Embodied cognition and health persuasion: Facilitating intention–behavior consistency via motor manipulations

The effects of embodied persuasive games on player attitudes toward people using wheelchairs

“…Our results agree with findings from psychology that suggest that embodied interaction can contribute to attitude change [7,36]. Although our study shows no difference in player experience between the traditional and embodied simulations -suggesting that both game versions were perceived in a similar fashion from the perspective of games user research -the two versions had differing effects on player attitude change.…”

“…Research results show that the physical aspect of embodied interaction -particularly perceived effort -can be exploited to shape the user experience [21]. Furthermore, results show that the inclusion of motor actions leads to an increase in the effectiveness of interventions in health persuasion [36], suggesting that embodied interaction can be applied to increase the effects of persuasive games.…”

“…However, the concept of embodied interaction [10] in human-computer interaction suggests that interaction with the game could be made physical -incorporating the user's own body and movements. Embodied interaction has been effective in interventions in other domains, such as learning [21] and health [36]. In the context of mobility disabilities, motion-based game control offers an interesting design opportunity: embodied interaction can be applied to allow players to physically experience challenges that persons using wheelchairs face, potentially strengthening the persuasive experience and resulting in improvements not only to awareness, but also to attitude.…”

Visualising future behaviour: Effects for snacking on biscuit bars, but no effects for snacking on fruit

“…Other studies also suggest that the effects of mental visualisation may be more pronounced in combination with other strategies. Sherman et al (2010), for example, found positive effects of mental visualisation in combination with sensory stimulation for dental flossing, and in combination with motor stimulation for exercise.…”

Embodied health: a guiding perspective for research in health psychology

“…However, this theory has yet to be fully integrated into health psychology research, which is especially surprising in light of the distinctly physical connotations that often underlie health-related cognitions. Some studies have indirectly applied this theory to the field of health psychology (e.g., research that examines the relationship between mental, social and physiological variables but is not formally identified as embodied cognition; Blascovich & Mendes, 2010; see also Dickerson & Kemeny, 2004), and an even smaller subset of research has deliberately applied the theory of embodied cognition to research on health psychology (Gangi, Sherman, & White, 2011;Sherman, Gangi, & White, 2010). Researchers have yet to systematically describe how the theory of embodied cognition can be applied to health psychology.…”