The Psychological Effect of DbD
I recently started thinking and studying into some psychological stuff and even unironically spoke to my own therapist about how dbd might have an overall negative impact on my mental health.
The results and responses I got were staggering, but won't take long to share.
This is just ONE medical professionals opinion of course, but feel free to ask your own. My therapist believes with dead by daylights gameplay, combined with reward from win/loss, community responses I showed (screenshots of post game etc, chat messages from consoles), that dbd can have a profound negative impact on your mental health.
And I agree. It may be "just a video game." But that's a weak argument. Dbd can hurt people, and be unfair, and not fun and that's okay! It's a competitive game, you can change your mindset. But I thought some people just might need to hear this for once.
Comments
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Honestly, yeah. I agree. This game can definitely cause your mental health to bomb, and when that happens the best thing you can do is take a break. The feeling of winning gets so addicting that when you don't you best yourself up over and over again and whilst that's good in small amounts to push for improvements it can feel so ######### after only like 3 losses in a row.
Least that's my experience with it, and I have nothing in psychology at all.
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Technically, any game with a 'you vs them' format can do the same, not just DbD.
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Yes, this is true. Any pvp multiplayer game can trigger the same effects. Humans are intelligent, but we are also machines driven by instinct. But that's not a topic for the dbd forums.
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It's a PvP game, its whole concept is putting people against each other and create conflict.
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I think it's great that you recognized a game can have a negative impact on your mental health and took steps to address it. Multiplayer games can be mentally exhausting, even if they're just PvE. Throw PvP and/or ######### into the mix and it can have serious negative consequences.
Take care of your mental health and ignore all the people who say it's "just a game".
Post edited by Orion on13 -
It sounds like you should take your therapist's advice, since I expect you are paying him/her for it. As for myself, my marbles still seem to be rolling around my skull regularly and in the same orbit as before I started playing this game. My own advice, and I am not mental health professional, is that healthy, well-adjusted people have no more to fear from this (or any) video game than they do from any other diversion. People who are not healthy or well-adjusted can be triggered or damaged by just about any kind of negative feedback loop.
As for people hearing this notion "for once" ...I doubt that there is anyone playing video games alive that has not heard the theory that violent video games are dangerous and can somehow lead to destructive or self-destructive behavior. They have said the same thing in regards to mental health about Rock and roll, television, short skirts, Feminism, and literally every religion and/or political construct that has ever come about. I'm not trying to be snarky (well maybe a little) but your Therapist (and now you) are making the same kind of broad, general statements that Nostradamus (as well as your garden variety fortune teller) did. It works like this, Person-A makes broad, general statement of impending doom. Over the course of time something negative is bound to happen that can be implied to have proven said statement. Do you see where I'm going with this?
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I sort of see where you're going, but I don't want to start an argument here on to why I think 99% of this is wrong.
I will say, you need to not make such broad statements about who is and who isn't affected by the game, it is perfectly normal and healthy to be upset and affected. Take a break! That's just as bad as making a broad statement of "impending doom". Thank you.
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The fact is a huge number of people play video games of this nature but only a tiny minority go off the rails. Statistically, it is the same number of people, usually coming from the same backgrounds and environments, and/or suffering from the same pre-existing conditions that actually suffer ill-effects. For example, if one is an alcoholic, or it runs in one's family, it is probably not a good idea to drink. To repeat my point, if YOU are seeing a Therapist, then you have some issues you are already aware of and if your Therapist (whom you are paying) says this game is bad for you, I think you should leave. However, please do not project your concerns and your issues on everyone else.
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I agree.
I think this plays more of an effect in DbD, simply because it's a 1v4. Either you smash a team of four, and feel the need to belittle, or you torment a single player, and usually have three others that'll jump on the bandwagon with you. This 'us vs them' system that's been cultivated really drives that home.
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If your mental health is at risk because of a video game, then I think competitive games are not for you. Try playing Animal Crossing instead..
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goes further then that, technically just life can have a profound negative effect on your mental health, could also be possitive, depends on what kind of person you are.
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That's your therapist's opinion on your experience of DBD. It's not reflective of everyone.
