Studies of Children and Video Games: A Look at the Beginning By Asma Murtadha October 9, 2006

The Start Primarily game therapy “severely disturbed children” Many goals Communication Interaction

Primarily game therapy

“severely disturbed children”

Many goals

Communication

Interaction

*Games Selected for Following Reasons Therapeutic uses Availability Cost Space Easily understood instructions *Video games were not chosen.

Therapeutic uses

Availability

Cost

Space

Easily understood instructions

Conclusions of Game Therapy Challenged children Feelings toward adults Ups Downs Generalization Familiarity Substitution

Challenged children

Feelings toward adults

Ups

Downs

Generalization

Familiarity

Substitution

The Beginning Television and movies Questioned the violence Arcade subculture—good or bad? Less restrictive than previous studies Changed physical space

Television and movies

Questioned the violence

Arcade subculture—good or bad?

Less restrictive than previous studies

Changed physical space

Why? Passing fad? Disregarded Rebellious Something new Marriage of television and the computer Fantasy

Passing fad?

Disregarded

Rebellious

Something new

Marriage of television and the computer

Fantasy

Arcade Subculture—The Good Cognitive processes Sensory memory, ability to switch attentions, short and long term memory (in spaced practices), expectancy, verbal/visual distinctions, motor performance, problem solving (creative thinking) Social benefits Jean Piaget

Cognitive processes

Sensory memory, ability to switch attentions, short and long term memory (in spaced practices), expectancy, verbal/visual distinctions, motor performance, problem solving (creative thinking)

Social benefits

Jean Piaget

Jean Piaget’s Stance Development Children Knowledge Claimed children learned from experience Computers held “considerable potential for engaging children in valid intellectual exercises”

Development

Children

Knowledge

Claimed children learned from experience

Computers held “considerable potential for engaging children in valid intellectual exercises”

Arcade Subculture—The Bad Skipping school Perception of reality Physical Psychological “Space Invaders Obsession”, solitary, Philip Zimbardo and Carl Rogers

Skipping school

Perception of reality

Physical

Psychological

“Space Invaders Obsession”, solitary, Philip Zimbardo and Carl Rogers

Zimbardo and Rogers’ Stance Zimbardo—”… the video games that are proving so addictive to young people may not only be socially isolating but may actually encourage violence between people.” Rogers—trivialization of violence

Zimbardo—”… the video games that are proving so addictive to young people may not only be socially isolating but may actually encourage violence between people.”

Rogers—trivialization of violence

Arcade Subculture—The Ugly Stealing Robbery Prostitution Death

Stealing

Robbery

Prostitution

Death

General Consensus Can be “good” Distinction in Gender

Can be “good”

Distinction in Gender

Studies of Today Desensitization Aggression Violence Killing Improve skills Gender gap Government

Desensitization

Aggression

Violence

Killing

Improve skills

Gender gap

Government