Do video games adversely affect the intellectual development of children and adolescents? Rebuttal

Discussions about video games and mental health

Video games are electronic games that range from action to passive play and challenge players physically and mentally. The desire to play such games stems from a sense of autonomy and a desire to compete with others, perhaps explaining why playing video games can be so much fun and addictive. There may be. About 97 percent of teens and children in the United States spend about an hour a day playing video games. The majority of psychological research has been conducted to investigate the effects of games on children and adolescents (Yoo & Eastin, 2017). Research focused on negative aspects such as addiction, depression, and aggression. Research was very important. But we need a more balanced view of video games that appreciates the positive as well as the negative. The nature of these games has changed dramatically over the past decade, becoming increasingly complex, diverse, realistic and social, so it’s important to consider the potential benefits.

This essay presents a counterargument to the subject that video games adversely affect the human brain and the intellectual development of children and adolescents.

There has been much debate over the years about whether video games are good for children or are very harmful. There are many misconceptions about playing video games and their effects on mental health. Playing video games for long periods of time is thought by some to have a negative impact on children’s mental stamina. Similarly, many believe that playing video games is futile and pointless because it does not bring any benefits (Brilliant, Nouchi & Kawasaki, 2019). People believe that video games contain violent games and lead to aggressive behavior in children.

Contrary to the above discussion, there are many myths about video games and their effects on mental health. In fact, video games have many benefits, such as developing complex problem-solving skills and promoting social engagement through online games (Benefits of Playing Video Games, 2022). Video games help improve people’s mental health by stimulating their minds.

Video games are believed to cause mental disorders in children. People believe they interfere with children and young people’s learning, impair concentration and cause poor performance in school. However, many studies have reported that playing video games improves children’s learning. Video games are now used by teachers in classrooms to help children understand specific topics (Daniel & Garry, 2018). It was observed that the teachers thought their students did well on tests. Games are useful because they help children apply their theoretical knowledge to real-life situations. Simulation games are used in both medical and military training programs to teach skills and tactics.

Video games have been shown to improve human thinking and problem-solving skills. They help you make instant decisions, process information faster, and multitask more efficiently. Additionally, the game helps with hand-eye coordination and voice processing. Video games are known to enhance analytical skills. Almost every region of the brain strives to reach higher levels of thought when playing video games (Brilliant, Nouchi, & Kawashima, 2019). Depending on the difficulty of the game, quick analysis, organization and research may be required. Playing video games activates deeper areas of the brain, promoting development and critical thinking skills.

Misconceptions about video games and mental health

Contrary to popular belief, playing video games develops different cognitive skills. This is especially true for shooting video games, which experts usually refer to as “action” games. Some of the most compelling evidence is that we randomly assign naive gamers (those who have little or no experience playing shooting video games) to play a shooting video game or another form of video game for the same amount of time. obtained from training experiments. Pallavicini, Ferrari, and Mantovani (2018) found that individuals in a shooting video game state distributed their attention faster and more accurately, had higher spatial resolution of visual processing, and had a higher spatial resolution of mental processing compared to control participants. He says it has improved rolling ability.

People believe that addiction to video games can make a person depressed and isolated from the outside world. Children often prefer to spend more time playing than participating in social interactions. But this is not true. Contrary to this belief, playing games, regardless of style, can help heal trauma (Stanmore et al., 2017). Pain and emotional stress may be reduced by playing video games. People suffering from depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder may benefit from video games (PTSD). Online and multiplayer games are great for online social connections. You have to learn who to trust and who to leave behind in a fast-paced gaming environment. Multiplayer mode encourages teamwork. It’s also a low-risk environment to practice talking to and building relationships with people (Stanmore et al., 2017).

Preliminary studies show that such cognitive benefits result in detectable changes in brain processing and efficiency. Various studies have shown that video games can have a positive effect on the human brain. For example: The prefrontal cortex is the part of the human brain responsible for decision making, cognitive planning, and social behavior. Playing video games like Super Mario 64 requires advance planning to win the game (Ballesteros, Voelcker-Rehage, & Bherer, 2018). This part of the brain helps players plan ahead and analyze how objects will be used in the real world.