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To everyone saying "that's just, like, your therapist, man", OP's point, as I understood it, is that others may unknowingly be in a similar situation and that this thread is for those people. They're not trying to project their therapist's assessment onto everyone.
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Thanks for posting this.
NO ONE talks about it.
Many will deny it, some will lash out at you for it; others will agree... regardless, Don’t let any of them affect you and your positive psychological setting.
Much of what you are referring to does depend on the mental strength of a person.
Anyone can be effected by anything at any given time (especially mentally) without the proper protection in place.
Gaming on it’s own becomes an addiction; as it does (like any drug can cause) the addicted become further less likely to admit there are any issues, and often defend themselves and the cause of the addiction (eg. the games) downplaying and projecting the blame onto other people/ things. Fortnight has had a severe impact on many kids, especially those under the age of 13... many of whom game 8-24 hours a day, sometimes even for days on end.
As far as DBD goes, I’ve heard more from people who will admittedly describe how being a Killer Main has gradually conditioned their subconscious to murderous instinct in everyday life (during conversations, arguments, at school and while working). The consequences of continuously harming, murdering people for hours upon hours every day can have a tendency to negatively affect certain people, potentially causing drastic consequences.
Regardless of the mental stability of players, the content of games creates an imprint (kind of like a footprint in concrete) on player’s minds. The more malicious, sadistic, dark and evil the repetitive content and interactions in games, the greater negative impact is on the players and potentially those in their sphere of influence (even thinking about killing someone in real life is hellishly, eternally toxic to the soul).
People argue these truths back and forth (especially gamers and designers/ creators with those in the psychological field) all the time.
Not all gaming is dangerous, tho. Even DBD can have a positive effect on focus, alertness, concentration, coordination, etc. Majority of games provide these positives for players.
When the negatives are having more of a prominent impact on gamers, then it’s time to play another game.
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Just play civ 6 instead.
The game is designed to be frustrating
This game is barely scary. The negative emotions that this game is designed to invoke are frustration and anger. If BHVR didn't score a jackpot like they did with the grinding system, this game would not be nearly as popular as it is. There are core design principles in this game that allow you to specifically ruin the fun of another person and barely anything is done to combat this, and the fixes that are implemented are arguably just as frustrating to deal with.
This game does have a profound negative effect on the mind, and it feeds into toxicity. It is unfortunate that the devs seem to either shrug off this issue or even make fun of it.
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Well this is a game that can make other people send you death threats and rage like crazy,will BHVR do anything about this?Probably not.
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Thank you someone had to say it....👍
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Sadly yeah this game has affected me psychologically when I first started playing it, thankfully now it doesn't affect me as much but hopefully for the future of things the devs understand this and probably find a way to make it where it is a safer environment to play
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That 2nd interview clip, wow. I guess that's the answer to my question of "why do moris (and broken items/add-ons) exist". They want you to be pissed off that you got tunneled and mori'd because apparently that keeps you playing (???).
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There's a strategy to this, and it takes advantage of the addictive nature of variable reward. This concept is most notably present in gambling, but video games can be designed around it.
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It's good to be aware that everything has an effect on mental health. Both positive and negative.
It's a good habit to find where the negative effects are coming from
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Tbh dbd has made me hate to not be in control of a situation. Whenever I'm playing some board game and I am losing by a lomg stretch I just don't see the fun in the game anymore. It's sometimes my fault and sometimes the other players get lucky but I just can't enjoy the game anymore because I see no thrill in being left behind with no chance to catch up
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Not just those.
It's our society that has us be self-destructively competitive, to the point where we'll turn every game into a competition.
Just look at people getting worked up over their island rating or collections in Animal Crossing.
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When I watch some Youtuber they have no feelings, they hang the last survivor, as if they were playing with their lives...
Yes, there are bad people! But I prefer to show good to bad people than to give bad ! If you need BP YES, you have the right to play your game the way you want, you hook everyone. But when you don't need it and you have unlocked everything where is the fun of hock everyone and create even more rage (salt)?
