The Effect of Video Games on the Brain

The problem here is not the child as so many people have said. the problem is that parents should get into their childs lives and they don't, heres an example, if you lived in some forest for all your life and you had no parents, would you care if you hurt someone or did something else thats considered "bad" in society. The parents need to get off their ass and have a talk with theyre kids and that the kids need to understand that video games are supposed to be something you do when your bored and do other stuff, if all you do in your life is skip rope and thats all you did, if someone took that away from you you would be pretty frigen pissed off, its the same case in video games, the parents and the kids should take the initiative to help their kids do other things in theyre selves. If you only played 30 minutes of xbox a day, and you never played more and were limited you wouldnt care, but just as everyone has said you NEED to put MODERATION on video games before the only thing that strives the child when comeing home from school is playing the game he has.

Ok, this may be true... but im not taking sides...

I play a lot nowadays on games like "Gears of War 2" and "Halo 3" and "Fallout 3" and other games rated M, (though i am 13). I have always been compassionate to others who seem to be upset, but lately ive become... well... "Badder". People who've known me a while are still my friends, but since playing certain games ppl who havent known me avoid me... Coincidence?

No, personally I don't think it has such a big effect as most people think.
Playing games teaches you hand-eye coordination, boost your reaction time up, and if you pay attention it can help you control your emotions.
I used to be scared to watch any kind of horror movies or play in dark, mysterious, and thrilling kinda game. I learned though that after playing my first one and about haven a heart-attack at age 10 that it's just a game. Everything that happens isn't real. I slowly started to get less and less scared of games. Now there are very few games that can even get my heart to start racing.
Yes, if the game is "good" it could change your mood, maybe get your heart-rate up.
How about this, if you are a former fan of UFC like me then you should know what goes on in that octogon. I've been in a few UFC fights my self, (actually octogon, referee, and gloves). One of the main things I had to go through was controling my fear. If I was to get in there and fight with nothing but fear in me I would most likely lose. I had to remain calm but also keep the adrenaline going.
Games can teach you that. The only issue is whether or not people actually learn it.

It's up to the person playing the game to be able to identify whats actually happening to him.

i was addicted to games this past summer...i would stay in my basement for the entire day in front of the tv screen. after a week of doing this if anyone tried to take away my games i would be very very violent! i would throw stuff, push, and even punch in some cases...evencually i got therapy and stoped gaming...im 15

And hell whats up with all the little kids agreeing, apparently they're all searching something to blame for their illicit unfulfilled lives.

Yo
Video Games do cause a violent mind-set. My brother was a perfectly nice guy and we were always doing stuff together until he got the game CA for the computer. Now, everytime he doesn't get his way he responds with violence or anger.

