Many people have the image of video games as socially isolating, if not psychologically addicting. Yet, like my friend Kristin Brandt demonstrated when she joined her son in the online game Wizard101 (see part 1), video games can connect families and friends across time and distances. In my last post, The Positive Side of Video [...]
Video games have been at the forefront of interactive media and continue to be a significant part of the participatory media environment. The thought of a video game still may strike horror into the hearts of many, but video games are just a digital manifestation of a very basic human behavior: play. Playing is where [...]
Worried About Video Games? It’s time to exhale. Video games often get a bad rap, but it’s time we give them a little more credit. Video games and interactive media can have a positive impact on self-efficacy which increases resilience, optimism, and motivation. In this and the following two posts taken from my presentation at [...]
I’m excited to announce the new Master’s program in Media Psychology at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP). This 10-month, accelerated, online-only program was developed by good friend and colleague Dr. Erik Gregory, Executive Director of the Media Psychology Research Center (MPRC) and Head of the Organizational and Leadership Psychology Department of MSPP. Under [...]
Social media has redefined “participatory” in all kinds of ways. Social technologies and easy-to-use tools have changed fundamental assumptions about how we interact with everything, not just each other. It’s time we get used to the idea that kids these days think media is for interacting and not watching. Parents can take comfort in knowing [...]
IMA 2011 Best Webinar Content Award