Video games have been around for
generations. Many of us have grown up playing video games on our computers or
video game sets and these are special childhood memories that we will always
cherish. However, gaming has undergone a sea of change, which has people
divided over whether it is a good enough pursuit, especially for children, or
not. Parents in particular are concerned about the huge increase in violent
games that unfortunately has become commonplace in several portable gaming consoles. A new study though seems to point toward
the contrary viewpoint that violent video games may actually be beneficial up
to a certain extent.
The American University of
Wisconsin-Madison conducted a study on eighty-two undergrads to find out what
effect playing video games had on them. The study had half the subjects first
play a difficult game, and then all the subjects were given the choice of
playing either a violent video game or a non-violent one. The study reached the
conclusion that the first half of the group, who were already aggravated after
playing the initial difficult game picked the violent game later and progressed
quicker in the game, with subsequent drops in stress levels. However, in the
survey conducted after the study, it was also found that such subjects were
also more hostile toward others and the world in general, which could be a
direct result of the influence of the video game.
Thus, it could be that while
the study showed that violent video games helped to temporarily release stress
for stressed out individuals, it also made these people more hostile. In other
words, such sources of entertainment may be a good portal for venting
frustration but at the same time, the long term effects may not be as
profitable. Of course, the credibility of such a study
is what many parents will question. While the study was done in a controlled
environment and perhaps the subjects chosen for the study also fulfilled
certain criteria, a sweeping judgement cannot be reached in the end stating
that video games are good for kids.
Portable
gaming consoles nowadays have mostly violent games and parents cannot
monitor what their kids are up to on such devices all the time. In fact,
violent games have invaded even our smartphones, where the best rated smartphone game reviews are those where
a headshot gives one maximum effect, gore and points. Hence, the concern of
parents isn't entirely misplaced when they say that video games have become
violent to the extent that parents are concerned that kids being exposed to
such violence at such a young age can be highly psychologically detrimental.
On the whole, the study also reiterates
that the long term effects of such violent video games could be more of a bane
than a boon. Hence, justifying such games as stress busters is not entirely
acceptable, as there are always far better and healthier options for relieving
stress, such as exercise and yoga.
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