Dem
47
GOP
53
We generally make sure that the items we use for this space have some reasonable connection to politics. Today, we're going to cheat a little, because this story clearly has nothing to do with politics. However, it does connect with: (1) a question we answered a few months back, (2) our rundown of readers' hobbies and (3) last week's freudenfreude, in various ways. So, we're going with it.
The "it," in this case, is a study/lit review centered on the mental and emotional benefits of playing... board games. Let's let co-lead investigator Gray Atherton explain:
Board games are enjoying a renaissance. While the classics remain popular, a wave of modern games—from Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan, to Carcassonne and Werewolf—has captured the spotlight and is even rivalling the booming video game industry. Our research has shown they can enhance well-being, foster inclusion, and support learning, with strong evidence that games improve engagement and social connection for neurodivergent individuals compared to other activities.
The "neurodivergent" part of that is what's getting the most attention. Inasmuch as autism, in particular, remains poorly understood, there are many people who are looking for anything that might help those afflicted. It is all the better if that intervention is not pharmaceutical, and so doesn't carry a risk of side effects.
Thus far, the research indicates that there are some games that are particularly helpful for folks with autism. Dungeons & Dragons, which used to be associated with Satan worship, now gets praise for allowing players to practice social interactions in a low-pressure context. And the game that researchers are particularly excited about is Dixit, which allows players to express emotions without having to put them into words. As chance would have it, and by coincidence, Dixit was our #1 recommendation in that board-game answer we wrote a few months back.
On occasion, we like to highlight research that has the potential for positive outcomes, and this certainly qualifies. We commend the researchers for how they are playing The Game of Life, though someone should probably tell them that Settlers of Catan is just Catan these days.
Have a good weekend, all! (Z)