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Rajan Patel Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1102 December 4, 2013

In Favor of Video Games: What Are The Psychological Benefits?

Video games are fun to play for me and many other people, but do they offer benefits? Video games offer many benefits which I will describe in the following pages. They may have a great potential that could be significant. My stance on this topic is that Im in favor of video games and I want the psychological benefits to be known because many people enjoy this form of entertainment. Benefits of video games deserve more recognition instead of the negative effects of video games receiving all the recognition. People usually think of video games as being bad for you; however do they ever mention any positives? There should be a chance to find the benefits of video games, instead of always dwelling on the negative effects of video games. The psychological benefits of video games should be known, while keeping the negatives in mind. Can video games actually offer a positive impact? According to Jason Allaire of North Carolina State Universitys Gains Through Gaming Lab, Games can have a positive impact, particularly with psychological functions (qt d. in France-Presse). Allaires statement is based from the work done in the Gains Through Gaming Lab. In reference towards the Gains Through Gaming Lab, Allaire states, We focus on cognition and learning, trying to understand the exact mechanisms, such as the impact on reaction time and memory (qtd. in France -Presse).

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Therefore the Gains Through Gaming Lab is about studying how video games affect the mechanisms of cognition and learning. A study conducted by Allaire demonstrated that college seniors who are gamers exhibited greater emotional stability than non-gamers. It appears that when Allaire mentioned psychological functions, he was referring to faster reaction time, increased memory, and emotional stability. Northeastern University professor Magy Seif el-

Nasr found feels similarly about the effects of video games as Allaire. He has been working on research towards the effects of video games. According to Seif el-Nasr states, Some games can promote a lot of thinking, this kind of problem solving promotes better cognition and better memory over time (qtd. in France-Presse). Based on his statement, some games can actually improve cognition and memory over time, which This is good news for many people, especially for aging individuals. Researchers thinking is being altered because of a mass of shootings. Allaire argued by stating, there is no evidence to show that playing a violent video game can cause you to engage in violent behaviors (qtd. in France-Presse). He appears to stand strongly in favor of this side of matter. Even if this is the case, Allaire feels that video games have negative effects, according to him, If I say as a scientist I think games can have a positive effect, it would be hypocritical to say that they cannot have a negative impact (qtd. in France-Presse). He would be a biased scientist if he believed that video games dont have negative effects. Northeastern University professor Magy Seif el-Nasr feels similarly about the effects of video games as Allaire. He has been working on research towards the effects of video games. According to Seif el-Nasr, Some games can promote a lot of thinking, this kind of problem solving promotes better cognition and better memory over time (qtd. in France-Presse). Based on his statement, some games can actually improve cognition and memory over time, which is good news for many people.

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Research has shown that video games can positively influence the brain. University of Wisconsin learning sciences professor, James Gee and other researchers conducted laboratory experiments that made them realize that playing video games provide cognitive benefits such as pattern recognition, system thinking, and patience. They are actually implying that video games can be mentally stimulating. Steven Johnson states, Lurking in this research is the idea that gaming can exercise the mind the way physical activity exercises the body.. (Johnson). Therefore gaming can be exercise for the mind. Gaming requires a great deal of thinking such as focusing in the game, having patience, having the ability to delay gratification, and using resources wisely. The way gamers explore video game worlds is similar to the way the brain processes, utilizes, and organizing vast information in real life. According to Steven Johnson, Gee contends that the way gamers explore virtual worlds mirrors the way the brain processes multiple, but interconnected, streams of information in the real world (Johnson). Playing video games can be like the processing that takes place in the brain. Gee states that, Basically, how we think is through running perceptual simulations in our heads that prepare us for the actions were going to take, by modeling those simulations, video games externalize how the mind works (qtd. in Johnson). If playing video games is similar to how the brain processes information and externalizes how the mind works, then playing games would could be beneficial for ones brain. Video games difficulty continually increases as the player progresses; therefore games are adaptively challenging. Games provide steady advancements based on the players skill unlike other forms of entertainment like books and movies. According to Emily Anthes, The games arent just hard theyre adaptively hard. They tend to challenge people at the edge of their abilities; as players get better and score more points, they move up to more demanding