I don't know about you all, but is it just me or am I seeing a lot of spelling errors and grammar errors in the posts of people who think this is bunk? I don't mean to insult your intelligence or anything, and I saw a few that actually used proper English, but you really don't help the cause if you are going to rail on this article about how "vilonce isnt a efct uv vido gams" or something ridiculously close to that. I play video games as do a lot of my friends. I am aware of the dangers and consequences of my choice to play video games. I am also aware that there are people who are poor sports. I don't throw my controller if I lose or shout at the top of my lungs at my screen. I simply channel what little aggression I have from being defeated into the drive to beat the level or person who defeated me. Parents need to learn that they can control their kids, as ridiculous as it sounds in today's culture. Why don't parents teach their kids values and morals today? This creates a nice kid that is great to be around. I'm not saying there is a perfect way to raise your kid, but punishment of children such as spanking (yeah, I said make physical contact with your kid's southern region because technically, uh, they are part of you carried on to the next generation so feds, lay off)and grounding should be enforced. The problem with the latter is that it provides a thinking ground (just like jail) to plan how they won't get caught next time. I personally prefer physical contact but with a twist. Unlike what the anti-spanking people who believe this is an excuse to beat up your kid, try loving your kid and not neglecting. Yes, this requires some effort on the part of parents, horrific I know. This is just classical conditioning with your kid. They make the active choice to stay away from the bad values and choose to do the right thing. After spanking your kid, tell them why you had to do it and how much you love them. Ask them to not do this again. Presto! Your kid now tries to stay away from the bad choice, or in this case, bad sportsmanship. I know I got a little carried away from the original subject but I am trying to make a point. When parents spoil their kids, they neglect the real needs of the child and the child becomes someone that no one likes. They don't behave as themselves and they never have any confidence in what they do. Some channel this into video games and find themselves having a false sense of confidence because they are leading something or they have control over their own circumstances. Same with kids who are from the exact opposite situation of being this. So if you found the correlation between you and your kid or parents linked to neglect and you play video games, maybe you need to change your way of thinking about video games and actually try interacting with the people you are supposed to interact with everyday. I play video games for fun, some more addicting than others. But if a game incites you to yell at the screen, like (cough)Stuntman(cough), just stay away from that game. You do have some power over yourself. You just need to convince yourself that you do. There are two types of people: those who look at their situation and say, "This is how it always was and that's how it's going to be..." and those who say, "This is how it was and that's why I don't want it to be this way." Before you talk, think about what you are trying to convey. If you are a good debater, you look at the whole picture, not just your own words. Look at what they say and then try to see where they are coming from. There are a lot of tests and there are a lot of people. Say your contradictory theory in respective tones. More people listen to this than to someone railing on about how "this person is #%$@^ and should be #%@*@& in the @&$*!" Don't be stupid. Play smart. Think smart. Be SMART. More will listen. I think Eleni has a point to a point. Parents should watch what their kids do but allow the freedom if these characteristics aren't factors. They are the ones who decide whether or not their kid is mature enough. Kids who are mature know their limits as well. Why not use the smarts we have to work together? You are part of a family. Why not try acting like one?

I completely see what you people are talking about. I may not have succumbed to such a threat of your mind being screwed, because of the simple fact that I was born in the SNES ages. Nineteen ninety five. I played the less violent of games then, but now, since I know my brain has matured more, I manage to maintain control of it for longer periods of time. I am on the computer constantly, whether I am at school or at my house. These studies I would approve partially, as these sorts of things are normally the case. Otherwise, though, the person would just overall have been violent at birth [mind problem, in other words]. This is a very accurate informational webpage, right here, and I approve it of being accurate. Thank you for typing this documentation.

i do not think games cause violence nor do they make the players dysfunctional, i do think on the other hand Excessive Gaming is just a blanket for people who have underline problems. at home at school on the job ect, they most likely want some form of control and amusement. Making up for some part of life that goes down the shitter; that they have no control over. of course not all gamers are like this and weak minded people are more likely to be dysfunctional and lead excessive game-playing, just like those freaks on X-play

i get what the article saying a bout people get mad at video games because my little bro srceamms and cries when hen is losint and he is 13 i myself like to play video games all the time and when i was i did not show any signs of that it depends on your brain

I believe this article was made to bash on gaming and the effect on the brain. The article is an arguble topic yet the article only takes one side and doesn't point out anything positive. What about the fact that the game tetris helps with trauma when played for a short time after the injury.

I'm sorry, but I'm a 19 year old who's been playing computer games for years, since I was a small boy.
To say that computer games make a person more violent, agressive in any way, to say they alter emotion, or anything like that, is a load of rubbish.
If anything, I'd say computer games HELP the mind.
They have a certain level of puzzle solving, involve hand-eye co-ordination skills, and train reflexes in QTE.
Games are often bashed in articles such as this, they are said to be deconstructive and violent, however games such as "Sim City" aren't even looked at, where the goal is to build a thriving city, and maintain it.
I would say that the video games industry needs to be looked at more than just GTA.
This is just something new to moan at because it's different.

video games rock and who cares if i get violent I LIKE IT so yeah rock on

I have been playing video games since I was nine years old and there is nothing out of the ordinary about me. People that are mentally unstable will be violent regardless, a video game should not be held responsible for the emotional well being of a person.

