Cooperative video game play elicits pro-social behavior, research finds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150508105656.htm

Date: May 8, 2015
Source: Texas Tech University
Summary:
A new study examined aggressive behavior between subjects playing games cooperatively, competitively and by themselves. It seems playing video games cooperatively with others can lead to widespread benefits by making players think helpful behaviors are valuable and commonplace.

One Texas Tech University researcher wondered about the implications of teaming up with others in video games and how this differs from playing alone, competitively, or not at all. It seems playing video games cooperatively with others can lead to widespread benefits by making players think helpful behaviors are valuable and commonplace.

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"What we found was cooperative play seems to have the biggest effect in terms of decreasing aggression toward other people," Velez said. "We found that playing with a helpful partner increases the expectation of others to reciprocate that pro-social behavior and generally be helpful. That applies to not only the teammate, but to others as well. The other interesting thing we found was when playing with a helpful teammate, you're nicer to the other team you just competed against that tried to beat you, even though you don't expect them to give it back to you."

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