title: Relationship between traditional games and the intensity of emotions experienced by participants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to analyze the intensity of emotions (positive, negative, or ambiguous) produced when players took part in traditional games with a different social structure and to examine the explanations given by those participants for these emotional experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 556) were recruited from 4 Spanish universities. After taking part in each of the games, they were asked to complete the Games and Emotions Questionnaire to indicate the intensity of their emotional experiences and to explain what, in their view, had led to the strongest emotion felt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The application of a mixed-methods approach identified statistically significant differences in relation to 3 variables. These were (a) the type of emotion, (b) motor domain, and (c) type of result (win, loss, and noncompetitive). The intensity of positive emotions was higher in cooperative games and lower in individual games. Comments referring to negative emotions were more frequent as the social structure of games became more complex (minimal presence of individual games and predominance of cooperation-opposition games). Winning was associated with the highest intensity ratings of positive and ambiguous emotions, whereas being defeated produced the highest values for negative emotions. The intensity ratings for negative emotions were lower in noncompetitive games than in games where players lost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm that traditional games can play a key role in relation to the emotional facets of physical education.
authors.affiliation: a University of Lleida.
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lavega
authors.forename: José I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Joseba
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Etxebeste
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lagardera
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: March
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: interaction; physical education; psychosocial development; student behavior