Tiffany McHenry
Com/156
April 10, 2013
Tammy Soelberg
Addiction To Video Games
Video gaming is the popular past-time of millions of people. While many people,
especially those involved in the gaming field, find this activity to be harmless, research has
proven that video gaming while having the ability to be educational, can also be emotionally and
mentally damaging when abused. The gamers that play consistently and without breaks to enjoy
life beyond their games risk being influenced by the violence of their games, losing sleep, and
maintaining an unhealthy diet. With staggering numbers of increased gamers and the amount of
time devoted to games, it has become known that video games are very much an unhealthy
addition.
Are video games addictive and do they prove to be a boon or a bane to society?
Video playing and its outcomes is a much debated issue in contemporary society and is
one that never fails to baffle us. This research paper will attempt to analyze the issue of
video addiction and give us deep insight about the behavior of video gamers.
Some video gamers, who devote a considerable amount of time to gaming, do not
suffer negative consequences, but there are a minority group who face adverse
experiences related to sleep, diet, school, work and socializing with friends and family.
Though gaming addiction is not yet recognized or diagnosed as a disorder, there is a lot
of evidence that proves that many adolescents face dire consequences related to
compulsive gaming.
Enhanced graphics, realistic characters, which are complex yet detailed in
presentation have attracted international audiences, many of whom would rather delve
into their gaming sessions than spend time doing worthwhile or progressive activities.
For such individuals, gaming is a compulsion, obsession and an addiction that makes
them neglect their family, friends, and school or work because it forces them to keep
away from the real world and live in a world of make believe.
Recent research by a group of researchers, from the Yale University School of
Medicine headed by Rani Desai showed that there is a strong connection between gaming
and aggressive behavior. In certain cases, the obsession is overboard and the individual
tries to enact what he sees in his game, with violence and destructive behavior. Parents of
such adolescents should take such signs as a warning and render immediate treatment to
bring the person back to the real world.
When video games are played in intervals, allowing the gamer to take time to exercise,
read a book, or simply just gets away from their gaming system; video gaming can be an
acceptable hobby. However, without a break to rejoin the real world, video gaming can be an
unhealthy addiction that can lead to health and mental problems. Given the research that has
been gathered to show that video gaming can be dangerous in lengthy periods and that the AMA
feels that video game addiction should be considered a mental disorder, it can be said that
addictive to video gaming should be stopped before it is taken too far.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
A research was done in Singapore that showed that children were impulsive and unstable in controlling their emotions (Netzley 61). “They were also more likely to be socially incompetent” (Netzley 61). Children were to act more hostile due to their game addiction and were simply not as sociable. The children’s hostile acts are drawn from their addiction and the video games that they play. Their inquisitive minds are linked to the video games. A risk factor from the consistency of video games includes impulses (Gentile). Gamers have a sudden feeling to continue to play, not being able to restrain themselves (See Fig. 1). They act as if video games are the most important thing in the world and cannot get enough of it. “However, gaming can easily get out of hand, causing people to lose sleep, skip work, and otherwise shirk responsibilities when they cannot control their impulse to play games” (Netzley 59). Gamers tend to forget about their daily lives and shift their minds completely on video games. They act as if video games are the only things that are developed in this world, when they could be doing other things, such as going outside. Limitations are strongly needed to decrease these obsessive…
- 931 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Playing video games has become one of the largest activities people have invested their time in in today’s society. Most people would rather sit inside and play a video game instead of going outside to play or do something productive. People do not realize how much playing video games can effect ones brain and the actions they take throughout their daily lives. There are both positive and negative effects to gaming depending on which game a person is playing. Age can also affect ones brain function and how it reacts during a certain stages in life. Video games have different effects on younger kids versus college students and adults. Students who are addicted to video games have a negative effect on their school work. Video games not only have negative effects but there are also many ways they can affect the brain positively.…
- 1453 Words
- 4 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Is it true that video games are bad? Anti-social, aggressive behavior, and even health risks? Not all the time, as Dave Barry would say. Many video games such as, sports, adventure and strategy games, can all improve mental skills. It may also improve a better process of thinking, problem solving, and cognitive skills and also reduce stress. They provide a unique, interactive and complex activity, at low cost and zero…
- 311 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Linda Bernstein’s article “Gaming the Console” addresses the possible effects that video gaming has on teenagers and children. The article supports both sides of the debate: whether or not video gaming has negative consequences. Ultimately, Bernstein lets the reader form his or her own opinion on the subject. Some scientists and experts claim that video gaming is harmful as it may negatively affect areas of the brain, academic and social skills, and can become highly addictive. Other experts argue that some video games are educational and have positive physical benefits.…
