What is psychology?
Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes conscious and unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feelings, and motives. Psychology is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between the natural and social sciences.
The Theories Behind Video Games
Psychological theories provide valuable insights into our interaction with video games. One prominent theory is the concept of “flow,” proposed by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1975. This theory suggests that individuals become fully immersed and deeply engaged in games. Game developers leverage this psychological principle to create captivating experiences by striking a balance between challenge and skill, providing clear goals, and offering immediate feedback. Understanding this theory helps us appreciate the design choices and experiences crafted by game developers.
Motivation
Intrinsic motivation drives someone to perform a task for the enjoyment of the task itself. Games can really address intrinsic needs we have as human beings. Being able to make our own choices in life can help self-esteem, makes us feel happier and motivates us. Incorporating that thinking into the design of a game, through things like player choice, will really improve the experience for the game player. And it’s satisfying needs rather than wants; those intrinsic needs. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, drives someone to perform a task simply for an external reward or to avoid punishment.
