Harmful Effects of Video Games
Video games have stirred controversy since their inception, and the extent of their positive and negative is not yet fully known. According to December 2009 statistics by the NDP Group, Inc., "63% of Americans have played a video game in the past six months, compared to only 53% of people who have gone out to the movies." Although video games have been proven to benefit certain motor skills and problem-solving capabilities, it is also important to recognize their possibly harmful effects.
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Distraction
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Video games can be addicting, and may provide unnecessary distraction for children (or adults) who play for excessive amounts of time. Dr. Richard Gallagher, a child/adolescent psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine, suggests that addiction is common. "The games provide a high level of quick gratification. You are almost constantly being rewarded and, when you lose, you get to easily start over to work on your goal." (See Reference 1) Parents should be sure to set time limits on video games during the school week to avoid poor academic and extracurricular performance.
Aggression
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Regularly playing violent video games may contribute to aggressive behavior in children, adolescents and even adults. According to the National Institute on the Media and Family, "In many violent games, players must become more violent to win. In 1st-person violent video games the player may be more affected because he or she controls the game and experiences the action through the eyes of his or her character." (See Reference 2) Parents should carefully monitor the content of their children's video games to avoid any future behavioral issues.
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Social Problems
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Playing video games excessively in isolation may contribute to social disorders. According to Dr. Eric Storch, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Florida, "Social interactions teach you how to deal with other people as well as what's appropriate and what's not. You learn how to handle situations. Social interaction is also one way of coping with stress and receiving emotional support." (See Resource 1) Video games should not be a replacement for social activity or spending time with family.
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References
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- Photo Credit playing video games image by Lisa Turay from Fotolia.com
