In a fascinating new study, researchers at the University of Buffalo found that playing as villains in video games could make you a better person. The idea here is that assuming control of a “bad” character in a game — say, a terrorist, or perhaps a Sith Lord — makes players feel guilty, and that guilt can result in increased empathy in real-world situations. It’s a strong rebuke to the oft-repeated suggestion that video games make kids more violent in real life.
“Rather than leading players to become less moral, this research suggests that violent video-game play may actually lead to increased moral sensitivity,” said assistant professor Matthew Grizzard, a co-author of the study. “This may, as it does in real life, provoke players to engage in voluntary behavior that benefits others.”
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