Spell It: Have you ever rage-quit a video game? The anger you feel is just the tip of the iceberg
We learn how it's not violent content that drives aggression in gamers, but something else
Rage – it’s all consuming, it makes you want to scream and literally break things. Why does anger make us lose all control?
Play today’s Spell It and find “rage” as one of the 45 words you can create with the letters provided.
In his book Emotional Intelligence, American psychologist Daniel Goleman explains that anger causes blood to flow to the hands, making it easier for people to strike an enemy or even grab hold of a weapon. The heart rate speeds up, there is a rush of hormones, and adrenaline creates a surge of energy that’s potent enough to take immediate action – no matter how awful the action is.
But there’s a flip side to anger. It’s often a protective mechanism – an iceberg that people usually focus on, but that hides a whole range of emotions beneath the surface.
One way it manifests is through video games.
Disturbing imagery or violent storylines are often accused of fostering feelings of aggression in players. But a March 2014 study published in the US-based Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that hostile behaviour is linked to gamers’ intense experiences of failure and frustration during play, rather than any violent content within the game. The study was the first to look at gamers’ psychological experience, instead of just focusing on game content.
You or someone you know might have experienced this kind of frustration, which is commonly known as “rage-quitting” among gamers. Throwing the controller in frustration after losing a game, is an example of this kind of behaviour. Researchers found that it wasn’t the storyline or imagery, but the lack of mastery over the game’s controls, and the difficulty players had in completing the game that led to feelings of rage.
It's why seemingly nonviolent games like Tetris or Candy Crush can leave players just as aggressive after a poor round of gaming.
What makes you angry, and do you try to consider what other emotions are causing you to feel frustrated? Play today’s Spell It and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.