Yes, I got angry on a Zarina red rank 1... 3 games to get it, I got it down, and I camped it but towards the end I thought these friends would come back to save... at the same time they knew I had mastered my Nurse. I wanted to show her that being a toxic addict was useless to win, because in the first game I wanted to let everyone out, she and her friends would have scored a lot more points... If she had been normal I might not have killed anyone!
In short, stay yourself and don't get angry anymore for toxic people, leave it, move on !🤗
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Oh no, I take the L (I may be mad, but I'm no coward)
Usually when games go too bad as survivor I try to farm, but if the killer just want to get kills after two survivors dc (which is fair) I just try but have no hope of even getting close to winning
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No doubt, I was just being funny
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It's not only DBD, but games can have negative impact on your mental health, for sure. Of course, every person is different and if you feel the game is actually having a negative effect on you, you should either stop playing or take a break. Sometimes that is all is needed, other times it's not. Either way, no game is worth it, if your mental health is constantly at risk.
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assuming you are serious, there are a couple of things to address immediately:
- the fact that DbD can have a deep negative effect on mental health is not a medical professional's opinion, but an opinion from somebody that don't know anything about the game aside for what you told him, and that happens to work in the medical field.
- psychiatrist are taught to not challenge their patient. You don't say to a schizophrenic that thinks he's being followed by the CIA just outside the door that they are "delusional", you say "it must be horrible to have this feeling.", and then you go on from there.
This to say that the most probable thing here is that you manifested unsettling feeling to your physician, giving him proof (from your POV) that DbD has a negative impact on your health. He understood the situation, acknowledged that certainly there are negative stimuli on your well being (toxic chat / toxic gameplay) and, instead of telling you "yeah, probably DbD and the DbD community is not meant for you" he generalised with a "can have a negative impact on anybody".
He did good, let's be clear here, he wants to help you, but that insight is valid only for you, though.
...which is not to say that DbD cannot have a negative impact on anybody, btw, but this goes for basically anything in the world.
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I imagine any PvP game can really make you do that though. Or anything competitive. There's a reason why the word "loser" means so much more than just "the person who lost the game".
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It's more about the way you think than anything. Endgame chat sure sucks, but again, that's a lot to do with the way you think.
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What did your therapist recommend in regards to dbd?
An old coworker of mine, smart guy in his early 20's. He started going to therapy. He talked about our work environment. The therapist told him to quit. Our work environment sucks the soul out of you.
I'm pretty good at pushing through, but this year has probably been the worst year at my job. My coworkers are miserable and have expressed it and our business overlords don't give a #########...
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I was in a similar situation, saw a better opportunity in a healthier environment filled with positive, genuinely good people and values, and I went for it. All is well.
Anything that sucks the soul out of you isn’t worth you, or your soul.
I see a new job on your horizon
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Brilliant article, thank you for sharing! I can definitely see where they're coming from. The spikes of frustration and dopamine rush are all too familiar to anyone who plays video games. Funny enough, now that they can't fix the D/C penalties, I just leave games with Moris and I suffer no frustration. Once that's back in, they'll force me to get demolished once in a while... but then I'll feel like I should stop playing :)
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Competitive mindsets ruins videogames. Stop taking ######### seriously people, its just a game, if you are not enjoying it you are missing the whole point of it.
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This article is spot on. It’s undeniable truth.
Anyone who denies it is just that.. in denial.
Casinos began redesigning slot machines 15 years ago, modeling them after video games. For one, as a ploy to get kids who were already addicted to gaming into their establishments as soon as they’re old enough; Also, to get adults (both new gamblers and veteran’s to gambling) who may not even play video games hooked on something that is absolutely addictive. The reward incentive of “pay a little, play a little, strike it rich” embedded in people’s psyche compels them to give it all, even their soul.
It becomes a natural high for them and many go broke spending their entire family’s fortune to feed their addiction.
I’ve watched clips of parents taking away their children’s PS4s & Xbox systems because the kids are addicted to them, and the kid’s reactions are resembling demon possession; the way they almost turn into a different person entirely when their “precious” is taken away is comparable to Golem from Lord of the Rings.
All of this is a serious issue.
It’s good someone is talking about it.
Most likely the one thing many game developers don’t want being discussed often.