Compare it to a lady who dresses provocatively and ends up getting harassed. There is nothing wrong with her, she can not be held responsible for how people respond to her. It is the person who does the harassing that needs to be checked out.

Dear Anonymous,

I have noticed that some people love thier games so much that you will not listen to very common sense about the dangers of too much gaming. Secondly, you are being very cleaver in your post by listing only the good things about gaming. I am the first to admit that not much in the world is all wrong or all good. But let's review a few points so maybe you and I can get on the same page and find understanding:

1) Nothing done more then 1 - 3 hours per day is good for you. Maybe reading might be an exception, excpt I would rather be moving around instead of sittig still reading.

2) There are several post of people who are telling you they are adversly affected from gaming. You should read this stuff and ask yourself some hard questions. How does gaming affect you and are you defending an addiction?

3) and lastly,---Violence is fun, but violence creates more violence. Violent sports, violent TV and movies, books, publications or just having a home where violence is ok, is bad for everyone. Violence makes the world less safe.

That's all I have to say for now, but please do respond if you wish.

- alecia

I disagree with your article. I hate when video games are blamed for making kids violent. Usually this is because the parents of the child failed to notice the rating on the box and failed to talk to their child and teach them right from wrong.

Also, because of video games, i have realized that I now can type much fatser and I have improved hand-eye coordination. And, with the Wii selling a lot of units this year, it's going to change a lot of live s because it actually gets you up off the couch and moving around with the game. Nursing homes are buying Wii consoles because it lets the seniors move around and be active instead of sitting around and watching TV all day. DDR is also a great example. Many schools have purchased it and are using DDR in gym class because it burns a lot of calories and is very fun. Wii Fit is also good example especially with its balance board that tells you your weight and how overweight you are and customizes a plan to help you get in shape.

Real time strategy games and puzzle games like Warhammer 40,000 are also good because they increase your ability to reason and think quickly. Also, Nintendo has made several Brain Age games, targeted at adults, to help with your memory abilities.

All people, wether they play video games, computer games, watch violent movies, or witness violent crimes, DO NOT become violent because of the content that's viewed. WE CANNOT BE CONTROLLED by these violent things; we have our own minds and can come up with our own thoughts. The only true influence that violent media has on us is that it can put ideas in our heads, and we can take it upon ourselves to act out those ideas. But, in games like GTA, the game's play does not require certain ideas for the player to win. Such as, running over pedestrians, or going on rampages, or fucking every prostitute you see before morning. We choose whatever actions we take(in games and reality)because WE HOLD OUR OWN CONTOLLER.

Thanks fo reading.
Your Freind,
GQman

From what i have heard and know myself I would say that video games have a prominent effect on the mind, and because of that an effect on the body as well. Video games have a tendency to be addicting, cause abnormal behavior, and change body status like heart rate and blood pressure. I myself a gamer since the age of three know how addicting games are, and the closest comparison I could put games to is a drug. Think about it increased coordination, increased vitals, increased brain activity, or decreased brain activity. Just like drugs they effect people differently. Some are instantly hooked right in while others have control and moderation.

I do agree that it is more of the player's character and not the game.
There are also good points of these video games.

I can't stand when people blame video games for aggressive behavior. These games aren't hypnotic. They do all these studies on video games and how they "cause" behavior, as if me playing a game like grand theft auto where I can go around killing people is going to hypnotize me into thinking hey I can kill my parents and steel their money. Where is the experiment background where they test each kid individually for aggressive behavior in general. I guarantee you there's the same if not more aggressive people playing sports, which can also bestow a very aggressive nature. Are we going to stop letting kids play sports now? Video games aren't the problem. The real problem are the nut job parents who spend all day reading blogs like these getting hypnotized themselves into thinking buying a violent video game will make their kid evil or murderous.