1. Gaming Against Violence:
Educating and Empowering Youth through
Video Games to Prevent Dating Violence
Drew Crecente
Jennifer Ann’s Group

2. A brief comment
about Jennifer Ann’s Group

3. TDV: Problem
o Pervasive: 44% of University Grads
o Dangerous: Public Health Problem
o Misunderstood: Complicated Issue
o Coverage: Insufficient & Incorrect

4. TDV: Impact
o School: Dropping Out
o Drugs / Alcohol: Abuse
o Sexual Health: Pregnancies / STDs
o Future Impact: IPV as Adults

5. TDV: Prevention Roadmap
o Awareness: TDVAM
o Educate: Students, Parents, Educators
o Attitudes: Unhealthy Relationship Beliefs
o Advocate: Legal and Educational Protection

6. TDV: Challenges
o Parents: Unaware
o Schools: Unfunded / Underfunded
o Culture: Unhealthy

7. Gaming Against Violence: 2008
o Young people already play
o Need for self-paced exploration
o Persuasive effect via serious games

8. Gaming Against Violence: Research
o Knowledge increase
o Awareness increase
o Attitude change

9. Gaming Against Violence: Research
o CAVA study 2014
o Internal study 2015/2016
o Erasmus study 2016

10. Gaming Against Violence: Research
CAVA:
Belgium, England,
Germany, Sweden
2014

11. Gaming Against Violence: Research
Internal:
mTurk (USA)
100 participants, 5 games
2015/2016

12. Gaming Against Violence: Research
Erasmus University:
Netherlands
262 participants, 2 games
2016
Both game types tested affected TDV
attitudes more than the control game.
Students “had an increased sense
that they would not know what to do if
they or someone they knew” were in an
abusive relationship.

13. Gaming Against Violence: Benefits
o Experiential Learning
o action, not mere explanation
o experiencing, not merely reading
o Discovery Learning
o exploring and recognizing relevant aspects
o Contextualized Learning
o learning in context rather than in isolation
o Preferred technology: Digital Games
o Preferred tools: Computers
o Teens appreciate the consideration
General
Emotional
Health
Teens

14. Over thirty games
from around the world
in English, French, Spanish
100% free

15. Gaming Against Violence: Pilot Program
HONEYMOON (2016)
English & Spanish
Lesson Plan
Pilot study

16. Gaming Against Violence: New Topic
Back to Basics: CONSENT
19 countries,
6 continents,
15 finalists
Games coming June 2017

17. Gaming Against Violence: Summary
Teen Dating Violence: pervasive, dangerous, misunderstood
Prevention Roadmap: awareness, education, attitudes
Overcoming Obstacles: parents, schools, culture
Serious Games: engaging, powerful, appropriate
Research: validated, ongoing, refining
Latest: classroom pilot, new topic

18. drew@JenniferAnn.org
@stopTDV
linkedin.com/in/crecente
Drew Crecente, JD
Jennifer Ann’s Group®