Playing Towards Wisdom: Exploring Personal Growth through Video Games

This dissertation explores how video games can support personal growth and foster wisdom. Grounded in developmental psychology, the project bridges psychological theory and game studies to investigate video games as emotionally meaningful, reflective experiences. The research is structured in three parts: a conceptual framework connecting video games to contemporary models of wisdom; two mixed-methods studies examining life insights gained through gameplay and their real-life integration; and an autobiographical interview study mapping players’ developmental trajectories across the lifespan. Findings suggest that video games can foster wisdom-related capacities through mechanisms such as simulation, emotional processing, and narrative reflection. Insights range from intrapersonal to existential, with narrative-rich games offering more potential for growth than fast-paced or competitive ones. The work targets the research gap between psychology and HCI by proposing that simulated experiences, when immersive and emotionally resonant, can complement real-life development and offer design-relevant implications for fostering reflective and transformative player experiences.