August 12, 2021

August 12, 2021

The Video Game Debate: Good, Bad, Or More Complicated Than That?

The heated debate surrounding video games has been going on for decades. After an initial simple tennis-style game in 1958, video games really took off in the 1970s with the invention of Atari and its hyper-successful game, Pong. The following decades saw significant advancements in the video game space and systems for both arcade-style play and at-home enjoyment.

The video game debate, focusing around whether or not these games are “good” or “bad” for you, began in the 1980s when researchers started to explore the idea that playing video games could lead to harmful effects. It wasn’t until the 1990s, when more violent video games became popular and school shootings became more common, that the general public weighed in on the topic. So, what’s the consensus? Are video games good or bad for you? Or is the issue more complicated than a black-and-white assessment? 

What are the pros and cons of video games?
It can be hard to determine a clear-cut answer to address the video game debate. The plethora of research surrounding the topic is contradictory in many ways. For example, some studies suggest that video games can increase cognition in many areas such as problem-solving and information processing. But other studies have found that video games might lead to more aggression in children, especially if the games they choose to play are particularly violent in nature.

While the answer to the question is anything but simple, the question itself might be too oversimplified. There is no one way to approach an answer when there are so many factors to take into consideration: the length of time spent playing video games, the type of games being played, the age at which children begin to play video games, and the effects on the brain that gaming can have. 

Positive effects of video games
According to the American Psychological Association, video games can be great for a variety of different reasons. Studies have suggested that playing video games may boost learning and increase social skills. The games looked at in the study actually included violent shooter games, which contradicts what many people believed in the decades prior about such types of games.

As it turns out, gaming can lead to some significant changes in a child’s cognition. For example, spatial navigation, reasoning, memory, and perception have all been shown to improve in those who spent time playing the shooter games people were told to condemn. These games, in particular, were also shown to cause an improvement in a person’s ability to perceive and think about specific objects in three dimensions as opposed to the two that they play in. One particular study on the subject compared the cognitive changes to those that would occur if that same person were to take part in academic courses designed to improve the same skillsets.

Other types of games, such as the simpler Angry Birds, have also been shown to have positive effects. The game is said to be able to promote relaxation in those who play it, improving mood and keeping anxiety at bay.

Negative effects of video games
On the other hand, some negative effects of gaming have also been researched. The physical effects of gaming, for example, can lead to overuse or stress injuries (though of course, this would be typical of any activity that is done excessively). Physical injuries such as carpel tunnel syndrome or gamer’s thumb, which is inflammation of the thumb, can be attributed to an unhealthy obsession with gaming and avoidance of other activities.

Psychologically, gaming can have negative effects such as addiction. According to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, around 1% of Americans might have internet gaming disorder, or gaming addiction. Studies have also shown that video games may lead to other psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, or increased aggression.

Video games have also shown to have an effect on dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with the reward center of the brain. When people of any age play video games, that area of the brain becomes activated when they succeed at the game’s objective. Feeling high levels of dopamine because of the constant release that goes on during game play can lead to the brain becoming accustomed to it. After a while of this, anything less than the stimulation provided by gaming will not be enough to activate enough dopamine, thus leading to an inability to enjoy other activities as much.

Are video games good or bad for you?
While there is no right or wrong answer to this question, it’s all a matter of the factors that go into game play. For example, the time spent playing a video game can have a great impact on whether or not it is doing more harm than good or vice versa. Some experts recommend a sweet spot of game play, which is one to two hours per day. Any more than that and you run the risk of falling into the negative effects of game play.

Another factor, the type of game played, may also determine whether or not video games are good or bad. For some, a first-person shooter game may help them sharpen some cognitive skills, while another person playing the same game may become more aggressive.

Unfortunately, the video game debate will rage on, because there is no clear-cut answer to the question of whether or not video games are good or bad for you. It comes down to personal choices and preferences, and of course, the need to play only in moderation.

Featured image by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash