Shaping the Minds of Children

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Video games are the basis for much debate in society today. Video games have evolved over the years, becoming more realistic with better features and better graphics, which make them more exciting to children. Over time, children playing these games may become more withdrawn from real life and friends. Violence on television is also a consideration when it comes to what is setting our kids up to behave violently, but video games has become more of a target on the subject because the video game allows children to act out the violence, not just watch it on a television screen. Addiction is another negative effect of video games on children today, taking them away from normal activities and even healthful activities. Although most players are intelligent enough to know that video games are not real, children are still sometimes found to be confused with what is reality and fantasy. Therefore, video games have a negative effect on children’s behavior by making them less social, more aggressive and more addicted to games. Playing video games result in children becoming less social. Children with video game consoles and games would rather be playing the games, rather than interacting with their families or friends. These children get so involved in the aspects of playing the game that they do not want to interact with other people. Their focus is on the playing of the game, trying to reach that next level or trying to beat the game. Therefore, they isolate themselves in their rooms not interacting with others. Messerly, in the article, The Joystick Generation, states: “90 percent of college students surveyed knew other students or they themselves had their social or academic lives interrupted by video games, by which they ... ... middle of paper ... ...a - School Edition. Web. 05 May 2011. "Do You Think Violent Video Games Influence Children’s Behavior." Toronto Star(Canada) n.d. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. Hagelin, Rebecca. "Video Game Violence May Contribute to Copycat Violence." Media Violence: An Anthology. Ed. Noel Merino. Farmington Hills: Greenhouse, 2011. 35-40. Print. Markman, Art. "What You Don't Know Can Jurt You: Violence, Catharsis, and Video Games." Psychology Today. Psychology Today, 19 July 2010. Web. 18 April 2011. . Olson, Jeremy. "Video Games Can Hook Children, Study Finds." Star Tribune 17 Jan. 2011: n.pag. Newspaper Source. Web. 24 April 2011. Wagner, Jennifer Seter. "When Play Turns to Trouble." U.S. News & World Report 144.14 (2008): n. pag. Middle Search Plus. Web. 29 April 2011.

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