Cooperative and competitive board games: study note

No game-type advantage on cooperative, prosocial or antisocial behaviour; cooperative games were enjoyed more.

This study compared children playing cooperative or competitive board games, then observed behaviour in a separate task. It challenges a simple claim that a cooperative label guarantees wider social benefits.

Practical boundary

A shared-goal game can still be a worthwhile family choice. Its immediate experience and enjoyment should be distinguished from lasting behaviour change.

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