This book offers a practical yet powerful way to understand the psychological appeal and strong motivation to play video games.With video game sales in the billions and anxious concerns about their long-term effects growing louder, Glued to Games: How Video Games Draw Us In and Hold Us Spellbound brings something new to the discussion. It is the first truly balanced research-based analysis on the games and gamers, addressing both the positive and negative ...

Now in full color, the 10th anniversary edition of this classic book takes you deep into the influences that underlie modern video games, and examines the elements they share with traditional games such as checkers. At the heart of his exploration, veteran game designer Raph Koster takes a close look at the concept of fun and why it’s the most vital element in any game.Why do some games become boring quickly, while others remain fun for years? How do games serve as fundamental and ...

Ever wonder why teens can spend entire weekends playing video games but struggle with just one hour of homework? Why we’re addicted to certain websites and steal glances at our smartphones under the dinner table? Or why some people are able to find joy in difficult or repetitive jobs while others burn out? It’s not the experiences themselves but the way they’re structured that matters.All our lives we’ve been told that games are distractions—playful pastimes, but u...

“This one’s worth reading. Trust me.” —Daniel Gilbert, PhD, bestselling author of Stumbling on HappinessIssues of trust come attached to almost every human interaction, yet few people realize how powerfully their ability to determine trustworthiness predicts future success. David DeSteno’s cutting-edge research on reading trust cues with humanoid robots has already excited widespread media interest. In The Truth About Trust, the renowned psychologist shares his fin...

Ignite Your Writing Brain!Whether you're an experienced writer or just starting out, an endless number of pitfalls can trip up your efforts, from procrastination and writer's block to thin characters and uninspired plots. Luckily, you have access to an extraordinary writing tool that can help overcome all of these problems: your brain.Fire Up Your Writing Brain teaches you how to develop your brain to its fullest potential. Based on proven, easy-to-understand neuro...

Dark Psychology & Manipulation 2 in 1Dark psychologystudies the parts of ourselves that none of us want to recognize. Within this field, our innermost demons are delved into, and a light is shone on the places that we would rather not see but need to see. Dark psychology accepts and embraces the darker side of the human experience. In this way it is doing the same as any area of anthropocentric study does, the only difference lying in dark ...

A clinical psychologist specializing in children and adolescents shares the secret language of boys and how to reconnect with them.All too quickly, talkative, affectionate young boys seem to slip away. Adolescents may be transformed overnight into reclusive, seemingly impenetrable young people who open up only to their friends and spend more time on devices than with family. How do you penetrate this shell before they are lost to you?Drawing on decades of exp...

Realizing that they have been in a relationship with a psychopath or narcissist, most people go looking for information to help make sense of what has happened to them. They read, watch videos and talk to others about their experiences. They learn the theory, they realize they have been taken advantage of and they recognize that others stories are very similar to their own.What is missing is how to put all this information to practical use. They can't yet get the manipulator out of...

Queer Clues & Cozy MoodsDive into the world of cozy mystery writing with a twist—murder and romance through the lens of LGBTQ+ characters—guided by the hand of a seasoned author who’s made her living in both mainstream and self-publishing for more than thirty years.Packed with analysis, writing exercises, checklists, tips, and tools, Hearts & Hazards: Writing the Gay Cozy Mystery offers more than just the ABCs of Character, Plot, Setting, Theme, and Dialogu...

Fascinating Psychology: 50 Wonders of the Human Mind takes you on an engaging journey into the most intriguing aspects of psychology. From everyday behaviors to the mind's hidden quirks, this book unravels the psychological phenomena that shape our thoughts, decisions, and interactions. Each chapter delves into a unique concept, offering real-world examples, scientific insights, and practical applications to deepen your understanding of yourself and those around you.Whethe...

Evolution is killing innovation!“Just trust your gut” is great advice when your instincts tell you to run from a lion in the jungle. But when it comes to thinking innovatively about your business, those same instincts can be your own worst enemy. Cognitive biases—the instinctual mental shortcuts we all have in our brains that shape how we see and respond to the world around us—can also be the archnemeses of innovation/innovative thinking. New ideas appear too risky....

Based on two decades of participant-observation field research in diverse online environments, this engaging book offers insights for improving lifestyles and enhancing wellbeing in the digital age. John R. Suler, a founder of the field of cyberpsychology, explains its fundamental principles across a wide variety of topics, including online identity management, disinhibition, communication via text and photographs, intimacy and misunderstandings in online relationships, conflicting attitud...