Effects Of Playing Video Games On Children

Playing certain video games can have cognitive benefits. Specific video games, like Tetris, have been shown to have positive effects on spatial rotation, while games like Grand Theft Auto V have been shown to increase reaction times within gamers. Open-ended games and interactive games improve problem-solving skills by learning to solve things through trial and error. Interactive games are shown to improve creativity as well. People who play shooter video games show faster and more accurate attention allocation, higher spatial resolution in visual processing, and enhanced mental rotation abilities than those who don’t (Granic, Lobel, & Engels, 2014). Other cognitive benefits of playing video games include improved coordination, enhanced memory, enhanced multitasking skills, and improves attention. Even though, most video games show some kind of cognitive effect, most robust effects come from shooter games, rather than puzzle games (Green & Bavelier, 2012).

Everybody in this country plays video games almost every day. It does not matter what the age is, even though they are not young and have free time they would play video games and enjoy themselves. People and society says that through video games children’s and also some adults become more aggressive and violent. Video games are contributing the act of violence all over the world and they are thinking to stop video games for their benefit. The media makes false assumptions. They are not giving details of video games and missing the benefits of the video games. According to medical daily new research indicates that certain video games actually boost the brain power and improve strategic thinking. Unfortunately, our parents and society does not approve the use of video games and it has been decried by many parents and it creates destructive garbage. It also improves the cognitive flexibility which is the mental faculty of creative and lateral thinking. According to Ericson, “Our paper shows that cognitive flexibility, a cornerstone of human intelligence, is not a static trait can be trained and improved using fun learning tools alike gaming”.(Medical Daily) This is the necessary part of our human brain and it can be achieved by video games and other fun learning activities. There are many advantages just like these from playing video games. They should also look at the benefits and not just focus on the disadvantages. It also helps from

The impact video games have on the brain can differ by the opinions of others. Some may argue that it is a disadvantage and others may say it is the total opposite, an advantage. I will be exploring the viewpoints on both ends of the spectrum. Looking into documented research on the topic, I will be discussing the benefits of gaming, why people correlate excessive playing time to negative behaviors, and the long term effects that video games cause to the brain.

I was very surprised with the results of my search, as I was expecting mostly negative effects. However, the results were that video games had overwhelmingly positive effects on the brain. The first piece of information I found was that according to Sage Publishing, studies showed a strong, positive link between action video games showed and improving attention skills, brain

Bavelier found that normal adults “have a span of tracking objects of three or four of attention at a time and gamers are six to seven” (Ted Talk). From the looks of things, playing action video games is good for people. Providing individual better cognitive skills is from playing games is not a harmful thing after all. Nevertheless, there are other perspectives that can be proven correct as well as to how video games is bad for people and

There are also many studies that show how video games increase peripheral perception, processing speed, and memory (Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw,  Merzenich, & Gentile, 2011). Also, depending on the type of video game a particular person is playing, it can be used as an effective training scenario(Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw,  Merzenich, & Gentile, 2011). The idea here is that video games can be used as a productive tool for people of all ages, professions, and lifestyles, if they are utilized correctly (Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw,  Merzenich, & Gentile, 2011). An issue that may come up is trying to find the happy area in the middle of the people who don’t use games at all and the ones that are using them excessively and becoming

Video games actually can teach people skills that you need to learn such as critical thinking, communication, and teamwork. Not everyone can learn these skills from sports. Sometimes, sports are just interesting to people, and it’s possible that sports are not a part of their lives. In their world, games could be something important, and that something important gives them the skills that they need. Some people may argue that it’s unhealthy to stare at a computer screen for hours on end or sports are healthier and they are more active by participating in sports. That is not the case. There are many games out there that stimulate the brain, making them active. People think that hardcore video gaming fanatics are dumb. That is not the case since “Roman Rivera grew up playing “Pokemon” to “Call of Duty,” and [ignored his curfew]. Now, he’s 21 years old playing “Dota 2.” Yet, he was an honor student and a member of the debate team and today he’s studying economics at the University of Chicago” (Keilman). People that play games are not dumb in any way unless they choose not to study, but that is their fault, not

The Impact of Video Games on the Brain is complicated. The Viewpoint article outlines theories from authors presenting both positive and negative impact findings. These findings leave the door open to further study and assessment. However, the impact of videos on the brain affects individuals differently.

In today’s society, the concerns for the effects of video games have acquired quite a terrible reputation. Worried parents around the world assume video games make their children do poorly in school, and create violent, desensitized, antisocial children. The increase in violent games, usually get the blame for aggressive behavior, shootings and violence in schools and young individuals. Most beliefs about video games effect on the brain and emotions are very common misconceptions. I strongly believe that video games are an essential tool to learning and gaining much-needed skills. When people look at the studies that have been done on video games and the brain, it will be apparent that some myths about video games have been blown out of proportion. It has come to my attention that there are studies that prove the negative effects of video games may only last the duration of game play. Kids can improve in general knowledge with educational video games like Leap Frog. Video games can train specific areas of the brain as well as increase brain flexibility and memory. Gaming actually has more beneficial effects than negative effects. Video games are excellent educational implement used in elementary schools. It is extremely helpful in brain development and helping kids with trouble reading improve. Memory retention can be improved and increased with the use of strategic, thinking games. Video games, as funny as it might sound, even promote

Video games can also teach players life lessons without the players feeling like they are learning. Video games can teach players how risk taking can pay off, how to deal with challenges, how to find an alternate route to their goal, and how to manage and deal with frustration (Marcovitz 55). Video games can also “improve spatial reason and focus, memory formation, strategic planning, muscle control, and fine motor skills” (Netzley 42). One business owner has a section of time in the work day where employees can sit together and play video games, he has this to say, “When employees play together, they learn team-building concepts that they can later use in their professional roles” (Marcovitz 58). Just like in real life, video game problems grow

Daphne Bavelier and Shawn Green stated how video games have beneficial factors to them. They focused their attention on the 'action ' genre by saying that, " Indeed, playing this type of game results in a wide range of behavioral benefits, including enhancements in low-level vision, visual attention, speed of processing and statistical inference, among others" (Bavelier, Green, 2011). Action games deliver high intensity, faced paced decision making and processing; and with this exposure, players begin to harness their skills to judge situations quickly and act upon them. Each game differs from one another even in the same genre, and the ability for a gamer to not only hone in on fast processing and decision skills to support a pleasurable outcome, but it also affects their motor skills. Which is what brought Doug Han to say that, "Depending on the type of

A lot of people view video games as being bad and say that they rot your brain and cause violence, but research shows that they can indeed help you. Video games have been shown to help with hand-eye

One of the biggest benefits of playing a video game is the educational aspects they bring and teach. Studies conducted show that video games are a good source of retention when learning something and provide players with better cognitive skills, such as the ability to focus on important details and to filter out the unnecessary information present in situations (Nakaya Ch. 4 par. 4). The obtainment of better cognitive skills is one that should be present in all people, as this allows for easier problem solving and rational thoughts within the general public. In a paper written by Danielle Dai and Amanda Fry, they found that video games provide players with a fairly strict set of rules and limitations that the player must use to

Playing video games is among one of the favorite pastimes of many people around the world. Some play games to kill time with simple tasks found most commonly on the phone, while others play them to challenge their mind in the form of complex puzzles or to practice management skills, some play them to experience a sense of adventure that they just can’t find anywhere else, and many use them as a way to communicate or have fun with friends both near and far. Whatever the reason someone may have for playing video games, they may not think that games can have an effect on their brains. Some would say that playing video games can lead to negative effects such as harming the player’s cognitive skills or causing them to become much more violent than normal. Others would argue that playing video games quickens the minds of their players, leading to higher mental performance or an increased attention to detail. Thanks to this hotly debated controversy many studies have been conducted over the past years in order to settle the debate once and for all. So what effect can playing video games have on the cognitive skills of their players, and are these effects positive, negative, or somewhere in the middle?

Alternating feet and slamming them down on each stair, I make my way up to my apartment. The throbbing in my head seems to be in cadence with my every step. It has been one of those days, the kind of day that I want to start over but cannot. So instead I continue up the stairs to the comfort of my own home. Fiddling with the keys in the door just prolongs the process of me relaxing on the couch. But finally I am inside. The softness of the couch hugs my body. I surrender myself to it. It helps my mood but not enough. The stress of the day is still sitting on my shoulders. The only way to relieve this stress is to try and forget and what better way to do that than to play a video game. For as long as I can remember, playing video games has been my outlet to relieve stress. There is something about playing ‘Call of Duty’ and creeping through the battlefields, shooting up enemies, that is relaxing. My fingers, moving a thousand miles a minute, press every button while trying to stay alive. Some may argue that this is not a healthy way to de-stress but as with every thing in life there are positive and negative aspects to it. Playing video games can have both positive and negative effects on children.