Many parents today say that video games are dangerous to their children because they increase the risk of childhood obesity and exposure to violence. I believe that this statement is both viable and completely ludicrous at the same time. Out of the many topics that I can argue on, I believe that I can argue this one the best. I am going to reveal the deeper meaning that lies buried underneath the controversy that presents itself in this subject. I have witnessed many outcomes that are associated with this beloved form of entertainment. I have personal experience with video games and what impact they might have on children who play them without proper constraints. Everyone either agrees or disagrees with this topic one way or another. For me, this topic does not just hold a black or white side. For me, this topic is a shade of grey with a tint of underlying red that no one arguing this subject takes the time to look deep enough to see. What we have here are two valid arguments, which stretch out like the branches of a tree, with the trunk of this tree being the children, but the most important part of this tree are the parents, which are the roots: the reason, the cause for everything. We are going to take a closer look at these two points of view and analyze the deeper meaning, and then we can decide where we stand.
Adults say that video games are expanding children’s waistlines and subjecting them to an increased amount of violence because kids spend most of their time nowadays playing said games. However, this one fact remains overlooked that may possibly be the most important for adults everywhere; parents have the ability and the right to choose what is best for their children. This conclusion is so mundane and disregarde...
... middle of paper ...
..., richer, more productive lives.
Bibliography:
1-3 Video Games Boost Visual Skills, Study Finds By John Roach for National Geographic News: May 28, 2003
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0528_030528_videogames.html
1 John Roach (writer for Discover magazine)
2 Daphne Bavelier (an associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester)
3 National Geo. Paragraph 8 excerpt
4-5 Surgeons May Error Less by Playing Video Games: Three hours a week decreases mistakes by 37 percent By Verena Dobnik for Associated Press April 7, 2004
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4685909/ns/technology_and_science-games/
4 Dr. James “Butch” Rosser (study subject in the Beth Israel Medical Center experiment)
5 Kurt Squire (University of Wisconsin researcher of video game effects on learning)
Many People have put their attention directly on the influence violent video games have on the bad behavior of children. People believe videogames intensify aggression in children, while others say it can be a safe getaway for a child to express his aggression. Many opinions on this issue are stated still today, and they remain divided amongst the people who claim videogames to be a cause of aggression and those who claim otherwise. A child’s behavior can not be determined by violent video games, but instead is caused by a variety of environmental and domestic factors. It is easy to blame video games on violence, instead of looking at factors such as economic status, familial issues, and exposure to other entities such as television and media. This paper will bring forward the opinions of those who believe in no relationship between violent video games and bad behavior with one counter argument expressing the opinion of those who believe there is a relationship.
Since the 1970 video games have become more popular than ever before. Generating 11.7 billions of dollars of sells every year or more, the video game industry is considered one of the largest industries in this century. However, video games have been a topic of controversy. With the sales of violent video games going up and the increased violence in schools and teenagers, video games are always to blame. Many people speculate that video games are the cause on why many teenagers have developed aggressive and violent behavior, are desensitize to violence, and the increase violence in schools and public places. In contradiction, video games have little or no fault in teenagers’ violent behavior and shouldn’t always be blamed.
Adams, Jill. “The Effects of Video Games.” LA Times [Los Angeles] 3 May 2010: 1+. Print.
Nowadays video games get nothing but bad reputations from people. There are people in powerful positions who are saying that video games have nothing but bad effects and they only promote violence which leads to children acting out in violent ways. Who are the ones listening to the people in these powerful positions; Parents. Some Parents have this misunderstanding that video games are bad and that they have a negative effects on their child’s minds and how they develop after playing them. The parents with that understanding are misinformed and need to understand just how beneficial video games can actually be for their children. Although, some parents think that video games offer nothing but
In our society we have many issues that plague our youth. Problems such as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and verbal bullying are just a few of the issues. There is one issue that has been on the rise for many years, and is relatively new to the world; and that is violence due to exposure to violent video games. Research done by a panel of scientists led by Professor Rowell Huesmann found “Unequivocal evidence that media violence increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior in both immediate and long-term contexts” (qtd. in Anderson et al. 4). This research is very profound, but it does not state that a child will go to a school and shoot children because he played the game Call of Duty. While a child might not show major aggressive behavior because of violent video games, he will show minor increases in aggressive behavior because of the games he plays. These statistics are the same for adolescents as they are for children. Whether they realize it or not, everyone who plays a violent video game is effected in one way or another. Even though there is a rating system for games, that system is lacking in what they let younger children watch and do in these games. The question that must be asked is, “Why are these children being exposed to such violent content?”
