ERIC Number: EJ987899
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0218-8791
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Available Date: N/A
Video Games as Moral Educators?
Khoo, Angeline
Asia Pacific Journal of Education, v32 n4 p416-429 2012
The growing interest in video gaming is matched by a corresponding increase in concerns about the harmful effects on children and adolescents. There are numerous studies on aggression and addiction which spark debates on the negative effects of video gaming. At the same time, there are also studies demonstrating prosocial effects. This paper focuses on how video games, particularly massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMOs and MMORPGs for short) that allow interaction with other players, can play a part in players' moral and character development. Although there are many games with moral content, the MMO game "World of Warcraft" ("WoW" for short) is used as an illustrative example because of its popularity, to demonstrate how players, through game content and game play, are confronted with moral dilemmas which demand decision-making, social obligations and responsibilities, perspective-taking and empathy, perseverance and delayed gratification.
Descriptors: Addictive Behavior, Play, Moral Issues, Ethical Instruction, Computer Games, Video Games, Moral Values, Moral Development, Didacticism, Popular Culture, Game Theory, Values Education, Educational Opportunities, Reflection, Role Playing, Mass Media Effects, Mass Media Role
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education; Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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