Podcast 74 - 1.5-Sided Parasocial Relationships

Podcast 74 - 1.5-Sided Parasocial Relationships

Author: Jamie Madigan June 17, 2022 Duration: 52:18
My guests and I talk about how platforms like Twitch are changing how researchers think about parasocial relationships. Is it only one-sided when there's audience interaction?

Ever wonder why a particular game mechanic feels so satisfying or why you keep returning to a certain virtual world? Psychology of Video Games Podcast digs into those exact questions, moving beyond simple reviews to explore the mental machinery behind our play. Hosted by psychologist Jamie Madigan, each episode applies research and theory to understand our experiences with games. You’ll hear discussions on how developers use principles of motivation and learning to craft compelling systems, and what our behavior-from cooperation to rage-quitting-reveals about our minds. This isn’t about finding the next game to play; it’s about understanding the ones you already love on a deeper level. The podcast unpacks the subtle psychological hooks in design, the social dynamics of online worlds, and the cognitive reasons behind our emotional responses. Whether you’re a dedicated gamer or simply curious about human behavior, these conversations offer a unique lens on a popular pastime. Tune in for a thoughtful analysis that connects the dots between academic psychology and the everyday realities of playing video games.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Psychology of Video Games Podcast
Podcast Episodes
029 - Morality in Video Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:54
Moral choice in video games is a concept that has been with us for decades now. Many games feature points where you must decide how your character reacts to moral dilemmas or decide which of two evils is the lesser. And…
028 - Avatar Identification and Video Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:32
In this episode I talk to Dr. Jesse Fox about her research into how we identify with our video game avatars, how that affects how we play, and how it may affect what we take away from games. Specifically, we review a pap…
027 - Collecting in Video Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:41
In this episode we explore what people like to collect virtual objects in video games, why they do it, and what game designers could do to make collections more fun to acquire and use.About this week's guest:The Play & I…
026 - Moral Combat and the War on Video Game Violence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:54
My guests on this episode are Dr. Chris Ferguson and Dr. Patrick Markey, the authors of the new book Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong. We talk about why people tend to blame violent video games f…
025 - A Parent's Guide to Video Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:12
Dr. Rachel Kowert returns to discuss her new book, A Parent's Guide to Video Games. We discuss her process for writing the book, who she thinks it benefits, and the questions and concerns that parents tend to have about…
024 - Electronic Gaming Therapy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:28
Games are good for more than just simple fun. Some psychologists and therapists are using them to help people. In this episode I talk to some people who are using video games as part of therapy for kids and families and…
023 - Self Determination Theory and Video Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:30
There's a substantial body of literature that identifies a triforce of motivation: Competence, Autonomy, and Mastery. That is, we're motivated to do something to the extent that we feel like we can get better at it, that…
022 - Research on Addiction and Aggression [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:09
Turns out that doing science is hard. And doing science involving people is particularly tricky and comes with all kinds of caveats. And then doing research on humans involving something as diverse and personal as video…
021 - Achievements, Goals, and Motivation in Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
Achievements, trophies, badges, and similar rewards are ever present in video games. The assumption seems to be that they motivate players to keep playing a game in order to reach some goal or get some reward, but is tha…
020 - Year 1 of Psych of Games Articles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:48
I'm working ahead on new podcasts, new articles, and a conference lecture. In the meantime, enjoy the audio versions of 12 Psychology of Games articles all assembled together for your listening pleasure. About the podcas…