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levels of play (Anthes). This means well for many pe ople because their mental stimulation is increasing continuously when they play through each level in a video game. Also, Anthes states, Unlike, say, movies or books, video games dont just have content, they also have rules. A game is set up to reward certain actions and to punish others (Anthes). Based on this, video games have the possibility to be more morally beneficial than movies or books. Video games can even provide uses for brain training. Anthes states, The very structure of video games makes them ideal tools for brain training (Anthes). Based on this, video games may help people improve their brain power. Also, games provide steady advancements based on the players skill unlike other forms of entertainment like books and movies. Playing certain types of games can offer different specific benefits. For example, playing shooting or driving games enhances the ability to search for a hidden a target, according to a University of Toronto study. Agence France-Presse states, Researcher Ian Spence said these visual skills can be useful (France -Presse). According to Ian Spence, Its necessary for baggage screening, reading X-rays, or MRIs, interpreting satellite images, defeating camouflage or even just locating a friends face in a crowd (qtd. in France -Presse). This would be useful for many occupations and also beneficial in a social situation. Action-packed games appear to enhance visual acuity and spatial perception. Strategy games improve cognitive skills, such as working memory and reasoning. Action, driving, puzzle, and maze games are the types of games that are the most probable to influence spatial cognition. Maze and puzzle games involve spatial cognition; however those types of games dont require fast reflexes and quick decisionmaking such as action and driving games. In the realm of the different types of games, specific benefits are offered for each type and collectively these benefits are quite vital.

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Certain skills are needed in certain games to achieve success in the game. According to Ian Spence and Jing Feng, Each type of game requires different skills if the player is to be successful in coping with the challenges and tricky situations encountered during play (Spence and Feng). Different games require different skills. For example the game The Sims requires managing skills to control all the characters in a household and every aspect of their lives. The game Grand Theft Auto may be notoriously known for its violence, but this game requires learning to use characters, utilizing clues, and identifying patterns. Some games require a great deal of complex skills. For example, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory requires thinking on four distinct levels. These levels are manual interface, character view, internalized map, and balancing act. Manual interface involves controlling the movements of the character, by memorizing several button combinations on a game controller or a PC keyboard. Character view involves keeping track of what you see in the virtual world. Internalized maps involve remembering the complex map in each level. Generally speaking, video games involve the majority of the social and cognitive skills that one needs in real life. Violent video games are the type of games that are usually associated with negative effects. These games have this association unlike positive, creative games. According to Darcia Narvaez, a psychology professor at the University of Notre Dame, .violent videogames h ave an even more powerful influence than violent television and movies, whos detrimental effect have been documented for decades (Narvaez). When playing violent video games, gamers gain rewards for hurting another gamer, therefore they learn to associate violence with pleasure. Also, gamers repeatedly practice violent behavior while they play violent games. In reference to Narvaez, Violent games teach children how to behave like a criminal and to intentionally hurt others (Narvaez). Indiana University researchers reported that brain scans showed that violent

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video games caused healthy young men to have decreased activity in regions of the brain associated with emotional stability. Other studies found that excessive gaming associates with being overweight, introverted, and predisposed to depression. These studies may have mentioned dramatic negatives; however they never mentioned any positives. Generally speaking, video games can be addictive because gamers receive immediate gratification when they play. Theres also delayed gratification while playing video games. In fact gaming requires the ability to delay gratification. Well it appears that immediate gratification and delayed gratification are both involved in gaming. Other studies found that excessive gaming associates with being overweight, introverted, and predisposed to depression.Generally speaking, video games can be addictive because gamers receive immediate gratification when they play. Theres also delayed gratification while playing video games. Are video games good or bad? According to Cheryl Olson who is the co-director of the Center for Mental Health and Media at Massachusetts General Hospital, Games are a medium. Theyre not inherently good or bad (qtd. in Anthes). Therefore people cannot validly say that theres nothing good about video games. Although violent games have these the previously mentioned negative effects, they also have benefits such as complex problem solving and coordination skills. Furthermore, a study found that playing action based video games can enable decision-making to be 25% faster. Jason Allaire stated, there is no evidence to show that playing a violent video game can cause you to engage in violent behaviors (qtd. in France Presse). Allaire also stated, If I say as a scientist I think games can have a positive effect, it would be hypocritical to say that they cannot have a negative impact (qtd. in France-Presse). Allaires unbiased stance benefits his point. He appears to stand strongly in favor of this side of

