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Increasing Societal Well-Being Through Enhanced Empathy Using Computer Games

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Well-Being in Contemporary Society

Part of the book series: Happiness Studies Book Series ((HAPS))

Abstract

Recent research suggests that the well-being of both individuals and society in general may have a neurobiological basis linked to empathy. This raises the issue of available routes for enhancing empathy (through interventions such as education, training, pharmacology, etc.). One of the most important features of the human brain, especially of the brains of children and teenagers, is its plasticity. Millions of children and teenagers spend many hours every day playing computer games. Many computer games include different forms of violence and aggression and there has been extensive research that indicates that there is a correlation between playing these games, aggression, and reduced disposition to pro-social behaviors. However, much less research has been conducted on the potential effects of pro-social and non-violent computer games. Since there is not yet a comprehensive model of the possible causal relationships between playing such games and neuropsychological function, neuroendocrine function (e.g. oxytocin release), empathy, pro-social behaviors, and individual and societal well-being, we provide a basic theoretical framework for empirical research on these issues. The aim of this framework is ultimately to establish not only correlational evidence, but to allow the development of experimental protocols to meaningfully examine the causal relationships and mechanisms.

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  1. Department of Cognitive Neuroscience and Philosophy, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden

    Judith Annett & Stefan Berglund

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  1. Judith Annett
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Correspondence to Judith Annett .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Johnny H. Søraker

  2. Department of Philosophy and Economics, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany

    Jan-Willem Van der Rijt

  3. Department of Philosophy, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Jelle de Boer

  4. Institute for Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

    Pak-Hang Wong

  5. Department of Philosophy, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Philip Brey

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Annett, J., Berglund, S. (2015). Increasing Societal Well-Being Through Enhanced Empathy Using Computer Games. In: Søraker, J., Van der Rijt, JW., de Boer, J., Wong, PH., Brey, P. (eds) Well-Being in Contemporary Society. Happiness Studies Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06459-8_8

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