Spazio, movimento, prospettiva ed empatia: un prototipo di videogame didattico

This paper discusses the theoretical framework underlying the design of an educational video game, being developed at the University of Salerno, designed to assess the skills of perspective taking and mental rotation of players. These skills, in the theoretical framework which this paper refers, are essential skills involved in the empathic relationship. The project, in fact, refers to a precise definition of empathy, due to Alain Berthoz and the spatial theory of empathy, and aims to assess the educational implications. We present the spatial theory of empathy, describes the spatial reference systems provides a quick review of the literature on the representation of space in the child and the representation of space in video games. Finally, the paper describes the prototype of videogame created, in which the player is faced with three different tasks, two of which are designed to measure the ability of perspective taking, while the third task is calibrated on the ability of mental rotation.