AN INTERPRETIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY INTO FULFILLMENT OF CHOICE THEORY’S FOUR BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS THROUGH CONSOLE VIDEO GAME ENGAGEMENT A dissertation submitted to the Kent State University College and Graduate School of Education, Health, and Human Services in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Joseph R. Alexander May 2015 © Copyright, 2015 by Joseph R. Alexander All Rights Reserved ii A dissertation written by Joseph R. Alexander B.A., Ohio University, 2007 M.A., Kent State University, 2010 Ph.D., Kent State University, 2015 Approved by ___________________________, Co-director, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Betsy Page ___________________________, Co-director, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Steve Rainey ___________________________, Member, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Alicia R. Crowe Accepted by ___________________________, Director, School of Lifespan Development and Mary M. Dellmann-Jenkins Educational Sciences ___________________________, Dean, College Education, Health, and Human Daniel F. Mahony Services iii ALEXANDER, JOSEPH R., May 2015 Counseling and Human Development Services AN INTERPRETIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY INTO FULFILLMENT OF CHOICE THEORY’S FOUR BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS THROUGH CONSOLE VIDEO GAME ENGAGEMENT (219 pp.) Co-Directors of Dissertation: Steve Rainey, Ph.D. Betsy Page, Ed.D. This study sought to understand how people satisfy needs by engaging in console-based video games and ultimately help counselors understand clients’ need fulfillment by video games. Data has been collected on the players’ experiences and thoughts on how console-based video games meet the four basic psychological needs of choice theory. After reviewing the participants’ data, patterns and themes have been generated and reported from the dialog of the participants. These patterns and themes were used to inform professional counselor readers how to assist video game playing clients understand their basic psychological needs more efficiently. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In every significant endeavor that I have undertaken, friends, family, and mentors have supported me. This dissertation was no different. I would first like to acknowledge and thank the members of my dissertation committee and my graduate faculty representative, Dr. Mary Parr. In such a short time period she was able to read and ask thoughtful and pertinent questions of my dissertation. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Betsy Page and Dr. Steve Rainey. I have known them both for almost eight years and during that time period I was able to not only learn in their classes but outside of them as well. I was then privileged with their mentorship for the five years of my doctoral program duration. Despite this history, I was still nervous to propose the idea of researching video games and counseling. I was confident in my proposal and knew that I would work diligently on the project, but nevertheless, a research study on video games and counseling? My 12-year-old self would not have believed that I could add to professional literature with such a pitch. I felt honored that they trusted me to proceed with this project that was so passionate to me. I must also thank Dr. Alicia R. Crowe, as her assistance in my methodology sections was instrumental to a cohesive argument for this style of study. These three faculty members were essential to the progress of this project. An overly negative response may have persuaded me to discontinue it and I may have never attempted it. Open and trusting support allowed this dissertation to flourish. My resolve to pursue and complete this project can be easily traced to my mother and father, Linda and Jeff Alexander. Never one to back away from a challenge, my iv mother sees the world as a place to display your ideas and passions. This type of attitude was needed to propose an idea such as this. I am forever grateful to have a mother with the will and spirit she possesses. My father imprinted a sense of persistence that carried me through the writing process that is sorely needed for a dissertation. He has always instilled support with motivation in order to help me complete whatever I started in my career. I would like to also thank my fiancée Hilary Parsons. The hardest working counselor I know, Hilary has been an inspiration to me from the time that I met her. It did not take long for me to notice not only her commitment to helping others via counseling but also her drive to succeed in every part of her life. Whenever my progress was slowing down or I felt discouraged, I reminded myself of Hilary and her endless energy. A full-time counselor, student, instructor, and the many other roles she occupied served as a prompt to take my opportunities of time and make the most of them. Having a partner who knew the process of doctoral school was an advantage not many have in their lives and I am forever grateful of it. Others that helped me along my path include: my sister Aimee, step-mom Shari, colleague and friend Bill Cervenik, friend and unofficial editor Dr. Dave Taylor, and colleague and peer reviewer Dr. Randy Moate. Every one of them continues to be part of my life and this journey. I wish I had more room to detail each and every encounter that aided me through this process. Nevertheless, I hope my diligent appreciativeness along the way shows those people I am thankful for them and their help. And to that end, I hope this study will go on and help counselors and clients in their lives. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................1 Definition of Terms..................................................................................................5 Purpose Statement ....................................................................................................7 Research Questions ..................................................................................................8 Review of the Literature ..........................................................................................9 Elements of Choice Theory ...............................................................................12 Five Basic Needs of Choice Theory..................................................................13 Video Games .....................................................................................................19 Concepts Within Console-Based Video Games ................................................32 Mental Health Implications of Video Game Engagement ................................43 How Treatment Occurs in Reality Therapy ......................................................57 Assessment of Needs.........................................................................................62 Need for This Study ...............................................................................................63 Summary ................................................................................................................64 II. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................66 Research Questions ................................................................................................66 Rationale and Description of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis .............66 Participants .............................................................................................................68 Procedures ..............................................................................................................69 Selecting Participants and Organizing Interviews ............................................69 Participant Descriptions and Demographic Data ..............................................72 Interviews ..........................................................................................................74 Data Handling ...................................................................................................75 Data Analysis .........................................................................................................76 Typological Analysis ........................................................................................77 Interpretative Phenomenological Data Analysis ...............................................78 Steps in Overall Data Analysis Process ............................................................81 Bracketing Prior Experience .............................................................................82 Gaining Trustworthiness ...................................................................................84 Delimitations .....................................................................................................86 Summary ................................................................................................................87 vi III. RESULTS ....................................................................................................................89 Introduction ............................................................................................................89 Research Questions ................................................................................................89