Thinking Like An Opponent: The Relation Between Empathy, Competition, and Enjoyment in Gaming
James O. Butler, PhD University of Glasgow Abstract: As personality traits may be considered stable aspects of individual difference, it is suggested that empathy might bear a relational role with those who participate in gaming pursuits. Three kinds of gaming hobbies – video-, fantasy roleplaying, and board- – will be assessed for the extent to which each might strengthen (or indeed be the result of a higher base level of) empathic ability. Qualitative results were unfortunately inconclusive; none of the groups exhibited a significant difference from the control, across any of the four empathic factors identified by Davis’ Interpersonal Reactivity ...
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