Author: Farzad Hoque, Class of 2028

The relationship between video games and behavior has long sparked debate within psychology and education. Investigations on how different game genres may influence levels of aggression and social intelligence among regular gamers have been conducted for decades, and recent research shines a new light on the matter. Similar to what has been commonly believed, researchers hypothesized that distinct game genres might uniquely impact players’ social intelligence and aggression, potentially offering insight into genre-specific behavioral outcomes.
Dr.Anirudha Chaube and Dr.Aarsha Ajayan at Kristu Jayanti College, Bengaluru, collected their data using a quantitative approach. They recruited 150 participants, aged 18 to 30, who had engaged in gaming for at least two years. Data on aggression was collected using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, known for its strong reliability. The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire is a widely used psychological tool measuring aggression levels across dimensions like physical aggression, anger, and hostility, using a 5-point Likert scale​. Social intelligence was measured through the Manipulation, Empathy, and Social Irritability (MESI) scale. The MESI scale evaluates this through manipulation, empathy, and social irritability, using a 5-point Likert scale for responses​. The researchers analyzed the data using regression analysis through SPSS, focusing on the effects of various game genres on aggression and social intelligence.Researchers found no statistically significant impact of game genres on aggression, as evidenced by a p-value greater than 0.05 in the regression analysis. However, social intelligence did show a significant relationship with game genres (p = 0.014). Post-hoc tests highlighted that players engaged in Platformer and Puzzle games demonstrated higher social intelligence levels than those playing Role-Playing and Shooter games. This data suggests that while aggression may not be heavily influenced by genre, social intelligence is more sensitive to the type of game played.  This finding partially confirms the researchers’ initial hypothesis regarding behavioral differences across game genres.
These findings suggest that certain game genres, specifically Platformer and Puzzle games, may foster social intelligence, an essential skill in personal and professional contexts. Recognizing these genre-specific impacts could inform gaming recommendations for positive cognitive and social development. Future research may delve into long-term effects, narrative elements, and gameplay mechanics to explore more nuanced interactions between video games and psychological outcomes.

Figure1: Man getting angry about a violent video game he is playing.

Works Cited:

[1] Chaube, A., & Ajayan, A. (2024). Impact of game genre on aggression and social intelligence. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(2), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i02.16967

[2] Pexels. (n.d.). Photo of a man in a black shirt screaming [Photograph]. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-man-in-a-black-shirt-screaming-9072289/