This document discusses the debate around whether video games are beneficial or harmful. While some experts argue that video games can improve skills like problem solving, hand-eye coordination, and strategy development, others warn that violent video games may increase aggressive thoughts and behaviors in young people. The document also lists both potential positive effects of video games, such as developing reading and math skills, and potential negative effects, such as increased aggression and decreased school performance.
4. Playing 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.
5. Many scientists and psychologists
find that video games can actually
have many benefits – the main one
is making kids smart.
6. Video games may actually teach
kids high-level thinking skills that
they will need in the future.
7.
8. "Video games change your brain,"
according to University of
Wisconsin psychologist C. Shawn
Green.
9. Playing video games change the brain’s physical structure
the same way as do learning to read, playing the piano, or
navigating using a map.
Much like exercise can build muscle, the powerful
combination of concentration and rewarding surges of
neurotransmitters like dopamine strengthen neural circuits
that can build the brain.
10. Positive Effects of Video Games
o Following instructions
o Problem solving and logic
o Hand-eye coordination, fine motor and spatial skills
o Planning, resource management and logistics
o Multitasking, simultaneous tracking of many shifting
variables and managing multiple objectives
11. o Quick thinking, making fast analysis and decisions
o Accuracy
o Strategy and anticipation
o Developing reading and math skills
o Perseverance (never give up)
o Concentration
o Memory
o Mapping
12. o Taking risks
o How to respond to challenges
o Teamwork and cooperation when played with others
o Simulation, real world skills
Video games introduce your kid to computer technology
and the online world
16. •violent video games are more likely to have increase daggressive
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and decreased prosocial
helping.
•Too much video game playing makes your kid socially isolated.
Also, he may spend less time in other activities such as doing
homework, reading, sports, and interacting with the family and
friends.
•Some video games teach kids the wrong values. Violent
behavior, vengeance and aggression are rewarded. Negotiating
and other nonviolent solutions are often not options.
•Video games may also have bad effects on some children’s
health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural,
muscular and skeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve
compression, carpal tunnel syndrome.
17. Negative Effects (summarizing)
•Violent games Increase aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
•Desensitize players to violence, decrease empathy and helping.
•Video game play is negatively related to school performance.
•Video games may exacerbate (to make a bad situation worse) attention
problems.
•It seems that some players can become addicted to video games.