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matter.Even if this is the case, Allaire feels that video games have negative effects, according to him, If I say as a scientist I think games can have a positive effect, it would be hypocritical to say that they cannot have a negative impact (qtd. in France -Presse). He would be a biased scientist if he believed that video games dont have negative effects. Parents may worry about the violent action games; however these games benefited the brain the most. The violent action games can stimulate the brain more than any other type of games. This type of games that seemed to be associated the most with negative effects actually is the most mentally beneficial. However, can the positives of playing violent games outweigh the negatives? According to Ian Spence and Jing Feng, .the violent nature of FPS and other action and driving games is of concern to many people given that FPS games are thought to encourage aggressive behavior or risk taking. Although it is hard to determine whether such concerns are justified, there is at least some evidence to suggest that the positive consequences of playing action games may outweigh the negative (Spence and Feng). FPS stands for first person shooter. In a world where violent games are thought to correlate to aggressive behavior, its refreshing to know the positives of playing violent games can outweigh the negatives. Well it appears that the aforementioned negative effects of violent games cant correlate to actually behaving violently. Violent video games may have a slight influence towards violent behavior, but that doesnt mean those games cause violent behavior. Generally speaking, video games can be addictive because gamers receive immediate gratification when they play. Theres also delayed gratification while playing video games. If immediate gratification and delayed gratification are both involved, a balance would form, therefore gaming may not be too addicting. More and more university research is demonstrating that gaming improves perception, decision-making, and creativity. There are many specific benefits including hand-eye

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coordination in surgeons and improved vision that helps when with nighttime driving ability. Video games can improve functions ranging from vision to memory. Based on a study, playing action based video games can enable decision-making to be 25% faster. According to University of Rochester researchers, Moreover, practiced game players can pay attention to more than six things at once without getting confused, compared with the four that someone can normally keep in mind (Hotz). Well it appears that the researchers are implying that experienced gamers tend to be better at focusing to more things than the average person. On the contrary of positive effects of gaming, Indiana University researchers reported that brain scans showed that violent video games caused healthy young men to have decreased activity in regions of the brain associated with emotional stability. Other studies found that excessive gaming associates with being overweight, introverted, and predisposed to depression. Even though these studies mentioned dramatic negatives of video games, they never touched upon the positives. Parents may worry about the violent action games; however these games benefited the brain the most. The violent action games can stimulate the brain more than any other type of games. Video games alter the brains physical structure, similar to the way learning to read, playing the piano, or navigating through a city does. Games combine the great potency of concentration and the stimulating rush of neurotransmitters like dopamine to neural circuits. This is similar analogous to how physical exercise builds muscles. In a three year study of 491 middle school children, the participants who played more video games performed better on a standardized test of creativity. The test used the Torrance Test of Creativity, which involves tasks such as drawing an interesting and exciting picture from a curved shape on a sheet of p aper, then creating a title for the picture, and making a story for the picture. Utilizing technology in forms like using cellphones, surfing the internet, or operating computers doesnt affect creativity like video games

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do. Based on the following information, video games are quite beneficial towards creativity and the brains physical structure. Well it appears that video games can enhance memory, offer faster reaction times, enable faster decision-making, improve perception, positively alter the brains physical structure and externalize how the brain works, to name a few benefits. Video games are fun for many people and appear to actually be quite beneficial. Critics may have backlash towards video games; however they cant deny the benefits of playing video games mentioned in these pages. Playing video games may have its drawbacks, but playing games does have many beneficial features. Video games true potential towards being psychologically beneficial starts to appear. Playing video games is more beneficial than one might think.

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Works Cited
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Anthes, Emily. How video games are good for the brain. boston.com. Boston Globe Media Partners, 12 Oct. 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. France-Presse, Agence. Researchers explore positive social and cognitive effects of video games. The Raw Story. Raw Story Media, 17 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. Hotz, Robert Lee. When Gaming Is Good for You THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. Dow Jones & Company, 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. Johnson, Steven. Your Brain on Video Games: Could they actually be good for you? Discovermagazine.com. Kalmbach Publishing, 24 July 2005. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. Narvaez, Darcia. Playing violent video games: Good or bad? Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. Spence, Ian, and Jing Feng. Video games and spatial cognition. Review of General Psychology 14(2) Jun (2010): 92-104. PsycARTICLES. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
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