Using game mechanics to
reframe behaviors to increase
motivation for behavior change
among cancer survivors
Elizabeth Lyons, PhD, MPH
March 31, 2016
Emotional safety
Social rewards
Storytelling
Metaphors
Emotional safety
“gratuitous introduction of unneccesary obstacles to
the achievement of an end” -Suits
Suits, 2005
Within the magic circle
•
•
•
•
emotionally safe
unproductive
pointless
escape from responsibility
Huizinga, 1950; Juul,
2008; Stenros, 2012
Games are self-efficacy production machines
Social rewards
Autonomous motivation
Intrinsic motivation + identity + values
External rewards can
“crowd out” these types of
autonomous motivation
Cameron & Pierce, 1994; Deci et
al., 1999; Michell et al., 2013
Rather than
badges and
leaderboards…
Hogwarts
Running Club:
Sort into houses
Message boards
for each house
Cute, funny
medals related to
fandom
Charity donations
to related causes –
owl rescues,
supplies for foster
homes, etc.
Storytelling
“I got a mammogram, and it saved my life…”
Houston et al., 2011;
Kaufman & Libby, 2012;
McQueen et al., 2011; Sestir
& Green, 2010
Igartua, 2010; Kaufman et al., 2010; Klimmt et al., 2010; Kreuter et al., 2007; Przybylski et al., 2012
Peng, 2008
Metaphors
Appleton & Flynn,
2014; Penson et al.,
2004;
Cancer survivorship as dragon-slaying
Hauser et al., 2015;
Hurley, 2014; Laranjeira,
2013
Not everyone is or wants to be a warrior
Spirituality, healing, creativity, beauty
In conclusion
Some Things Happened, A Bunch of Times.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Time 1
Time 2
Thing 1
Time 3
Thing 2
Thing 3
Time 4
See you there
Thank you!
Feel free to email questions/complaints/mountain climbing tips:
[email protected]
Collaborators:
Tom Baranowski
Karen Basen-Engquist
Abbey Berenson
James Goodwin
Kris Jennings
Zakkoyya Lewis
Eloisa Martinez
Kenneth Ottenbacher
Colleen Silva
Maria Swartz
Elena Volpi
Funding support:
American Heart Association
(13BGIA17110021)
American Cancer Society (MRSG-14
165-01-CPPB)
Claude D. Pepper Older Americans
Independence Center
National Cancer Institute
(K07CA175141)
UTMB President’s Cabinet