Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).
Level Up Your Mood – Mood Repair Effects of Hedonic Versus Eudaimonic Video Games
Gary WAGENER, André Melzer
University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Current research emphasizes the therapeutic potential of hedonic video games (VGs), designed for fun and entertainment, which, for example, reduce anxiety primarily through psychological detachment. However, eudaimonic experiences of deeper emotional engagement and meaning may have even stronger therapeutic effects. In this lab experiment (N = 95), we compared hedonic and eudaimonic VG experiences with a non-gaming control group (jigsaw puzzling) to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. Anxiety was induced with an autobiographical recall task. Next, participants were randomly assigned to their respective activity. The anxiety levels, self-reported relaxation and physiological relaxation (heart rate variability) were measured throughout the entire time. Both game types reduced anxiety and increased relaxation, but only the eudaimonic game led to prolonged physiological relaxation. In contrast, jigsaw puzzling did not reduce anxiety and was linked to greater stress responses. These findings highlight the therapeutic value of eudaimonic VGs, warranting further investigation through longitudinal studies.
4:30pm - 4:45pm
Fact-checking is just a matter of intellectual humility? The mediational role of moral Disengagement toward Fake news
Carmela Sportelli1,2, Paolo Giovanni Cicirelli2, Giuseppe Corbelli3,1, Marinella Paciello1, Francesca D'Errico2
1Uninettuno Telematic International University; 2Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro; 3Sapienza University of Rome
Recent studies highlight that adolescents are particularly vulnerable to information disorders, and, like adults, can face the daily challenge of assessing distorted or misleading news. Understanding the risk factors that contribute to this vulnerability is crucial for enhancing their fact-checking skills and promoting digital and media literacy. Specifically, although previous research has highlighted the positive association between intellectual humility, defined as the acknowledgment of the fallibility of one’s own personal belief, and the intention to fact-check misleading content, the underlying process by which this occurs has yet to be fully investigated. Our research investigates the potential impact of intellectual humility on fact-checking intentions through moral disengagement towards fake news, a specific set of socio-cognitive mechanisms aimed at preserving one's self-image and moral reputation, even in the case of online misbehavior. The research, conducted with 380 Italian adolescents (M = 14.43, SD = 0.74), utilized a conversational web app to measure fact-checking intention toward misleading news, as well as the variables of interest in this study. The results show that moral disengagement fully mediates the relationship between intellectual humility and the intention to fact-check, highlighting the importance of fostering metacognitive abilities, such as being able to reflect on oneself and reconsider one's own perspective, in promoting digital and media literacy. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing intellectual humility may reduce moral disengagement toward fake news and promote more responsible online behavior, such as fact-checking. Limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.
