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A person playing the Pokemon Go game Patrick Seeger/DPA/PA Images

Pokémon Go could help people who struggle socially

Extroverts generally fare better at the game.

AUGMENTED REALITY GAMES such as Pokémon Go could help people who struggle socially, according to new research.

The University of British Columbia psychology study is the first to look at the impact of players’ personalities, social competence and social anxiety when playing Pokémon Go.

“Since Pokémon Go requires players to leave their homes and interact with others, we found that people with strong social skills tend to be more successful at the game,” Adri Khalis, the study’s lead author, said.

“This counters the prevailing stereotype that gamers are socially awkward. Rather, we think that modern video games, such as those involving augmented reality, have a lot of social aspects and therefore require players to have good social competence to do well playing them.”

Researchers recruited 101 Pokémon Go players between the ages of 18 and 28 to take part in the study. After completing questionnaires about their personality, social anxiety and social competence, participants played the game for 20 minutes.

Through observing players’ performance in the game, the researchers found that extroverted participants caught more Pokémon, visited more PokéStops and travelled greater distances than players who described themselves as socially introverted.

Introverts

“We found that players who are socially anxious might be self-conscious and less likely to engage in the game because they may fear others are judging them,” Khalis said.

They may hesitate to play when others are watching and are less likely to collaborate with fellow players, like pointing out nearby Pokémon or sharing tips.

The researchers are now looking at ways for modern video games to be designed in a way that helps people who struggle socially. For example, Khalis said video games could be designed in a way in which social features become increasingly more involved as the game progresses.

“In the beginning, players might only need to communicate with a person through text, but as the game reaches a higher level, they may have to actually be physically close to other players to collaborate and win,” he said.

The game provides a context in which interacting with others might be easier than walking up to a stranger and striking up a conversation from the get-go.

As modern video games become more popular, it’s important to understand how individual personality traits influence behaviour, Amori Mikami, the study’s senior author, said.

“Being socially confident not only helps us succeed in face-to-face, ‘real world’ activities but it also seems to apply to video games.

“As these games become more popular, we have a unique opportunity to examine the individual personality traits and characteristics that influence behaviour in a digital context,” Mikami said.

The study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

Read: Scientists develop 3D printed ‘living tattoo’ that responds to its surroundings

Read: Irish research links bacteria to pre-oral cancer growth

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    Mute mart_n
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    Sep 10th 2012, 9:34 PM

    What a load of bollix. ‘Al Qaeda’s Second in command’ killed.. what does that even mean? I’m pretty sure the second in command has been killed a few times already. Right on the anniversary of the big day too… A lot of people must not have closed their eyes on 9/11, because their wishes for a better world aren’t coming true.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 10th 2012, 10:02 PM

    Well I chose to believe he is Al Qaeda and I’m happy for him, that he has been granted his most fervent of holiest of desires. He has gone to meet his maker.

    It’s just a pity that with this one gone there are a dozen more to take his place.

    BTW I’m not saying who is right or who is wrong. I have not studied this unholy mess enough to be able to declare any sort of definitive statement.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Sep 10th 2012, 10:24 PM

    Mart, can I ask you an honest question? If you’re running a business and one of your managers leave, are you going to replace him/her? Of course you are. The second in command has been killed a few times because they’ve killed a few across the globe and all were different individuals. They did kill the top, Bin Laden, in Pakistan so obviously they’re capable of promoting people.

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    Mute Aidan Geraghty
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    Sep 10th 2012, 10:45 PM

    But i see Mart’s point….

    But like, Al Queda are a bunch out of control nut cases so is there really a ‘second in command’ ? it’s silly talk.

    I’d have more faith in the announcement if they said ‘one of the biggest headers in Al Queda was bursted’

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:03 PM

    Well technically lads this is the No 2 in Yemen. I’m sure they have more no 2′s in other national branches like afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq , Sudan etc.

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    Mute Michael Tuohy
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:05 PM

    It means the 2nd in command was killed! luder

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    Mute Adrian Nolan
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:06 PM

    I reckon they should just target the nasty human resources manager who keeps filling the top vacancy’s and be done with it.

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    Mute Martin
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:59 PM

    How can u have a second in command for organization that doesn’t excist except on database in the pentagon. Its ridiculous to say that there is any structure to islamic fundementalists its a patsy organisation.

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Sep 11th 2012, 2:30 AM

    Al queda are a peacefull organisation. Its full of holymen and dogooders. Where did they get misunderstood along the way?

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    Mute Martin
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    Sep 11th 2012, 9:06 AM

    It’s a phantom group created by the Americans in the 1980′s and used to keep a neverending war on terror going. For god sake the Bushes and the Bin-Laden families were in bussiness to-gether in a Oil company called Arbusco in the 80′s and 90′s.

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    Mute Martin
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    Sep 11th 2012, 9:16 AM

    Please ignore misplaced hyphen above…thanks!

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    Mute Éamonn Tiernan
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    Sep 10th 2012, 9:16 PM

    Is Chandler alright?!?

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    Mute Paul Breen
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    Sep 11th 2012, 11:13 AM

    Yes, this happened nowhere near Yemen Road.

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    Mute alan
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:04 PM

    the real issue here isnt whether or they are killing the first second or third or hundreth in command. the real issue is the number of people being killed in afghanistan and iraq every day. the killing there, on both sides, continues unabated. so much for the success of the invasions

    and it is amazing the way that the americans won’t admit to al q not being a traditional military force. they surely cannot believe that headline grabbers like this will distract from a serious analysis of what al q actually areand how they operate?

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    Mute Stewie Griffin
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:54 PM

    your right alan. but i cant fault the usa in going to war in Afghanistan it had to happen really and could have been avoided by the Taliban and in a way it was good that the americans went in. Of course there are alot being killed. but its it more or less then if the Taliban (murders) were left in power. shooting woman and little girls for rumours ??

    Iraq thats different story that was completely wrong and i believe for this g.w.bush and tony blair should be held to account for the implosion of iraq and the descent into chaos . they expected a clean war like the first gulf war but like churchill said when you go to war you go into a world that unpredictable and you cannot control the outcome of events.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Sep 11th 2012, 1:43 AM

    Alan, you do realize that yemini troops killed this guy. Have you ask the govt of yemen why they are going after al Qaeda? Is because they pose a risk in Yemen?

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    Mute Edward Carr
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    Sep 10th 2012, 10:53 PM

    I’m sure he was al qaeda but really every few weeks the second in command is killed they must be pumping them out on the factory line by the 100s

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    Mute Stewie Griffin
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:02 PM

    true but your getting rid of the experienced guys at the top bit by bit that fought the soviets and organised the big terror events. Losing that experience is what matters, can always replace but what are you replacing with if you get me

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    Mute Little Jim
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    Sep 10th 2012, 11:22 PM

    Rehabilitation programme in Saudi Arabia?
    Well that didn’t work.
    The man must have had serious connections.

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    Mute JP SHERRY
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    Sep 11th 2012, 12:40 AM

    Trial by bullet

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Sep 11th 2012, 2:33 AM

    I don’t believe a word of it. Bin laden was such a friendly looming chap.

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