Can Video Games Make You a Kinder Person?

I've played a lot of games that ask players to make deep moral choices and many of those games claim that the choices you make have an impact on the way that the story unfolds.  I've never really thought about if those games or those choices could possibly make me more empathetic or even kinder.  In this week's episode of PBS's "Game/Show," Jamin explores research and questions related to this topic.  Here is the episode if you want to watch it:

I thought that it was interesting that there is VR research being conducted on this issue and that it seems to indicate that the answer is "yes."  I think an immersive situation like VR is probably much different than someone who is just sitting playing a regular game.  I tend to play characters a certain way in most games and that way is typically that of the "nice guy/girl."  If there is a quest/mission that involves helping someone I will opt to do it for the sake of helping.  If I have the option to save an NPC rather than kill them, I will usually pick that option.  I am not sure if that "good guy" mentality is applicable to real life, but maybe it does?  I like to help people who need it but I can't say that my decision to help was in any way influenced by an experience in a video game.

The Witcher 3 has really taught me that not all choices are about being the "good guy."  Sometimes you have to make a tough choice that might seem negative, but it's the right choice.  I think this is a more realistic way to look at the choices made in video games and them translating to real life--the "nice" choice isn't always the best choice.  Does that make me less kind or empathetic?  I don't know.

I think video games offer a unique lens to think about the choices that we make and why we make them.  I am hesitant to believe that those choices translate to real life.  I think it would be more interesting or valid to study the personalities of gamers who make mostly "positive" choices in games versus the ones who make more "negative" choices.  Would there be a difference?  Do certain personality traits cause gamers to make those choices?