Research Paper on "Negative Impact of Video Games on Children"

Research Paper 10 pages (4076 words) Sources: 9

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Negative Impact of Videogames on Children

Video Games are very entertaining and for millions of children around the world it is an interesting hobby. These children are able to balance videogames as an entertainment without affecting their real lives. However, as several research studies have shown, video games have become a negative influence for a sizable proportion of children who are not able to achieve this balance. In such children long-term health and behavioral effects have been reported. The development of addictive personality and being lost in the virtual reality of the gaming environment results in a sedentary life style posing a high risk factor for developing obesity and attendant health complications. My personal experience of witnessing friends who are addicted to Grand Theft Auto IV has shown me how serious such dependence can be and how children can fall into social isolation without their realizing it. The purpose of this research paper is to assist families with children suffering from video game addiction. The negative effects of uncontrolled video game play will be stressed in this paper. This paper does not concern children who play video games for one or two hours but for those who play as much as 8 hours a day. The emphasis of the paper is that parental supervision plays a critical role in controlling the negative effects of video games. The following research plan is adopted to evaluate the negative effects of video games on children. A detailed analysis of available dissertations and peer-reviewed literature is conducted to assess the cause and the effects of prolonged video gaming on children.

OUTLINE

1) Abstract

<br />

2) Introduction

3) Impact of Video Games

4) Video Gaming Addiction

4) Game Addiction (China and South Korea: A real Crisis)

5) Video games Increase Violence- Reduce Academic Performance

6) Video Games and Health Impact

7) Conclusion

8) Bibliography

The Negative Impact of Videogames on Children

Abstract

Video games have become ubiquitous and more and more kids are getting addicted to them. Vast majority of the video games are violence packed and this has a tendency to desensitize children to the suffering of people in the real world scenario. Video games are inherently addictive making children spend vast number of hours glued to the computer or the gaming console that directly affects their academic performance. The fact that video games lead to sedentary life style and physical inactivity poses it as a huge risk factor for developing overweight condition, childhood obesity and diabetes, which are serious health issues faced by our nation. Parental supervision and controlled gaming hours are essential to control the damaging effects that the video gaming industry can silently inflict on our children.

Introduction

Video gaming is the single most important entertainment in America. Young children are particularly addicted to video gaming and statistics suggest that 97% of all adolescents play video games [NIMF]. Off late there has been increasing debate into the effects of video gaming on children. Several researchers claim that video games improve the cognitive and motor skills, vision and reflexes of a person. While these positive aspects of video games are encouraging there is also some serious concern about the growing number of literature reporting negative effects of video gaming on the impressionable minds of children. Particularly, many studies have reported that playing aggressive video games can make the child less sensitive to suffering and more violent in behavior. Also, addiction to video gaming has been implicated in reduced academic performance, [Douglas A Gentile] social isolation, and one of the contributing factors for the growing obesity epidemic among children. The recent spate of school shootings have only increased Parents and teachers concerns about the damaging effects of videogames on children. A closer look into the subject reveals that Video games are clearly detrimental to children. They cause addiction, increase aggression and decrease academic performance. Video games also develop emotional maladjustment and social isolation and other undesirable social characteristics in the child. Parental supervision and controlled gaming hours are essential to control the negative effects that video gaming can silently inflict on our children. A brief overview of video gaming and its various negative impacts would help understand the issue better.

Impact of Video Games

Before we dwell into the negative effects of video games on children it is also essential to point out that video games can be positive, as a learning tool for children. Video games improve hand eye coordination, inductive skills, strategical thinking, pro-social behaviors etc. For children suffering from poor self-esteem, video games are useful as a therapeutic tool for improving their self-confidence. Video games also make children computer savvy and help them in developing quick thinking ability. It is also possible to have a positive influence on the young and impressionable minds by providing positive content in the games. One recent study by Gentile et.al (2009) has confirmed that prosocial characters in video games could influence the prosocial behavior of children playing the game in a positive manner. This research involved three studies conducted on children in three different age groups from three different countries. The first study involved 727 Singaporean secondary school students. Students were asked to list out three of their favorite games and the amount of time they spent playing video games and how often the players help or hurt each other in these games. This enabled the researchers to gather data pertaining to their exposure to violent and pro-social video games. 'Prosocial Orientation Questionnair'e was used to assess helping behavior in the games. Statistical regression of prosocial behavior and prosocial game exposure revealed a positive relation. = .49 (p < .001) for helping behavior, ? = .18 (p < .001) for cooperation and sharing, ? = .48 (p < .001) for empathy, and ? = .19 (p < .06) for emotional awareness. Regression with violent game exposure resulted in opposite effects clearly suggesting a positive influence of pro-social gaming on the behavior of children.

The second study involved an extensive survey of 780 5th grade and 1050 8th grade Japanese students. The subjects were asked to answer a survey including questions such as how often they played video games in the last month, how often did the characters in the game help out each other and finally how often did they engage in prosocial behaviors (affection, care, friendship, etc.) in their real life. The subjects were asked to rate these questions on a scale of 1 to 5. The subjects were assessed again within a span of four months and the results compared. Using a structural equation model the researchers were able to identify the relationship between pro-social gaming and behavior at time T1 (first test) to prosocial gaming and behavior at time T2.(after 4 months) The resulting equation fitted well ?2 (11) = 6.68, p > .80, RMSEA = .00, NFI = .995 suggesting a bi directional relationship and an 'upward spiral' between pro-social gaming and pro-social behavior.

In the third and final study 161 U.S. college students were randomly assigned to playing 20 minutes of either a prosocial (Super Mario Sunshine or Chibi Robo) or violent (Ty2 or Crash Twin Sanity ) or a neutral game (Pure Pinball). After playing the game the participants were asked to complete a task where they could either help or harm a fellow participant. The two prosocial games used in the study scored 5.6 (on a 7-point scale) for doing nice things and 1.8 for hurting or killing fellow participants while the two violent games averaged 2.5 and 6.2 respectively for doing nice things and hurting / killing in that order. The neutral games averaged 1.1 for both the cases. This study clearly illustrates the short-term causal effects of either violent or pro-social games on the immediate behavior of children. Together the above three studies indicate that players with greater pro-social game exposure exhibited high pro-social behaviors in real life clearly implying that positive video game content can have a positive bearing on the developmental traits of children. [Gentile et.al (2009)]

However the positive aspects of video games are easily overridden by the negative aspects. Video games can be dangerous for children in different aspects. One of them is their addictive nature. There is clear evidence to the addictive nature of videogames. Several studies that focused on the effects of videogames on children have attested to its addictive effect on children. A brief discussion of some of these studies will help highlight this negative impact of videogames.

Video Gaming Addiction

A study by Philip and Terry (2006) analyzed the possible relationship between Video games and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among adolescents. This cross sectional study included 72 adolescents from a high school in Vermont and their parents. The subjects of the survey were assessed for the number of hours spent on the internet, watching TV, internet videogames and console-based video games and the effects on their academic performance and social functioning were studied. The researchers administered the Young's Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS) to gather details pertaining to school… READ MORE

How to Reference "Negative Impact of Video Games on Children" Research Paper in a Bibliography

Related Research Papers:

Negative Impact of Video Games on Children Research Proposal

Negative Aspects of Video Games on Children

The Negative Impact of Video Games on Children

There is an abundance of research that suggests video games over time can lead to… read more

Research Proposal 2 pages (623 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Recreation / Leisure / Tourism

---

Effects on Violent Video Games on Children Thesis

Video Game Violence

During the 20th century, American culture changed tremendously. Communications media began playing a larger and larger role in many human societies and helped shape major national and… read more

Thesis 15 pages (4289 words) Sources: 7 Style: MLA Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

Effects of Video Games on Children Term Paper

Video Game Addiction

With each advance of technology as the creation of the telephone, radio, and television, psychologists have conducted research to determine the positive and negative impact on adolescents.… read more

Term Paper 3 pages (1283 words) Sources: 4 Style: APA Topic: Recreation / Leisure / Tourism

---

Violence in the Media TV Movies and Video Games Research Paper

Violence in the Media and Children

Violence in media has become a serious problem. Children are heavily exposed to violence in films, TV shows, and video games from their early… read more

Research Paper 6 pages (2389 words) Sources: 6 Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

Video Games and Violence in Children Research Paper

Video Games and Violence in Children

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines a video game as an electronic game that is played on a video screen and often emphasizes fast action… read more

Research Paper 10 pages (3864 words) Sources: 14 Topic: Recreation / Leisure / Tourism

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>