If you’re shopping for children this year for the holidays, you might not have to feel so guilty about buying them video games for presents. A review of research on video games found that there are actually several positive aspects of playing video games for children, according to a press release from the American Psychological Association.
“While one widely held view maintains playing video games is intellectually lazy, such play actually may strengthen a range of cognitive skills such as spatial navigation, reasoning, memory and perception,” according to the press release.(1)
And these positive skills can also be gleaned from violent shooter video games as well, the press release stated. In fact, shooter video games might provide some of the biggest benefits when it comes to spatial skills.
Other types of video games promote problem-solving skills.
“The more adolescents reported playing strategic video games, such as role-playing games, the more they improved in problem solving and school grades the following year,” according to a 2013 study mentioned in the press release.
When children play any type of video game, their creativity also blossoms. But this creativity seemed to be specific to video games, since the use of other technology like computers and cell phones did not impact creativity.
Video games can even affect children’s moods in a positive way.
“Simple games that are easy to access and can be played quickly, such as ‘Angry Birds,’ can improve players’ moods, promote relaxation and ward off anxiety,” according to a study referred to in the press release.
Children also might be able to learn resilience from video games. For example, if they fail in video games, they learn to try again and succeed, which can be applied in real life.
People who play video games are also not stereotypically isolated. They actually are part of a community, and many people play these games with friends.
“People who play video games, even if they are violent, that encourage cooperation are more likely to be helpful to others while gaming than those who play the same games competitively,” according to a study referred to in the press release.
Video games have tended to get a bad reputation in the past, especially those that include violence, but a study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence demonstrated that even violent video games don’t make teens more prone to violence, even if they’re struggling with mental health issues like depression and attention deficit disorder (ADD).
“Researchers found that the playing of such games actually had a very slight calming effect on youths with attention deficit symptoms, and helped to reduce their aggressive and bullying behavior,” the article said. (2)
Then again, it might depend on which study you’re looking at. A different study published in the journal Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice found that video games are linked to delinquency and youth violence, according to a Medical Xpress article. (4)
“The results show that both the frequency of play and affinity for violent games were strongly associated with delinquent and violent behavior,” according to the article.
Of course, playing violent video games is just a risk factor, not the sole cause of violent behavior, researchers concede.
A recent study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science also has some negative results for video-game lovers.
Researchers discovered that adolescents who play violent video games are more prone to eat/to lack restraint and steal/cheat than teens who played video games of a different genre, a Medical Xpress article reported. (5)
The study also showed that playing violent video games not only leads to increased cheating and decreased self-control, teens also acted more aggressive towards others after playing the video games.
But another more positive study published in the journal Psychological Research found that video games, specifically the “first person shooter” type, can improve memory, according to a ScienceDaily article. (3)
“[Researchers] suggest that video game experience trains your brain to become more flexible in the updating and monitoring of new information, enhancing the memory capacity of the gamers,” the article said.
So where do you stand on the video game controversy? Will you be buying video games for your children or grandchildren this year? If so, will you buy any type of video game or limit the genre to non-violent games?
Sources:
1. American Psychological Association. Video Games Play May Provide Learning, Health, Social Benefits, Review Finds. Web. November 29, 2013.
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2013/11/video-games.aspx
2. ScienceDaily. Video Games Do Not Make Vulnerable Teens More Violent. Web. November 29, 2013.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130826123134.htm
3. ScienceDaily. Video Games: Bad or Good for Your Memory? Web. November 29, 2013.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130418094751.htm
4. Medical Xpress. Violent video games are a risk factor for criminal behavior and aggression, research reports. Web. November 29, 2013.
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-violent-video-games-factor-criminal.html
5. Medical Xpress. Teens ‘eat more, cheat more’ after playing violent video games. Web. November 29, 2013.
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-11-teens-violent-video-games.html
Reviewed November 29, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith