EQ Games? How Neuro-Gamification Speeds Up Emotional Intelligence

How can game dynamics and brain science speed your emotional intelligence development?

We call adding game dynamics to brain science “neuro-gamification.” We use neuro-gamification to create EQ games that are the fastest way to train your brain for emotional intelligence. Here’s how.

First, not every game dynamic is best depending upon what you want to learn. Game dynamics come in many different forms, and it is essential to pick the right ones, especially when it comes to brain training.

For example, the most straightforward game dynamic is a win-lose competition mechanic. But we are going to demonstrate the reason for making something a competition is not the best way to train your brain for emotional intelligence. That’s because this is what’s called a “finite” game mechanic.

There are two main categories of game dynamics: finite and infinite.

Finite game dynamics are in games where there is a win-lose objective, a fixed set of rules, a known number of players, and a predetermined ending to the game. In other words, finite games are self-terminating. Finite games are everywhere, such as professional sports and video games, but even politics incorporates finite game dynamics.

Infinite game dynamics are the opposite. In an infinite game, the rules can change, nobody knows who is playing at any given time, and the game never ends—the objective is to keep playing as long as we can. We play infinite games all the time without even knowing. For example, although treated as a finite game, business is an infinite game. You cannot “win” in business—business just keeps going. A marriage and family also incorporate infinite game dynamics. You cannot “win” in a marriage between you and your spouse. And the purpose of family is to keep going, which you could consider as a game based on legacy.

Infinite game dynamics are the best suited for brain training. To understand the reason, you can explore how the design of the human brain.

In the human brain is something called the “experience-processing pathway.” This pathway is comprised of four centers in the brain, called the:

1. Attachment Center

2. Assessment Center

3. Alignment Center

4. Identity Action Center

You process all your experiences through these four centers in cyclical order, in stages. It is like a circuit, which also all happen to be on the right side of the brain. We’re not going to get into all the neurological details here, but for now, know that the brain can get stuck at any stage because that particular center of the brain is underdeveloped or experiencing short-circuiting.

Here is how we designed our EQ games to work with the experience-processing pathway.

1. EQ gamification is designed for fun and joy.

This dynamic stimulates the attachment stage, which is the stage of the brain that asks, “Do I feel joy?” There are multiple benefits to the brain here. One of which is the release of oxytocin, which helps with bonding, cooperation, and self-regulation.

2. EQ gamification is not scary.

Remember the difference between finite and infinite games. When you enter a win-lose (finite) situation, such as a competition, it stimulates the assessment center of the brain. At this stage, your brain asks, “Is this good, bad, or scary?” which ends up creating a stress response—also known as flight, fight or freeze. The problem is, when your brain experiences stress because of fear, you cannot learn. Your brain is too busy determining how not to lose. By introducing infinite “win conditions,” along with the previous fun and joy dynamics, we allow the brain to get unstuck at this stage.

3. EQ gamification teaches self and social awareness.

Once we are having fun with joy—without stress and fear—we can begin to know ourselves and know others and respond appropriately. Games are perfect ways to learn self-awareness and social skills by making decisions, taking turns, and adjusting to mechanics such as randomness based on the luck of the draw. In the brain, this stage is where we learn alignment. It is the center of the brain that asks, “Can anybody relate?” We learn to observe ourselves and others through non-verbal communication and begin to connect emotions with motivations and decision-making.

4. EQ gamification is based on identity.

The last stage of the experience-processing pathway is all about identity activation. This center of the brain asks, “Who am I? Who do I want to be? And whom do I want to be with?” These questions activate the highest executive functions of your brain in what is called the prefrontal cortex. All our EQ games are designed to help players answer these questions. But the answers can only be processed once you have passed all previous stages. The problem with traditional education and training is that we are expected to get to stage four immediately without addressing where you might be stuck in the previous three.

The identity activation center of the brain is where our leadership skills are optimized. When we reach stage four, we become leaders. And the best part is, you become a leader that can restart the circuit and bring joy to others. Thus, the cycle continues, and you participate in the infinite game!

For more information on the experience-processing pathway and the four centers of the brain, feel free to check out the book The Qortex Circuit: How to Train Your Brain for Joy and Transformation, by Ed Kang, Chief Neuro-Gamification Officer for YouEQ.