Introduction
When you hear the words “video games” automatically you think of every negative aspect that there is in the games. Although this is very true, there are also educational things in some games. Studies have shown that video games can benefit and harm some people in a variety of different ways. So the question is, what is the actual effect that video games have on our brain?
Positive Effects
Believe it or not, there are a lot of positive aspects in a video game. Acording to the “ DANA Foundation” educational games help children count, add or subtract, learn their colors, shapes and much more. Leapfrog Leapsters have a lot of educational value in them. The games that are made for it are to help young children learn all the basics before starting school. You have games such as Professor Layton where they have you solve different math problems and puzzles before you can solve the mystery( The Truth about Video Games, 2012.) Another example is spongebob, the spongebob game helps you count money, teaches children to type, which is a very important skill to have when entering high school. In every video game there are steps you have to follow in order to be successful in that particular game, so that involves following instructions which is a major aspect children need to understand. Many video games involve memory in order to advance to a higher level. Memorizing is a good characteristic to have when it comes to school for taking tests or having to do a speech, whatever it may be memorizing is important!
Education is not the only positive aspect, there also is fitness. The wii is a great gaming device to help you stay healthy and in shape. You have games like Just Dance, a fu...
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...e choice of a more aggressive game will have a more negative impact on us then if we were to choose an educational game that will have a more positive affect. If video games are a necessity to your family be smart when choosing them! Go with the games that will impact your children in positive ways and teach them things that will be beneficial for them in the future.
References
Gentile, Douglas. Ph.D. “Video Games Affect the Brain-for Better and Worse.”
The DANA Foundation. July 23, 2009. http://www.dana.org/Cerebrum/2009/ “Raise Smart Kid.” (n.d.). Raise Smart Kid. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from http://www.raisesmartkid.com “The Truth About Video Games and the Brain: What Research Tells Us.” (n.d.).The Truth About
Video Games and the Brain. Retrieved March 6, 2014, from
http://www.scilearn.com/blog/video-games-brain.php
... games do have an important and distinct impact on the psychological development of children. Some of the positive effects of social, educational, cognitive, and physical uptake are substantial and far outweigh the occasional negative showing of aggression and lethargic behavior. As with all things, the situation and content should always be considered, especially in the developing stages of young minds. With the landscape of the video game industry changing year-by-year, there are constantly more dimensions of this puzzle needing to be assessed. However, there has already been a shift in their potential effects even as recently as the past 10 years. With more research in this field, we can start to note trends (relative to sex and age) and begin to create and environment where children enjoy the process of growing up while developing good health and social habits.
“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
...While there are violent games out there, children could, with the help of their parents, play cleaner games such as The Legend of Zelda or any game in the Mario series, and in the end, be benefited from it. Whether their stress is relieved, their brains stronger, or their connections with their families made unbreakable, video games can truly be a good thing for kids.
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.
Videogames are looked down upon by parents who see them as a waste of time and experts on education who believe that games corrupt the brain. Many say violent video games are to blame for young people being so violent. Psychologists and scientists believe that videogames have a lot of benefits. One benefit being that it make kids smart and cause them to use high-level thinking skills. Video games requires many skills that aren’t taught in school but, also enhance skills that the gamer already has. Skills that are enhanced by video games include following instructions, problem solving and logic with games like angry birds and cut the rope. Hand eye coordination, fine motor skills and spatial skills used in shooting games. Research has shown enhanced skills in surgeons and fighter pilots. Planning resources management and logistics encouraged by the game SimCity.
Adachi, Paul J.C. and Willoughby, Teena. “Do Video Games Promote Positive Youth Development?” Journal of Adolescent Research 28.2 (2012): 155-165. Web. 12
Studies have shown that there is a wide variety of physical and behavioral effects that video games can have on their players.
Video games have been an influence part of our society since the early 70’s. The bad named that they are given is false, the only reason they have this bad name is because kids like games, so anything that is fun is bad for you. If a child loved playing chess he or she would be rewarded but it to is a game. Video games can help the learning process and should be incorporated in to the school system. If a child loved playing chess he or she would be rewarded but it to is a game. Video games can help the learning process and should be incorporated in to the school system.
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 game play can have both positive and negative effects on children and adolescents, and adults should seek to minimize the negative effects while maximizing the positive effects by staying informed about games and establishing rules about the amount and type of video game play.
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.
Many people believe that too much time spent watching television or playing computer or video games can be detrimental to children’s development. However, video games can also be beneficial. Gaming, in moderation, helps improve cognitive skills, such as attention, vision, and multitasking.
Many people believe that video games change people and mislead them to do bad things, such as drugs and alcohol, but it is the opposite. Gaming prevents people from such acts and actually helps to keep them away from the substances. Lots of people, mainly parents, believe that video games harm people so they try to keep their children away from them. In reality, video games make your life better. Video games can provide many benefits to your lifestyle as “numerous academic studies indicate that playing video games has many psychological and even physical benefits” (Guarini). Gaming helps stimulate the brain and advances your problem solving abilities. There are disadvantages to gaming, which is true, but the amount of benefits outweigh them by far.
Video games have been argued about for decades. Some people have argued that video games are linked to violence. However, new research shows that video games can be used for therapeutic purposes, exercise, stress relievers, positive interactive learning, hand eye coordination, and different types of patient treatment for people all around the world.
Video games have both good and effects, but bad effects were greater. Limiting the time of playing video games and choosing the right type are the solutions of the elimination of bad effects on children. Thus, moderation between playing video games and playing sports or doing extracellular activities will benefit the child. Another important point would be avoiding violent video games because they influence children’s behavior in an aggressive way.