ABSTRACT

Evolutionary Psychology and Digital Games: Digital Hunter-Gatherers is the first edited volume that systematically applies evolutionary psychology to the study of the use and effects of digital games. The book is divided into four parts:

  • Theories and Methods
  • Emotion and Morality
  • Social Interaction
  • Learning and Motivation

These topics reflect the main areas of digital games research as well as some of the basic categories of psychological research. The book is meant as a resource for researchers and graduate students in psychology, anthropology, media studies and communication as well as video game designers who are interested in learning more about the evolutionary roots of player behaviors and experiences.

part I|17 pages

Theories and Methods

chapter 2|17 pages

Evolution of Play

Playing Digital Games between Biological Imperatives and a Pretend Mode of Thinking

chapter 3|17 pages

Digital Sandboxes for Stone Age Minds

Virtual Worlds as Bischofian Fitness Potential Landscapes

chapter 4|12 pages

Hardwired to Play

An Evolutionary, Neurophysiological Approach to Video Game Research

chapter 5|11 pages

Survival of the Fittest Interpretation of Data

Problems with Flexible Analysis and Interpretation of Digital Games Research Based in Evolutionary Psychology Theories, and Open Science as a Solution

part III|36 pages

Social Interaction

chapter 10|12 pages

(Potential) Incubators of Prosocial Behaviors

An Evolutionary Approach to Understanding Dynamic Social Video Game Interactions

chapter 11|10 pages

New Worlds, Old Rules

An Evolutionary Psychology Approach to Player Behavior in Online Games

chapter 12|11 pages

Safety in Numbers

Online Community Sizes in Response to Digital Human Predation

part IV|12 pages

Learning and Motivation

chapter 13|12 pages

You Learn What You Play

On the Fundamental Coupling of Playing and Learning in Humans and Digital Games

chapter 14|14 pages

Learning to Play

How Virtual World Affordances Drive Adaptation and Learning in Grand Theft Auto

chapter 15|12 pages

Game On

Sex Differences in the Production and Consumption of Video Games

chapter 16|16 pages

Of Princesses, Paladins, and Players

Gender Stereotypes in Video Games

chapter 17|12 pages

Natural Born Virtual Killers

Towards an Integrated Model for the Appeal of Violent Video Games