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This page was translated from the German original, partly by machine. Some passages may read awkwardly or contain inaccuracies. When in doubt, please read the original.

What are Social Games?

No, we do not want to talk here about Monopoly or Settlers of Catan, but about social games as a social practice. Social games are more than mere entertainment; they are a mirror of our social interactions and cultural norms.

I use the term "social games" (in German Gesellschaftsspiele, literally "parlour games") in the sociological sense, as an allusion to the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and the sociologist Jürgen Habermas with his theory of communicative action. In this context, "social game" refers to the structured interactions and rules that organize our social life.

Social games are structured activities played by people in social groups. They serve various purposes, including entertainment, education, social interaction and the balancing of interests.

Some examples of this use of the term "social games" as a social practice are:

Violence: Social games can contain rules and norms that regulate or thematize the use of violence.
Cooperation:
Equality and inequality
Power and authority
Communication and negotiation
Competition and collaboration
Solidarity and community-building

Social games as a social practice​

Social games as a social practice