- 617 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
One of the many good points against gaming is that children, teenagers and adults alike are losing sleep over video games because they are staying up all night and letting their “addiction” take over. The definition of addiction is: "The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something." And anyone who likes and plays videogames has experienced this at some point. Its not only kids that think about going home from school to play video games, many adults think about at work too, the average game player is 30 and has been gaming for about 12 years. This means that many people, no matter of their age or sex, are putting video games before their school or work by missing out on important sleep and not putting their full concentration into their work.…
- 584 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
I grew up in a household where video games were a privilege that I had to earn. When I had done all my homework and chores, I was allowed to play video games for an hour a day. As I grew older my parents thought I could make my own choices and did not limit the amount of time I spent playing video games. Many people today think that video games cause children to become couch potatoes, act dumb, and be rude. As a young child, my parents taught me that responsibilities come before the reward. That is why I have a different opinion of video games. I believe that video games can be beneficial to individuals; however, there are limitations. They help children deal with cancer, improve literacy skills, gain educational skills, and stay fit, but individuals should be cautious about the genre of the game and the amount of play time. When these precautions are taken, video games can be a helpful tool for many.…
- 2619 Words
- 11 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Since the late 1980’s occupational and physical therapists have been using video games to treat both physical and cognitive problems. They not only improve skills such as attention and working memory, but also fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. These benefits are transferable to real life. (Steffens, 2009) “The brain has the amazing ability to reorganize itself by forming new connections between brain cells.” (Michelon) This happens whenever we learn something new. According to Daphne Bavelier, professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester, "It seems that there is a lot more plasticity you can induce by playing video games than by training people with more classical methods.” (Steffens, 2009)…
- 2900 Words
- 12 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Video games can also have positive social effects. One measure of this which has significant research is that of pro social behavior. (Schie & Wiegman, 1997).…
- 604 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
might play in the genesis of a pathology. Given the relatively low frequency of occurrence of “gaming addiction” (4-10% of users) estimated by various sources, it seems safe…
- 558 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Children are encouraged to spend at least 60 minutes out of a 24 hour day outside and video gaming is an addiction. One might say it's not until a parent sees that a child would rather sit inside and play video games all day than go outside and be active. The passage "Video Games Put Youths At Risk" states, "Researchers say that the risk of unhealthy weight gain increases with every hour a child spends playing video games." Therefore, obesity and health problems are more likely to occur. This takes away from a child's physical ability by not playing outdoors, and giving them a nasty habit and calling it a "stress reliever".…
- 402 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
It is a fact that excessive video gaming causes health problems, and health professionals have stated several concerns regarding video game playing. During the last twenty years rheumatologists have diagnosed gamers with “Pac-man’s Elbow.” This is a condition characterized by muscle and skin problems from repeated small strokes while playing. Gamers also complain of numbness on fingers, hands, and elbows due to excessive playing. Additionally, hallucinations, wrist and neck pain, problems with tendons, strain injuries, and wetting the bed are also health problems caused by excessive video game playing.…
- 368 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Video games affect kids’ education and learning. Kids spend more time in playing rather than finishing their school tasks. As consequence, they have a poor grade and low knowledge. According to KIRA BAILEY in his study “A negative association between video game experience and proactive cognitive control” he said that after the three studies indicate that high levels of video consumption may be associated with a reduction in the efficiency of those processes supporting cognitive control that arise from interactions between anterior cingulated and lateral frontal cortex.…
- 1508 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
The destructive nature of video games is perhaps best illustrated by looking at gamers who play Call of Duty. This game causes the gamer’s brain to hyper-focus on all the information it has acquired about the game and disregard everything which isn't about the game in an effort to improve game play. Moreover, according to a study conducted by 2 behavioural psychologists at Stanford University it has been shown that this game specifically has caused the gamer to become more violent which has led to aggressive behaviour being exhibited throughout the gamer’s life. Also by staring at the the Computer or T.V screen for endless…
- 830 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the U. S. the average 2 – 17 year old child play video…
- 1657 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
I am trying to form an essay around the idea of video gaming and adolescents. I plan to argue that certain video games can actually give ...…
- 619 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays