The Psychology of Video Games: The Pros of Video Games

This article of Lisa Bowen on American Psychological Association in 2014 significantly discusses the mental effect of video games regarding the development of personal health. The influences and outcomes of gaming techniques do not only improve the cognitive and decision-making skill but also, help to enhance the social interaction. Moreover, under-researched data and statistical information collected from psychological studies across the level of university and medical college, the biological progress that video game is starting to change within human mind is fascinating. In compelling with my original thesis, the article of Bowen stands out as a scientific framework that supports the logical flow of the paper. Statistical data can also be used in term of solid and credible evidence for real life

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).

Video games can have positive, therapeutic effects on players of all ages, especially those with mental or emotional problems. Games provide a chance to tune out the stresses of everyday life and decompress. Giving your mind time to rest is critical for emotional and mental well-being. Relaxation reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke, boosts memory, buffers against depression, and helps decision making. It even has physical health benefits, by suppressing

Understanding and action go together. We think more fluidly when an action is associated with a concept. Video games contain, joined together, both action and thought. This leads to a much better internalization and understanding of the game's subject matter. In a study done in Germany in 2008, participants were given a simple task to learn, such as Juggling. After about 12 weeks, these people showed a marked increase in the amount of grey matter in their brains. Further examination of these results revealed that it was, in fact, the act of learning coupled with the action that caused this increase, not simply the performance of the action itself. This suggests that games not only are excellent ways of teaching, they can have lasting beneficial effects on the health of the brain itself.

Many of these games are also good options for players who want to keep their mind in top shape and help prevent cognitive diseases.

Video games have become a very popular hobby that anyone can obtain the skill at any point of people’s lives. Video games are a game played by electronically influencing images produced by a computer program on a television screen. In October 1958, William Higinbotham has created the very first videogame. Studies have shown that video games are actually healthy, and these studies can prove wrong what the older generations assume about video games. Although, older people that grew up with a different hobby that was not video games, there many things that videogames can help improve certain skills a human can strengthen.

Humans are unique in the animal world in that we solve puzzles for fun. Very few other animals do this, and only ones with a complex neural network have the desire to complete puzzles for enjoyment. Over 40% of Americans play video games at least three hours a week; 1.2 billion people play video games worldwide. Games have always been a form of entertainment, chess is a melena and a

Gamboa, Camille. "What Types Of Video Games Improve Brain Function?". EurekAlert!. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 Feb.

Many video games have aspects that teach gamers about math, spelling, managing resources, understanding world problems, as well as learning about animals and countries. Based on some scientific research, some games are also a way to mitigate the effects of dyslexia. Both video games and physical sports assist their players in problem-solving and decision-making skills. Role-play games are a major genre of video game that improves these skills. In both versions of games, online and physical, players must make difficult decisions based on complex problems.

Although there are studies that portray the negative affects of playing aggressive video names, which include altering brain activity and causes an individual to be more aggressive in real life, it can also be argued that video games are useful in that they also increase problem solving skills, dexterity and attention (Reynolds, 2002). Therefore, video games, even violent ones are helpful in that they help people to live in a virtual world that exercises different rules and roles than real life would and the action of playing the games is helping in that it improves cognitive skills (Reynolds,

Vision in gamers improved in contrast sensitivity. This means that players are more sensitive to slight differences in shades of color. Action gamers were able to observing fine differences in color contrasts by 58%. “When people play action games, they're changing the brain's pathway responsible for visual processing," Daphne Bavelier of the University of Rochester, said in a statement. Action gamers have the ability to track multiple fast-moving targets compared to non-action gamers. Researchers also say that video games could become a part of vision correction treatments. Currently optometrists have to rely on corrective lenses or surgery. "Once you've had eye surgery or get corrective lenses, exposing yourself to these games should help the optical system to recover faster and better," Bavelier said. The training gamers get might be assisting the visual system to make better use of the data it

In a study conducted by Pauline Maillot, Alexandra Perrot, and Alan Hartley, they wanted to study the effects that exergames would have on their participants’ physicality and cognitive function (2012). Exergames is defined by the authors as a “video game that incorporates game play with physical exercise” (Maillot, et.al, 2012). The authors gave the participants many cognitive tests along with physical activity tests after they completed the exergames (Maillot, et.al, 2012). The authors found that the experimental group showed increased scores on their cognitive tests along with slight increases in their physical aptitude tests (Maillot, et.al, 2012). Maillot and colleagues stated that exergames would be a great contribution to facilities to help their residents in maintaining mental and physical

When playing video games, the coordination and concentration can physically, socially, and mentally benefit the user. Research today shows that certain video games can reduce fat and therefore promote weight loss. Other sources state that doctors have instructed parents to let their children play video games to help control focus. It is found that video games can improve hand eye

Computer games can offer us some assistance with succeeding at life. It's an uncommon assessment to have. As one who grew up swamp in gaming society, I can verify that a few aspects of my life were negatively impacted by my gaming habits. I can likewise bear witness to that games have molded me into a more productive individual from society.

Video games are frowned upon by parents as time-wasters, and worse, some education experts think that these games corrupt the brain. Violent video games are easily blamed by the media and some experts as the reason why some young people become violent or commit extreme anti-social behavior. But many scientists and psychologists find that video games can actually have many benefits – the main one is making kids smart. Video games may actually teach kids high-level thinking skills that they will need in the future.