Esteem raising computer games designed

[United Press International]

MONTREAL, May 7 (UPI) -- Psychologists at Montreal's McGill
University claim to have designed computer games specifically
designed to help enhance one's self-esteem.
The games, available for public consultation at
selfesteemgames.mcgill.ca., are named Wham!, EyeSpy: The Matrix and
Grow Your Chi.
All three games were developed by doctoral students Jodene
Baccus, Stephane Dandeneau and Maya Sakellaropoulo, under the
supervision of Mark Baldwin.
After examining past studies, the McGill team found people's
feelings of insecurity are largely based on worries about whether
they will be liked, accepted and valued by their peers and others.
Research has also shown self-esteem is strongly influenced
by particular ways of thinking. Self-esteem difficulties arise from
people's self-critical views concerning their characteristics and
performances, along with an assumption that others will reject them.
"For people with low self-esteem, negative thought patterns
occur automatically and often involuntarily," explains Baldwin,
"leading them to selectively focus their attention on failures and
rejections."
Baldwin said the three games work by addressing the
underlying thought processes that increase self-liking.