Fair Play: How Justice Beliefs Drive Gaming Habits
Gaming
Video games have been getting a bad rap for decades — mostly from parents who are concerned that their kids are wasting time, ignoring more important pursuits or are becoming addicted to them. But perhaps what drives people to video games is, in fact, their desire for justice in society.
A new study from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications argues that, regardless of their narratives, video games are rule-based and generally follow the rules of justice. The study examines players’ fundamental beliefs about fairness and justice and how they are associated with players’ gaming preferences and experiences.
The research team, led by Media Production, Management, and Technology Associate Professor of Yu-Hao Lee explores how people’s belief in a just world (BJW) shapes their interaction with video games. Lee and UFCJC graduate students Sunny (Qing) Xu, Xiaotong Yu and Hanzi He used the framework of justice motive theory, which posits that people have a fundamental need to see the world as a just place where people receive what they deserve.
The study comprised an online survey of 296 participants who responded to questions about their game use and preference for game features (strategy, role-playing, puzzles, etc.). The team examined two aspects of beliefs about justice: the belief that the world is just to oneself (BJW-self) and the belief that the world should be just to others (BJW-others).
The results revealed distinct patterns in how these specific beliefs influenced players in their gaming choices.
Players with strong beliefs in personal justice (BJW-self) showed a marked preference for strategy games that rely on tactical planning and skill and often lead to predictable outcomes. The personal-justice players also reported experiencing lower levels of loneliness, which suggests that engaging with rule-based systems might provide the individual with a sense of control and order that can extend beyond the gaming environment.
On the other hand, players who believe strongly in justice for others (BJW-others) gravitated toward games that allow them to assume the mantel of moral characters who have the ability to restore justice through actions and deeds. These players also had a greater interest in multiplayer games that involve both cooperation and competition — perhaps seeking worlds where they can pursue fair play and collective justice.
The researchers found no connection between justice beliefs and problematic gaming behaviors or unhealthy escapism — common complaints from those who criticize gaming. This finding challenges the narrative that gaming is mere escapism and suggests that seeking justice through video games may have positive ramifications.
Understanding how players’ justice beliefs influence their gaming preferences could lead to the creation of more impactful experiences. It also suggests that games might offer supportive and safe spaces for exploring and reinforcing healthy beliefs about justice and fairness.
This study has important implications for game designers and the gaming industry and provides opportunities for understanding the complex relationship between core values and entertainment choices. As video games continue to evolve as a dominant form of media, understanding the deeper motivations of players becomes increasingly important for both creators and consumers.
The original paper, “Seeking Justice in Video Games: Belief in a Just World and Video Game Preferences,” was published in the Psychology of Popular Media on Sept. 19, 2024.
Authors: Yu-Hao Lee, Qing Xu, Xiaotong Yu, and Hanzi He.
This summary was written by Gigi Marino.
Posted: December 17, 2024
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Gaming
Tagged as: gaming, Hanzi He, Justice, Sunny Qing Xu, Xiaotang Yu, Yu-Hao Lee