One may ask, why today’s generation is so violent? Some believe and factor in the influence of video games. The digital world of video games display brutality. It is evident, that there are very few nonviolent video games. Video games incorporate violence, sexual actions and misconduct, theft, murder, stereotypes, drug and alcohol abuse and profanity. Children learn through observations and experiences. Therefore, video games teach children these extremely inappropriate behaviors. Many parents, experts and the media blame video games for children being violent and antisocial. Since this corruption of the youth, video games should be limited to a couple hours a day or to be played only on the weekends with possible supervision. This solution may help decrease these influential actions.
Multiple studies have gone to confirm that video games can help improve vision, coordination, awareness, and reaction skills. Rochester University ran an abundance of tests on this subject, and they all concluded that there were many more aspects improved than there were hampered. Rochester ran one test where 24 non-gamers were split into two groups. One of the groups of 12 played action games for 50 hours while the other 12 pl...
One article points out that video games have a big impact on children’s lives and that many of the games played are violent. Researchers have found that “nearly all children spend time playing video games” and studies have found that “8th graders spent an average of 17 hours per week playing video games” (Tamborini 336). Moreover, 68% of the most popular video games contain violence (Tamborini 336). So it is clear that many children have access to violent video games and they have a big impact on their lives simply because of the amount of time spent playing them.
“On Tuesday, November 2, while the rest of the country was voting, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in Schwarzenegger v. EMA, the landmark case in which the state of California is petitioning for the re-instatement of a California law banning the sale of deviant or morbid violent video games to minors” (Macris). This case is a current example of the opponents of video games trying to prove video games are a bad influence on children and teenagers. Violent video game opponents have always tried to disprove the positive effects of video games. They also have been known to make up and mislead with tales of terrible side effects. This essay will prove to the reader that many of these various statements against video games and their creators are false. Contrary to opposition arguments, video games actually present benefits to gamers by reducing stress, providing entertainment, and helping to develop motivation that could not otherwise be achieved through conventional means.
At this day in age we bask in the luxury of having easy access to advanced technology at our disposal. From the World Wide Web, to cell phones, music, movies and video games the human race has thought of any and everything to keep us entertained. Over the years studies have shown reasonable concerns regarding the long-term effects of video games. These games can desensitize gamers to real life violence, which is usually seen in the younger crowd. The studies especially hit on the games containing player-on-player violence. Though these games are extremely entertaining and can get kids to settle down for a while, if not properly supervised, they can produce adverse effects. Other studies have shown that video games can be used as way to yield positive outcomes such as, good problem solving skills, cooperation in a group and the ability to flow. Although there has been psychological research on children learning through the actions of others some believe that children are automatically able to distinguish between what is just a game and what is reality. The longer they are allowed on their game system the more they become convinced that their games are real. Some researchers believe violent video games can channel the aggression of the child but the parents are to blame for what happens to the child after playing an excessive amount over a period of time. Children can become preoccupied with these violent video games which have been proven to be the cause of poor social skills, uncontrollable aggression and a false reality.
Over the past 30 years, playing video games has become one of the most popular hobbies worldwide. Not only has the video game industry become a multi-billion dollar industry, but it has attracted people from all age types. While video games today are played by both kids and adults, there are many issues being raised regarding the effects of video games. More particular, is the effect that violent video games may be having on children. Some critics argue that video games are direct indicators of child aggression while video game supporters argue that there is no direct link between child aggression and violent video games. While many people have their own personal stances, this issue is unique because it is unfolding everyday. Scientists and researchers all over the world are continuously doing research regarding the effects of video games on children. Even though this remains a field of uncertainty for researchers, parents should definitely be involved in being aware of what it is that they’re children are playing when they play video games.
By far the largest concern of technology today is video games. There have been so many experiments and studies to try and figure out if video games have a negative or positive effect on our children. A growing body of research is linking violent video game play to aggressive cognitive, attitudes and behaviors (D.A. Gentile, 2004). Video games can obviously be dangerous for our children causing aggression, bad performances in school and obesity. Although we cant blame all of these problems on the use of video game...
There have been several studies conducted on learning and serious games, for example, a recent study by the Office of Naval Research found that video game players performed ten to twenty percent better in perceptual and cognitive ability than non-game players, and that video games helped adults process information faster(Steinberg,2012). Another study by the Federation of American Scientists found that students re...
Social scientists have been examining the effect that video games have on behavior. From the introduction of video games in the 1980s, there have been numerous research studies to this effect (Andersen & Taylor, 2008). The issue has become even more significant in the modern context because these video games have become bloodier and more realistic than ever before. Even though boys play these games more than girls in America, the consumption of video games has generally been high. Carey (2013) indicates that 32% of these gamers are below the age of 18. Therefore, it would be crucial to evaluate the effects that these video games have on the behavior of such children.
One way in which video games can be beneficial is by supporting individuals’ intellectual development in the areas of problem solving and logic. Games like Cut the Rope, Angry Birds and The Incredible Machine require players to solve a puzzle under time limited conditions. When people are playing these games, they practice their critical thinking skills and creativity, which are both important components of intelligence.