The Benefits of Video Games
Angel Agee
Mcinturff
1020-077
22 April 2014
The Benefits of Video Games
Video games are becoming a common modern element in today 's society, and while their popularity grows, so does the need to research their psychological effects on the player. Unfortunately, researchers generally focus on the negative effects such as increased aggression, and because of that it can be easy to forget that video games are actually quite beneficial, "First, the overwhelming majority of players describe game play as a positive emotional experience" (Oswald, Prorock, and Murphy 10). Since video games receive such negative stigma from the media, there has been the most research done on the frustration-aggression theory. This theory says that once an individual becomes frustrated, aggression is inevitable (Breuer, Scharkow, and Quandt 3). Research on this matter has shown that this is not always the case due to the fact that frustration, associated with losing, is a common element of a video game. This means that a player more or less just becomes used to this "frustration." In fact Video games provide boosts in emotional and social health. Video games also provide educational benefits such as increased skills in math, science, cooperation, and decision making. Middle-aged and older adults are also turning to casual video games as a way of keeping their brains in the best shape. Americans shouldn 't be so quick to deem video games as nothing but violence causing and time consuming. Instead of causing violent outbreaks, video games give Americans a boost in many different mental areas.
Video games are beginning to be recognized for their educational benefits due to new research done on the positive effects of gaming. Learning experiences from games that create motivational cognitive features that help to promote persistence in school as well as creating more cooperative students. This means that students are less likely to give up in the face of a challenge, "Using a
Mcinturff
1020-077
22 April 2014
The Benefits of Video Games
Video games are becoming a common modern element in today 's society, and while their popularity grows, so does the need to research their psychological effects on the player. Unfortunately, researchers generally focus on the negative effects such as increased aggression, and because of that it can be easy to forget that video games are actually quite beneficial, "First, the overwhelming majority of players describe game play as a positive emotional experience" (Oswald, Prorock, and Murphy 10). Since video games receive such negative stigma from the media, there has been the most research done on the frustration-aggression theory. This theory says that once an individual becomes frustrated, aggression is inevitable (Breuer, Scharkow, and Quandt 3). Research on this matter has shown that this is not always the case due to the fact that frustration, associated with losing, is a common element of a video game. This means that a player more or less just becomes used to this "frustration." In fact Video games provide boosts in emotional and social health. Video games also provide educational benefits such as increased skills in math, science, cooperation, and decision making. Middle-aged and older adults are also turning to casual video games as a way of keeping their brains in the best shape. Americans shouldn 't be so quick to deem video games as nothing but violence causing and time consuming. Instead of causing violent outbreaks, video games give Americans a boost in many different mental areas.
Video games are beginning to be recognized for their educational benefits due to new research done on the positive effects of gaming. Learning experiences from games that create motivational cognitive features that help to promote persistence in school as well as creating more cooperative students. This means that students are less likely to give up in the face of a challenge, "Using a
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