Brains on Video Games
Many wonder if video games have an impact on the brain. Video games are very popular in society today, with million of players, including men, women, and children. The article, “Brains on Video Games”, is research from six experts who researched the impact video games have on the brain. Based on their studies, video games have not been proven to have effects on the brain, but affect individuals in many other ways. Based on Bavelier and Green’s studies, playing video games have no scientific predictive power. Video games are no different from games being played on computers or smartphones. Expert Merzenich reported that 1 in 5 regular gamers seem to meet the medical criteria defining them as addictive. To expert Gentile’s knowledge, there were not any published studies looking at the effects of gaming addiction to the brain. Based on these experts, there is not any proof that video games have an impact on the brain (Bavelier et al., 2011).
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Experts Han and Renshaw have studies that proves patients with internet addiction have altered social behavior, increased aggression, tend to be lonely, reduced attention, and depressed moods. Their studies also show disruption of daily routines and may become violent when asked to stop playing. Daily time spent playing video games in children takes away from reading and academic study. Bavelier and Green’s idea was for game developers to turn their games for educational and/or clinical applications. This is to develop a fun and attractive games that can also have the educational or rehabilitation impact experts are seeking (Bavelier et al.,
“Most reported effects of videogames – particularly in the popular press – appear to centre upon the alleged negative consequences… Research has consistently shown that playing computer games (irrespective of genre) produces reductions in reaction times, improved hand-eye co-ordination and raises players’ self-esteem,” (Griffiths p. 47), states Mark Griffiths in his article, “The educational benefits of videogames”. When people think of video games, they often tend to think about the negative side effects that video games can have on a person. Will Wright in his article, “Dream Machines” also defends video games by providing positive effects that video games have on those who play them. Wright presents
Video games do not make us more intelligent. They may however, make us more prone to violence and sex. Video games are preventing us from screening out distractions and making thinking deeply a difficult task. Our brains become overwhelmed when multitasking. Moreover, Johnson states “... a modern video game can take forty hours to complete”. Forty hours keep kids from homework and as Rachael Rettner states in livescience, “The results show that boys given a PlayStation II are slower to progress in their reading and writing skills and have more learning problems reported by their teachers than those not given a system”. The sole reason studies come back positive for video games being productive is due to the fact that they test a regular video gamer with a non-gamer. Regular video gamers will do better in the study because the more they play, the better they get. Not many realize the effect of these “fully realized imaginary worlds”, it is making it harder for people to differentiate their virtual life with their real
All addictions can be dangerous and harmful to the addicted person and others around him; however, video game addiction can be particularly detrimental to children. Video games are becoming increasingly popular with children of young ages, which in turn may raise...
Video games should not be banned because they help in building our personality procedure, and they are healthy. Up to date researches show that first person shooter games have many advantages such as “faster and more accurate attention allocation, higher spatial resolution in visual processing, and enhanced mental rotation abilities.” (C. S. Green & Bavelier, 2012). These games build up analysis and higher ability to deal with problems and boost creativity. Thus, people who play first person shooter games uses there neurons in a more effective way than non-players, when facing problems and difficulties (Granic, Lobel & Engels, 2013). It is important to bear in mind that these studies did not yield the same consequences when it came to other types of technology. Furthermore, according to Granic, Lobel and Engels who wrote the study entitled “The Benefits of Playing Video Games” published in the American Psychologist journal; these types of video games develop reasoning, promote relaxation, avoid nervousness, sharpen up memory and help in making better decisions.
Finally, video games addiction should be taken seriously because it affects gamers’ lives. Each individual should take prevention measures for this community problem and help people who are struggling with this addiction in order to avoid the harmful consequences. In time when computers are taking great part of our time we should try to keep in touch with the reality regardless of the appeal of the virtual life.
The average adolescent spends a major part of the normal week watching or interacting with some form of the media’s products. Video games are one of these media based mediums and have become increasingly popular since the 1980’s. According to a report in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, "Female gamers spent an average of 44 minutes playing on the weekdays and one hour and four minutes playing on the weekends, and male gamers spent an average of 58 minutes playing on the weekdays and one hour and 37 minutes playing on the weekends" ("Video Game Play Among Adolescents"). What can we understand from this evidence? The fact is that adolescents, male or female, are spending tremendous amounts of time each day sitting in front of a screen with a controller in hand.
