Effects of Video Games and Religious Reminders on Prosociality

This research aims to assess whether religious prosocial reminders and prosocial video games can work together to increase helping intentions and behaviors. Participants came into the lab to play either a prosocial or a neutral video game that had been framed with either religiously prosocial or nonreligious quotes. They were asked to read and explain the meaning behind three passages that were either religious or neutral, and told to keep the passages that they read in mind as they played a game. They were randomly assigned to play either a prosocial or neutral video game for 15 minutes. After completing gameplay, participants were asked if they were willing to volunteer at a local bottle drive. We recorded their intentions to help, and whether or not they followed through with those intentions. We expect to find that prosocial video games and religious reminders can work together to increase prosocial intentions and behaviors.

Faculty Mentor: Jordan LaBouff