"I Found it Cathartic": Exploring Empathy and Mental Health Awareness in Psychological Horror Vid...
summary
Study of Silent Hill 2 uses semi‑structured interviews and the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire with 11 participants to test whether psychological horror fosters empathy and mental health awareness. Findings show player attachment to Angela and James, gameplay feels cathartic, and narrative control broadens perspectives on mental illness. Quantitative result: 10 of 11 scored 45 or higher on empathy. Recommendation: involve mental‑health professionals in narrative design to avoid stigma.
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