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In pursuit of peace: Attitudinal and behavioral change with simulations and Multiple Identification Theory

Maple Woods College, USA, mylifesim{at}gmail.com

Alexander Jonathan Williams

William Jewell College, USA, alexwilliams123{at}gmail.com

The authors have developed a theory of simulation game design (Multiple Identification Theory; MIT) based on earlier research and several of their own studies. They utilize this theory to create a simulation game designed to change attitudes from a stance of competition to one of cooperation. Three questionnaires are constructed that measure participants' attitudes toward "cooperation versus competition," "truth and trust versus deception and mistrust," and "social view of conflict versus individual view of conflict." Participants play a simulation designed by the authors in accordance with MIT. All students complete pretests of the attitude questionnaires, play the simulation twice, and then complete posttests of the same questionnaires. In addition to these data, behavioral measures of the players' cooperative or aggressive conduct during the simulations are recorded. Quantitative and qualitative analysis found significant change (in a cooperative direction) for all measures. Robust e fect sizes are also reported. It is believed this study provides encouraging initial support for the e ficacy of simulations designed via MIT in changing attitudes and behavior. It is suggested that such research is of special importance for the promotion of cooperation and peace as alternatives to competition and aggression.

Key Words: attitude change • conflict resolution • cooperation • international relations • Multiple Identification Theory (MIT) • negotiation • political science • psychology • peace studies • simulation games

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