The right hippocampus is also involved in knowledge processing and storage, and short- and long-term memory. Scientists have also noticed an increase in this area as gamers use this part of the brain to navigate the world of Mario (Aliyari et al., 2018). Similarly, it affects the cerebellum, making it easier to access information and react faster. Example: “Minecraft” is a video game that offers educational benefits such as: B. By teaching children to use objects, explore their environment, and solve problems. Also, games like Sincity and Civilization teach people about global problem solving (Quiroga et al., 2019).

On a more basic level, the game focuses heavily on resource management and planning, and successfully teaches these concepts to younger players. According to Hanghj, Lieberoth, and Misfeldt (2018), children and adolescents develop beliefs about their intelligence, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities through playing video games. This encourages them to take more risks, which impacts their performance and motivation to solve problems positively. Video games provide an ideal platform for motivating young people, as they provide players with immediate tangible results regarding their skills. In video games, immediate and clear feedback (points, tokens, puzzle dead ends, etc.) rewards continuous effort and helps keep players motivated.

Conclusion

From the above analysis, we can conclude that video games benefit children and young people and help improve their mental abilities. Video games are not only harmful to individuals, but have been proven to have many benefits if used correctly. It has the ability to make children creative and smart. Video games resemble traditional games in which children tackle corporate or competitive goals, players engage in pretend play environments, and use their cognitive skills in problem solving. Similarly, some games include multiplayer modes. This encourages teamwork and collaboration. Therefore, it is clear that playing video games has a positive impact on people’s cognitive, emotional, social and motivational well-being.

References

Aliyari, H., Sahraei, H., Daliri, M. R., Minaei-Bidgoli, B., Kazemi, M., Agaei, H., … & Dehghanimohammadabadi, Z. (2018). The beneficial or harmful effects of computer game stress on cognitive functions of players. Basic and clinical neuroscience, 9(3), 177. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30034648/

Ballesteros, S., Voelcker-Rehage, C., & Bherer, L. (2018). Cognitive and brain plasticity induced by physical exercise, cognitive training, video games, and combined interventions. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 12, 169. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00169/full

Benefits of Playing Video Games Apa.org. (2022). Retrieved 10 April 2022, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-a0034857.pdf.

Brilliant T, D., Nouchi, R. & Kawashima, R., 2019. Does video gaming have impacts on the brain: Evidence from a systematic review. Brain sciences, 9(10), p.251. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826942/

Daniel, M. & Garry, C., 2018. Video games as culture: considering the role and importance of video games in contemporary society. Routledge.

Hanghøj, T., Lieberoth, A., & Misfeldt, M. (2018). Can cooperative video games encourage social and motivational inclusion of at?risk students?. British Journal of Educational Technology, 49(4), 775-799. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326698208_Can_cooperative_video_games_encourage_social_and_motivational_inclusion_of_at-risk_students

Pallavicini, F., Ferrari, A., & Mantovani, F. (2018). Video games for well-being: A systematic review on the application of computer games for cognitive and emotional training in the adult population. Frontiers in psychology, 2127. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6234876/

Quiroga, M. A., Diaz, A., Roman, F. J., Privado, J., & Colom, R. (2019). Intelligence and video games: Beyond “brain-games”. Intelligence, 75, 85-94.

Stanmore, E., Stubbs, B., Vancampfort, D., de Bruin, E. D., & Firth, J. (2017). The effect of active video games on cognitive functioning in clinical and non-clinical populations: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 78, 34-43. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28442405/

Yoo, S. C., & Eastin, M. S. (2017). Contextual advertising in games: Impacts of game context on a player’s memory and evaluation of brands in video games. Journal of Marketing Communications, 23(6), 614-631. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13527266.2016.1155074