Computer Game Boosts Self-Esteem

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Can computer games help raise self-esteem? Researchers from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, say absolutely. They have designed and tested computer games they say specifically enhance self-acceptance.
 
The researchers explain, "The three games work by addressing the underlying thought processes that increase self-liking. As athletes know, to learn any new habit takes a lot of practice. Our team wanted to create a new way to help people practice the desired thought patterns to the point of being automatic."

In the first computer game, EyeSpy: The Matrix, players are asked to search for a single smiling face in a matrix of 15 frowning faces. Repeating the exercise trained players in the study to focus their attention on positive rather than negative feedback.

The second game, Wham!, has players register their name and birthday. Once the game is in action, the player's personal information is paired with smiling accepting faces. Players have experiences similar to being smiled at by everyone and, thus, take on a more positive attitude about themselves.

For the third game, Grow Your Chi, the researchers combined the tasks of Wham! and EyeSpy: The Matrix. Players of Grow Your Chi try to nurture their inner source of well-being by responding to positive vs. negative social information.

Investigators plan to study whether these types of games will be helpful to schoolchildren, salespeople dealing with job-related rejection, and perhaps people on the dating scene.

Researchers say poor self-esteem remains an incredibly complex issue. Therefore, they caution, "These games do not replace the hard work of psychotherapy.”

All three games are available to play at http://www.selfesteemgames.mcgill.ca.

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SOURCE: To be published in upcoming issues of Psychological Science and Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology