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Video games are less about relaxation and being isolated and more about being social; it’s inherently healthy.
Contrary to the common belief that video games are antisocial activities and bad addictions, they are inherently healthy. Scientific research confirms that video games are sports; therefore good for one’s health (Kühn et al., 265). They fit in all aspects of sports such as competition, physical activity, entertainment, and practice. Video games just like other sports require athletic abilities like coordination, stamina, and responsiveness. They are very engaging and they help in exercising the brain especially for the mentally ill and the disabled people (West et al., 1566). Video games have disputed popular beliefs to all negative aspects associated with them like addiction, obesity, aggressiveness and addiction and proved to be a healthy activity that is beneficial to all people despite their ages.
A scientific study was conducted by scientists in Berlin to investigate the effect of gaming on the brain. A group of adults was asked to play for 30 minutes every day for a period of two months and compared with a control group. Using MRI, the scientists were able to prove that the brain increased in size for the adults who played the video game as compared to the group which did not play. The scientists concluded that video games are important especially when used for treating patients with medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s and other mental disabilities (Kühn et al., 267).
The games are also used widely in the health sector such as helping to improve the balance of those people with degenerative diseases and training surgeons to do technically complicated procedures. The surgeons have been found to improve their muscle movement and coordination of their hands and eyes which are essential skills in their practice when they play video games. Basically, they stimulate the brain and expand thinking making people get better at repeated tasks. Video games are also important when it comes to exercising the body. A game like Exergames offers convenience and is engaging that makes it easy for people to take part in the exercises. The game helps in muscle flexibility, blood circulation, stability, and coordination (Griffiths, Daria, and Angelica, 71).
The fitness games can also help to track the progress of your exercise and help you achieve the goals you have set in terms of weight management. The games when played in moderation have been proven to improve vision by making the players more responsive to different shades of color. This is in contrast to the popular belief where people are discouraged from sitting too close to the TV to avoid eye problems. Additionally, they help preschoolers improve their motor skills since they can practice more activities outdoors. The games are resourceful tools for learning especially for teens and kids that can help them in problem solving and strategy.
People have been made to believe that video games make learners poor performers in school (Borowiecki, Karol, and Hasan, 313). However, a game like Simcity provides basic level learning to youngsters on planning and management. Those based on historical events can help kids do more research and increase their knowledge of their culture and appreciation for history. The games help the players to improve their decision-making skills since they are forced to adopt the same when playing. A study conducted shows that video games help reduce adrenaline response which then reduces stress for those who play (Kühn et al., 270). Additionally, they have been reported to slow down the aging process by continuously exercising the brain.
Even without video games, people are experiencing a lot of loneliness due to their hectic schedules. Video games provide an opportunity for people to interact in a virtual community by solving problems. Besides, these players can come together and interact since they have a common interest. The games provide a different mode of communication that helps people of different age groups to connect socially. Despite the belief of addiction that video games are commonly known for, they can help people who indulge in damaging activities such as drinking, smoking, and the use of hard drugs (Borowiecki, Karol, and Hasan, 315). They can be a form of therapy by keeping these people engaged in other social activities which take most of their time and eventually they stop indulging in addictive substances.
There are increasingly high cases of divorce in the whole world. People are getting more depressed due to the daily hurdles of life. One of the causes of divorce is depression among individuals. Video games can be used as a therapy to treat depression and studies have shown that it produces better results than regular counseling (Griffiths, Daria, and Angelica, 80). This is contrary to the belief that gaming is the cause of depression, addiction, and aggression (Greitemeyer, 217). The games provide better ways of relaxation and dealing with negative emotions. Couples are encouraged to play video games together as a form of relaxation and to find interest in common goals which reduce their chances of divorce. The games have been reported as a fun activity that helps couples have a healthy and happy relationship and improving their communication.
Another benefit of the games to people is that it helps them better cope with failures. People who play games are more relaxed and have less anxiety since they have developed resilience through playing the games (West et al., 1570). The games have eased social interaction for people who find it difficult to physically interact with others. They are a great opportunity for autistic children, people with depressive disorder, and those with social anxiety. They help to build the confidence of these people and give them a more positive experience to their inadequacies. Compared to physical interaction, these people are more at ease since they do not feel the pressure to respond immediately to conversations. Therefore, video games can be seen as a safe space for interaction for anyone who is mentally and physically disabled.
For a long time, video games have been associated with all the negative aspects of life such as depression and addiction. People who play video games are known to be antisocial and aggressive who cannot maintain healthy relationships with people. However, this is not always the case since playing video games is substantially more beneficial to people. Surgeons have been reported to become better when they play video games since it improves their coordination. Learners also perform better in school when they play video games by improving their planning and management skills. Couples who play video games together have a fun relationship which decreases the rates of divorce. Therefore, playing the games has been reported as an inherently healthy activity.
Works cited
Bavelier, Daphne, and C. Shawn Green. “The brain-boosting power of video games.” Scientific American 315.1 (2016): 26-31.
Borowiecki, Karol J., and Hasan Bakhshi. “Did you really take a hit? Understanding how video games playing affects individuals.” Research in Economics 72.2 (2018): 313-326.
Griffiths, Mark D., Daria J. Kuss, and Angelica B. Ortiz de Gortari. “Videogames as therapy: an updated selective review of the medical and psychological literature.” International Journal of Privacy and Health Information Management (IJPHIM) 5.2 (2017): 71-96.
Greitemeyer, Tobias. “The spreading impact of playing violent video games on aggression.” Computers in human behavior 80 (2018): 216-219.
Kühn, S., Gleich, T., Lorenz, R. C., Lindenberger, U., Gallinat, J. “Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training with a commercial video game.” Molecular psychiatry 19.2 (2014): 265-271.
West, G. L., et al. “Impact of video games on plasticity of the hippocampus.” Molecular psychiatry 23.7 (2018): 1566-1574.
