animal crossing & mental health: articles #1

5 Lessons on Mental Health from ‘Animal Crossing’

This article by Healthline explains thoroughly how and why Animal Crossing is so great for mental health and well-being. Key points:
​
Social Interaction

• The game has many elements of living a fulfilled, contented life.
• There are lessons to be learnt from this game, and with so many people's mental health under strain during the COVID-19 pandemic, these reminders are needed.
• A feature of the game is talking to the town's villagers every day. Although it may not sound like much, it is comforting, for the given sense of social integration. Social integration refers to a person’s sense of belonging to a community. This is reinforced by everyday exchanges and the familiarity of a place. Social integration in action is 'a place' becoming 'my place.'
• "Research actually ties social integration to greater longevity and quality of life" (-see below.)
• Although during the pandemic we cannot have these every day social routines, we can create them for ourselves. Animal Crossing is one way of doing so.

Novelty

• Novelty is important for the brain. Neurobiologists have identified novelty as a dopamine activator, which is essential for learning and memory. Animal Crossing provides everyday novelty through many of its activities, including fishing (and not knowing what fish you will catch), random things in random gifts that fall from the sky, and in the turnover of new events or new things in the shops.
• A lot of these novelty elements cross over into other video games too.
• While routine is important for stability, novelty is important for breaking up the monotony and giving people new experiences and memories.

The Environment Shapes How We Feel

• ​​Customisation like house and island decoration allows for expression but also an idealistic escape from the burdens of real life environments (such as dirty dishes, unpleasant surroundings, dusty furnishings etc.)
• Having complete control over the enviorment induces happiness, and can inspire the player to be proactive about changing any unpleasant environments in real life, even if it's just getting a new plant or painting a room a new colour.

Simple Productivity​​

• Part of Animal Crossing's engagement comes from how to play it, everything else must be set aside for just a while.
• Human brains aren’t wired to multitask, and repeatedly switching between tasks cuts down productivity. Animal Crossing is reminding of the benefits of focusing on just 'one-task-at-a-time' - working with the brain instead of against it. Goals are not urgent or overwhelming, and tasks are taught to be carried out one-by-one.
• Animal Crossing gives the player motivation through reward-driven behaviours that strengthen attention and focus. This reward system way of getting through tasks can be applied to real life too.

Purpose Can Keep People Going

• The game is deceptively simple. Tasks that should be tedious do not feel that way because of purpose. Having the bigger goals in mind, and knowing these smaller tasks build up to that goal, makes achieving them more meaningful. The smallest of progress connects to a bigger story and purpose - which in this game's case, is turning a deserted island into a 5-star place to live through crafting, building, decorating, and engaging with the community.
• Having a life that feels purposeful, meaningful or useful has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and build emotional resilience.
• Day-to-day life feels less of a grind and more purposeful.

"...When our collective mental health is languishing, it’s even more important that we still have goals - even if those goals involve building a pretend bridge. Putting a stake in the ground gives us momentum that we might otherwise lack. It can be as simple as mastering a new craft or hobby, as silly as renovating our virtual homes on “Animal Crossing,” or as ambitious as a promotion at work.
These goal-driven behaviors help contribute to our sense of purpose, fortifying our mental health even in lockdown. I believe that’s why a game like “Animal Crossing” can be a source of comfort - especially when the world seems to have come to a screeching halt. It gives us goals without overwhelming us; it offers a sense of connection and novelty that our brains thrive on."