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Lol, this advice sounds harsh but there's wisdom in it! I play mainly survival/psychological horror games, and I will tell you I can't handle it 24/7. There's only so many jump scares, so much drab color pallets and melancholy soundtracks I can expose myself to before I get depressed.
When that happens, I go play something upbeat and colorful. Not everyone needs a break, but I know I do, and no judgment if you do or not. We all love games and should support each other. If any of you ever need to talk or are in a bad place, this is an invitation to have a conversation with me.
Gaming and psychology are very well linked, developer's have got our number and our wallets. One book that you might find helpful is by game game designer Jane McGonigal, called SuperBetter. Great theories, but nothing you can really practice with DbD.
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Hm, survival/horror games are meant to make you scared/emotional, though. They usually have complex lore and very immersive atmosphere. They are also mostly singleplayer games.
But DBD? Let's be honest - it's not scary at all. An entirely different genre. It's a simple multiplayer competitive game. And I think it's stupid to make a fuss or feel bad after losing a match. If you feel bad with losing, then competitive games are not for you.
The book sounds interesting, though, might check it out
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I honestly know about this and use it as an equalizer for work. Bit that's more gaming in general.
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Being upset that you lose isn't going off the rails.
You're speaking on something you don't even have a basic grasp of and it's honestly embarrassing to read. I'm not trying to be mean, but I am a generally stable person myself and dbd can upset me quite a bit.
Nobody should feel unnatural or not normal because of your toxic reply.
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I'm not trying to project onto anyone, there's no need for you to use such a horrible mindset.
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IMHO the entire field of psychology is a ######### joke.
There was a study done a few years ago that found that something like over 70% of psychological research is outdated or flat out wrong. You have to take ever bit of it with a grain of salt.
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Completely. I know only a little about psychology, but from what I do know, your statement is entirely correct. Something to note is that several of the people making decisions about the game are also aware of what psychological tricks they can pull to be addictive and breed an unhealthy mental state while getting your involvement (and hopefully money). Such things include the rift pop ups, the banners for cosmetics, and all the other visual and textual updates players constantly get when not being actively in a match.
It honestly lowers my opinion of the moral integrity of those aforementioned decision-makers regardless of whether that opinion is accurate or not.
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Yeah, it is pretty awful. When you look at dbd, a lot of the things you see are meticulously crafted to entice/even frustrate you at times.
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Honestly, I find the pop-up to be incredibly annoying. I don't like pop-up ads, much less in games I paid for.
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Maybe take a break from dbd and reevaluate your relationship with the game.
Post edited by GuySmiley on0 -
PvP is not good for everyone.
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Gonna use this sock puppet account since I don't feel like putting this on my main one...
While there is an issue with toxicity in this community (and what is considered to be toxicity) I think that there's more to the issue- as others stated, many things can and will effect your mental health, but some things might not effect you as much as another person. (Sort of like how some people manage pain better then others.) I think people need to figure out the core as to why it effects them as a person.
While DBD has effected my mental health negatively before, it's been through no fault of it's own. I sometimes use video games as a means to cope- playing them instead of facing my issues with my mental illnesses and trying to work through them. If I have a few good games and then multiple bad games of DBD to the point it brings me to tears or makes me feel terrible, it's not because of the game- it's because of me. I expected the game to let me escape from negativity. When I'm then faced with something I percieved to be negative, sometimes I don't realise it's bugging me until it's too late- and then the sense of escapism is ruined, and my mood and mental health will worsen as a result until I can recover a bit- usually from taking a long nap. DBD is generally positive for me, just like Overwatch and just like other hobbies- but when I'm down and push myself too hard with my mental illness, they will make me fall.
My point is, while it is entirely your choice as to whether or not you keep playing, I think the bigger thing is to just realize what causes the game to have a negative impact on your mental health. If you don't know why you're getting such a negative reaction from DBD, the issue can easily follow you.
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Perfect addition to the discussion.
Thank you for sharing your feelings and insight, through experience.
Sometimes, people jus need a empathetic heart to glean good comfort from
...provides good refuge from the raging storms that threaten peace, especially when you can’t seem to find a cloud in the sky.
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