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Video Game Conditioning Spills Over Into Real Life
doug141 writes "Lessons learned in video games may transcend computers, PlayStations and Wiis. New research suggests that virtual worlds sway real-life choices. Twenty-two volunteers who played a cycling game learned to associate one team's jersey with a good flavored drink and another team's jersey with a bad flavored drink. Days later, 3/4 of the subjects avoided the same jersey in a real-world test. Marketers and lawyers will take note."
On the other hand, my eye-hand coordination often amazes people. And my locational/directional skills are quite good as well. None of the rest of my family can claim either of those.
In addition, I've learned quite a bit about history, politics, art, language... You name it.
So yeah, experiencing things makes you learn from them. No big surprise there. But don't go forgetting that learning can be both good and bad.
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
Well, I don't think I've ever done that in GTA. As a matter of fact, I pretty much try not to hurt anybody in that game unless the progress in the game demands it, such as a rampage forcing you to kill gang members and so forth.
I HAVE learned stuff from games like Gran Turismo. I now find myself finding and driving the perfect line for a corner, even though I am not racing but driving within the speed limit. Of course, unlike in Gran Turismo, if there are lanes on the road, I won't go out of my lane to make the perfect turn. Although in real life, unlike in Gran Turismo, other cars would probably give up their lane if they saw you coming. In Gran Turismo, opponent cars absolutely WILL NOT BUDGE from the perfect line.
If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
It seems very strange to suppose that intentionally creating an association between visual and taste stimuli would magically not work, just because a video game is involved.
And, yet, when violence is involved everyone on this site strongly presumes that there is absolutely no link between stimuli that rewards violent or aggressive behavior and real life aggression. Not a smidgen, not an amount that almost all sane people can control and thus not an amount that has marginal effect on society. None.
'Cause everybody knows that the issue is all about evil politicians and busybodies wanting to control your life. The subject is always black and white -- never gray.
If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").