Video gaming existed in the pre-internet days, too and many among us have fond memories of owning gaming consoles such as Atari and Sega. But the digital revolution over the last two decades has resulted in massive growth in the video games industry and the video gaming options available to the consumers are unprecedented in history. Video games are not limited to primarily gaming consoles only but can also be played on computers or other mobile gadgets such as smartphone. Today, video games have ultra-realistic graphics and the hundreds of thousands of releases mean there is something for everyone. In addition, video games are not a luxury anymore but have become a commodity product. As a result, it is not uncommon for youths and even adults to become addicted to video games because the high quality of video games have made them a serious contender to other forms of entertainment such as movies, outdoor sports, and socialization with friends. The benefits and costs of video games are usually poorly understood and contrary to popular myths, video games actually make positive contributions towards socialization skills.
Contrary to the popular myth that video games are socially isolating, video games may actually strengthen bonds among family members as well as friends. First of all, video games are not always played in isolation. 60 percent of frequent game players play games with friends, 33 percent play games with siblings, and 25 percent play with spouse or parents. Thus, even if the players may be competing against each other during the game, the games may actually be improving social relationships off-screen due to more time spent with each other (Jenkins). It has been found that students who play video games with their parents feel closer to them (Shaevitz, 2012).
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Video games may also help individuals become more group-oriented. Individuals often play video games which are cooperative and not competitive in nature. In other words, the objectives of a game play are achieved by working together. Thus, an individual’s efforts may not be directed towards personal glory but in trying to help his team achieve the objectives (Science Daily, 2011). In other words, video games may help promote cooperative rather than competitive spirit among game players.
Video games may also help individuals become socially innovative. Some video games challenge individuals to solve problems in creative ways. The solutions are open-ended which means the game developers simply provide a question and invite the players to come up with potential solutions just as researchers invited 57,000 gamers with no biochemistry background to fold virtual proteins in new ways. Such games help players develop skills such as logical thinking, problem solving, observational, strategic, and multi-tasking skills (Shaevitz, 2012). All of these skills are valuable to solve social problems through the tools provided by social media.
Video games also help individuals prepare for the real world. Video games require players to pay close attention and act quickly. Not surprisingly, a research by University of Rochester cognitive sciences professor Daphne Bavelier found that games improve attention span and information-processing time. Similarly, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) recommended video games as a tool to improve skills such as strategic thinking, interpretive analysis, problem solving, and adaptation to rapid change (Schlesinger, Johnson, & Panter, 2007).
Games that are prosocial in nature also influence the players in becoming more social. A research study on Singaporean children revealed that children who spent more time playing prosocial games were more likely to demonstrate prosocial behavior such as helping others and being less hostile towards others (Dewar). It may be that the actions performed in the games inspire children to perform the same actions in everyday life. In other words, games may be positive social enforcers.
Like any technology, video gaming can also be misused. The misuse may involve extreme behaviors such as spending too much time playing games or providing individuals with access to games not intended for them. A study published in the journal Pediatrics reported that children who were less social spent 31 hours a week playing games as compared to 19 hours for other children and were more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and social phobias. These children were also more likely to suffer from poor relationship with parents (Rabin, 2011). Thus, children who already have poor social skills only become more anti-social due to lack of social interaction whether with friends or parents. In other words, extreme gaming only worsens the situation for those with poor social skills.
It is apparent that games, when played in moderation, result in positive social influences such as stronger social relationships, stronger sense of group membership, improved problem-solving skills, and improved ability to adapt to changes. But gamers who already exhibit anti-social traits may take gaming habit to the extreme and only become more depressed and lonely over time. Thus, while games help improve social skills, they should be combined with other social activities rather than completing taking over all forms of social interactions.
- Dewar, G. (n.d.). The social effects of video games: Games that promote helpfulness. Retrieved July 7, 2013, from http://www.parentingscience.com/effects-of-video-games-prosocial.html
- Jenkins, H. (n.d.). Reality Bytes: Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked. Retrieved July 7, 2013, from http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html
- Rabin, R. C. (2011, January 18). Video Games and the Depressed Teenager. Retrieved July 7, 2013, from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/video-games-and-the-depressed-teenager/
- Schlesinger, V., Johnson, S., & Panter, G. (2007, July 9). This is Your Brain on Video Games. Retrieved July 7, 2013, from http://discovermagazine.com/2007/brain/video-games#.UdoxkPkyzTc
- Science Daily. (2011, March 22). Video Game Effects On Kids: Not All Black and White, Expert Argues. Retrieved July 7, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110510101504.htm
- Shaevitz, M. H. (2012, October 18). Video Games Can Actually Be Good for Kids. Retrieved July 7, 2013, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/video-games-good-kids_b_1974015.html
