Scientists have found that even violent games can reduce physiological stress. Subjects played a game set in medieval France, where survival depends on fighting cruelty, rats, and horror.
Scientists have found that even violent games can reduce physiological stress. Subjects played a game set in medieval France, where survival depends on fighting cruelty, rats, and horror.
The study, published in the journal Behavioural Brain Research, involved 82 volunteers aged 18 to 40. First, all participants were given an artificially increased stress level using SECPT, a method that requires them to hold their hand in ice water under the supervision of experimenters. They were then divided into two groups: one played violent scenes from the game A Plague Tale: Requiem, and the other played peaceful fragments of the same game.
During the experiment, the researchers recorded electrocardiograms, took saliva samples, and interviewed participants. On a subjective level, those who experienced combat scenes reported increased stress. However, biological indicators, including a decrease in heart rate and cortisol levels, showed that stress decreased in both groups.
According to the authors, this discrepancy between self-perception and actual changes in the body suggests that people often misjudge their condition. It is likely that participants interpreted the intensity of gameplay as additional stress, although the body was actually relaxing at that time.
Overall, 79% of participants had previous experience playing video games, averaging 4–5 hours per week. The developers emphasize that although the study was conducted on the example of only one game, the results indicate the potential of gaming as an anti-stress practice.
This study joins a number of others that refute stereotypes about the harmfulness of video games. In the future, the authors plan to test the body’s response to other genres, including ultra-dynamic action games such as Doom Eternal or Doom: The Dark Ages.
We previously reported that 86% of U.S. veterans say video games help them cope with stress. The survey found that video games help veterans cope with stress, build relationships, and improve their well-being — both during and after their military service.
