesting,” said Professor Mark Griffiths, one of the researchers on the project.
“Almost all the players reported some type of GTP, but in different ways and with varying degrees of intensity. We are now following this up with a further study of a much larger number of gamers.”
“A recurring trend suggests that intensive gaming may lead to negative psychological, emotional or behavioural consequences, with enormous implications for software developers, parents, policy makers and mental health professionals.”
Sounds like another “good” reason for FOX News to blame games for bad behaviour.
“Game transfer phenomena” explains why you avoid red trashcans on the pavement << Comments and views
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