Losing Together, Winning Apart: Effects of Game Outcome, Group Agency, and Teamwork on Prosocial Outcomes

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session III
  In Interactive Paper Session: Game Studies Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study sought to examine how game type (competition vs. cooperation) with either a mixed group of humans and computer agents or a group of all humans, when combined with game outcome (win vs. lose) may influence affect, anxiety, attitudes toward others in the group, and altruism. A total of ninety-three players participated in a 2 x 2 x 2 laboratory-based factorial experiment to examine these effects. Results indicated that participants experienced significantly higher anxiety while playing with human groups than with a blended group. In addition, the results suggested that participants playing in human groups felt positively toward the group when they lost than when they won. However, for participants playing in a blended group, losing resulted in more positive attitudes toward the group than did winning. Implications for the CASA paradigm are discussed.

Authors

• Jose Aviles, Pennsylvania State U

• Arienne Ferchaud, Pennsylvania State U