SuperBetter: How a gameful life can make you stronger, happier, braver and more resilient. Jane McGonigal

support to boot.

      It’s not that either group of researchers is wrong. They’re both right.

      When you examine all the factors behind the diverging results, as I have, again and again you’ll come across one reason why only some gamers learn how to effectively apply these strengths in real-world contexts, such as work, school, health, or family. So what makes the difference?

      It’s not, surprisingly, a matter of which games you play, or how much time you spend playing them. Instead, it depends entirely on why you play games.

       Do you play to escape your real life, or do you play to make your real life better?

      (If you’re not sure which you do, keep reading—this chapter will help you figure it out.)

      If you typically play games to escape your real life—that is, to ignore your problems, to block unpleasant emotions, or to avoid confronting stressful situations—you will have a very difficult time translating your game skills to real life. An escapist approach to play really does increase depression, worsen social isolation, and make you less