The principle of learned helplessness
Games have often been touted as an escape, but they can also be powerful tools for learning and empowerment. In many games, players are tasked with overcoming challenges and accomplishing goals, which can help to instil a sense of accomplishment. Moreover, games often require players to think strategically and hone problem-solving skills.
Unfortunately, they can also create barriers and take control away from players. This is why creating great ways to encourage mastery is so important. Easy to learn but hard to master as the old saying goes. Tutorials can be a great way to show what is possible but they can also be a double-edged sword that creates new unintended player limitations and put players into a passive state.
Related: Learning styles
What is Conditioning theory
Conditioning theory is a psychological theory that explains how people learn and remember habits and skills. It has been used to study how people develop video game habits and skills, such as learning new strategies or combos.
Some key ideas from conditioning theory include:
The principle of reinforcement: This states that when a person experiences a pleasant experience (reinforcement), they are more likely to repeat the behaviour in the future. This is why rewarding children for good grades or doing things that make them happy can help them learn and remember information better.
The principle of extinction: This states that when a behaviour is no longer consistently reinforced, it usually decreases in frequency. For example, if you stop playing a video game because you're not getting rewards anymore, you're likely to lose interest in the game and stop playing it.
The principle of Pavlovian conditioning: This is the process by which humans learn to associate certain stimuli (such as smells or sounds) with certain behaviours. For example, you might learn to associate the sound of a bell with the feeding of your dog.
The principle of learned helplessness: This says that if someone is repeatedly presented with an event or situation where they cannot control their own outcomes, they will eventually become passive and stop trying. This is why people sometimes give up on difficult tasks or try to avoid situations that make them uncomfortable.
Player Agency & Self-determination
Self-determination theory grew out of the work of psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, who first introduced the idea in their 1985 book Self-Determination and Intrinsic Motivation in Human Behavior. It suggests that the need for growth and gaining mastery over challenges drives behaviours. Giving player agency in games could take many forms such as skill tress for different play styles.
Self-determination theory suggests that people are motivated to grow and change by three innate and universal psychological needs.
Autonomy: People need to feel in control of their own behaviours and goals. This sense of being able to take direct action that will result in real change plays a major part in helping people feel self-determined.
Competence: People need to gain mastery of tasks and learn different skills. When people feel that they have the skills needed for success, they are more likely to take actions that will help them achieve their goals.
Connection or relatedness: People need to experience a sense of belonging to other people and this is something that games do very well at by offering guilds, teammates, opponents and social features.
Self-determination theory in games is the process of giving players control over their own experiences. This can be done through choices the player makes about their character, or by allowing the player to control the direction of the game. By giving players this level of control, it allows them to feel like they are in charge of their own destiny, which is a key element of self-determination theory. Games that use this theory can create a more immersive and satisfying experience for players.
Related: Leveraging Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
Learned Helplessness
limiting beliefs can come from our experiences with other people or things or even our own self-imposed limitations of what we think we can do. That is why how we respond to our failures is so important. Our brains can only draw from past experiences, which is why we have such a big fear of the unknown, whether it be a failure or even a success.
Taking away agency from users can create these unintended “ropes” that leaned passivity and helplessness.
To combat this game designers have come up with many ways of rewarding users for exploring or experimenting. Designers have also found ways of turning failures from dead ends into learning opportunities.
It is necessary to guide users through new experiences to prevent them from becoming frustrated or lost. However, this can lead to excessive hand-holding that ruins the gaming experience by removing the sense of agency and can lead to players becoming passive viewers in an interactive experience.
Excessive hand holding in games has become a meme. Take a look at this classic Tutorial level from Far Cry 3: Blood Dragons.
Related: How games teach through play
Learned Empowerment
If you have ever spent any time feeling powerless or insignificant then you will understand why most people love to be empowered. They want to feel strong, capable and in control of their lives. Whether it's power-ups, rewards or celebration moments. Games have many mechanics and conventions designed to make the player feel awesome.
This is especially true for empowering players to feel competent and capable in the game world. Through mastery of game mechanics and systems, players can be taught how to better handle difficult situations and problems. But is important to give players feedback and create powerful learning loops and choices.
Many people view video games as a form of entertainment. However, some people believe that video games can have a positive effect on players’ feelings of empowerment. In fact, some studies have shown that video games can boost players’ self-esteem and give them a sense of accomplishment. Here are four reasons why video games can make players feel empowered:
Video games provide a sense of control. Many video games allow players to control their own destiny by making decisions that affect the outcome of the game. This sense of control can build players’ confidence and give them a feeling of empowerment.
Video games challenge players to be more creative and innovative. Many video games require players to solve puzzles and challenges in order to progress. This challenging gameplay can help players develop problem-solving skills and increase their self-confidence.
Video games allow players to communicate with other players online. Many video games allow players to interact with other players online in order to cooperate or compete against one another. This social interaction can help players develop confidence and communication skills.
Video games can provide a sense of community. Many video games allow players to connect with other fans online and share tips and tricks
Positive reinforcement
Giving players the tools and knowledge they need to get the win and then celebrate their success can lead to them developing a sense of agency and empowerment. Many games have delightful celebration moments that encourage the player through feedback.
Example: Killing the Wolf at the Beginning of Bloodborne
In Bloodborne’s first level you wake up in an empty building with a large wolf enemy in your way with only your bare hands to fight it. You will inevitably lose this fight as it's a scripted loos.
After you die you are taken to the hubworld of the game where you learn about some of the different systems of the game then are given access to some weapons.
You then go back to the first level and are now equipped with the weapons and knowledge you need to easily defeat the wolf.
Giving simple learning loop disguised as a badass revenge victory moment. making you feel powerful and empowered.
Related: How games teach through play
Player Control
Accessibility features are not just about lowering the barriers to entry for people with difficulty but its also a great way to give players the tools to customize their own play experience.
meaningful choice
Games with meaningful choices can also help players learn that their make decisions can have an impact both small and big. for example Games like Bioshock give you meaningful fun choices harvesting or saving the Little Sisters has different consequences that affect the gameplay, story and ending. Other games like The Walking Dead series also offer choices but with more dire consequences based on the decisions you make.
Conclusion
Ultimately players can experience the thrill of empowerment in a video game by conquering any evil empires or vanquishing hordes of monsters empowering moments in gaming can come from something as simple as learning new skills and gaining mastery over a challenging situation. Gives us a great sense of accomplishment long after we put down the controller.