Studies have shown that there is a wide variety of physical and behavioral effects that video games can have on their players.
“As video games have become more violent and more sophisticated and the sales of video games has skyrocketed in the last few decades, youth violence has plummeted,” Ferguson says, citing evidence compiled by various federal agencies (Adams 3). Violence in video games is not a new issue. It has been debated and argued since the release of the first violent video game. As time has progressed, so has the evolution of violence and strong language within video games. Ratings have become more relaxed, and the lines between T (Teen) and M (Mature) rated games has gotten closer together. Violent games are becoming the normal and accepted of all games, and are being demanded by the gaming industry more heavily. Parents have always shied away from these games for their children, regardless of age. However, kids are getting these games whether they are the correct age (17+) or not. Young kids, less than ten years of age are playing horribly violent games and parents are fearing the repercussions. But video games are not to be blamed for child violence. Violence in video games does not cause children to become violent people later on in life.
Since the Early 70’s video games have been giving a bad name. Parents state that video games rot the minds of children and are influencing them do be violent. These accusations are far from the truth. In my research I found that there are many positive effects of gaming. Some of these effects are increased skills, creativity, general knowledge, and also help those in need. Parents can also take proper precautions and look into a game before buying it to see if it meets the criteria discussed in this paper.
Most people think that video games are harmful and waste of time. As a result, the main question of the research is how video games can influence on children and many minor questions come to mind about video games: Do video games influence a child’s psychological development and make them more aggressive and violent? Do video games affect a child’s grades? What are the influences of video games on children? Many people don’t have much information about video games and how video games may effect on people’s behavior, health and mind.
Nowadays, video games are frequently accused of having detrimental effects on children and adolescents. The main arguments against video games are that they lead to addiction, that they provoke violence, and that they impair social development. Whether or not such claims are true has not been determined with certainty as scientific studies have produced contradictory results. Nevertheless, video games also have beneficial effects, which tend to be underrated, as they do not receive the same level of media coverage that adverse ones do, and are thus unknown to the general public. Some of the positive effects of playing video games on mental development include: stimulating analytical thinking, improving concentration, and encouraging planning and anticipation (“Video game controversies”).
Video games are not considered as a serious addiction amongst teenagers and adults, often being compared to severe cases of addiction, such as drug abuse or alcohol abuse that may result in the appearance of a decrease in the severity of the addiction. However, video game addiction is a serious matter and has unhealthy consequences for an individual 's life and their health; spending too much time playing video games can take a great toll on one 's physical and mental well-being. Continuing unhealthy patterns of video game activity for prolonged periods of time can result in mental health issues, physical health problems, and a decline in a social life.
Video games are often portrayed in a negative manner because they are seen as having an "addictive" quality. Addiction has been defined as "A primary, chronic disease, characterized by impaired control over the use of a psychoactive substance and/or behavior. Despite the wonderful benefits games offer as diversions, spending too much time, to the neglect of normal life duties, and social development with direct contact with others can and often does happen. Clinically, the manifestations occur along biological, sociological, spiritual and especially psychological. Some psychological effects that affect the behaviors are failure to play outdoor games, difficulties in work or school, telling lies to everyone, decreased attention to personal hygiene, decreased attention to family and friends, and disturbances in the sleep cycle. Many video game addicts have strug...
Several years ago, technology and child’s play were not such as extremely developed as today. Thousands of teenagers have video game as their primary form of entertainment at home. The disagreement about violent video games is because they focus on several subjects such as violence scenes, pornographic content, racism and other resources. For many years, researchers have been debating if video games can cause dependence or not. However, an expert, Jack Flanagan believes video games have a really negative effect on a person’s life and even for children. Jack states that video game addiction exists, and can have the same effects as drugs and alcohol (Netzley 36-37). This shows that video game addiction can be like other addictions
Therapy can give you a tremendous boost in controlling gaming use. Cognitive-behavioral therapy provides step-by-step ways to stop compulsive Internet behaviors and change...