Playfulness and Seriousness: The Power of Video Games to Teach and Enhance Cultural Intelligence (CQ)

Abstract

[EN] The way video games influence players, in particular, and society, in general, have been studied for several decades. Despite the early focus on the demonizing of video games, in the late 90s some researchers suggested that video games might help in developing some useful skills and might convert in a new method of learning. At the beginning of the 20th century, the researches came to the conclusions that video games are stages for the discourse on cultural, social and political practices and systems that foster conceptual and critical thinking on a wide variety of issue. The current chapter is focused on the positive impacts of playing video games, looking at how entertaining commercial titles, serious and educational games and simulations can support players in learning and skill acquisition that enhance Cultural Intelligence (CQ). CQ is developed through cognitive, physical and motivational means. Thus, this chapter summarises the research on the benefits of playing video games focusing on three main domains of CQ: cognitive (e.g. navigating unfamiliar cultural systems, knowledge of culturally-related phrases in meetings), motivational (e.g. trial-and-error strategy, powerups) and physical (e.g. visual special abilities, body language).