Are video games really that negative?

In the last few decades we have witnessed the incredible avalanche of changes in technology. What's more, more and more teenagers or children are asking for a new Smartphone or the latest game console as a gift From the market.

We are immersed in the technological era and, therefore, it is important to know all the information necessary to manage the difficulties that may appear before this fact, as well as the concerns that appear from the role of parents and mothers.

Therefore, in the face of the voices of alarm that are raised from time to time when affirming that video games favor violent behavior in children, it is worth wondering... Do video games have a harmful influence on children?

• Related article: "Video game addiction: symptoms, causes and treatment"

Is playing video games so negative?

Undoubtedly, One of the most widespread phenomena in recent years in the world of children's and youth entertainment has been FORTNITE. For those of you who are here and have not heard of this (which will surely be few), it is about a video game in which the player user controls the survivors of a world full of zombies. Users must cooperate with other humans to protect their strongholds from the undead who are trying to control the land. In some versions of the game, players can compete with each other and take out other humans.

Its main success lies in the simplicity of the game, how dynamic it is and the intensity with which it is played. In addition, being able to play online with other players adds an extra factor and that is that children and adolescents not only They can have fun playing but they can also play from home with their friends without the need for them to be there.

Video games can bring many positive aspects, such as training, retention of certain knowledge and development of motor skills; Although it is true that the type of game influences the positive that it can contribute.

There are numerous games on the market that enhance the development of higher cognitive skills, such as: Tetris, Big Brain Academy, World of goo and The Witness. Some games also require strategy and reflex development. Now, not only the type of content that is viewed is important, but also the hours that are dedicated to this type of leisure, since those hours invested are shifting hours that could be dedicated to other healthier or more productive activities (homework, reading, sports, etc.).

• You may be interested: "The 6 stages of childhood (physical and mental development)"

Habituation to violence

It is important that we are aware that even in some types of violent video games something positive can be extracted, such as strategy skills and learn a new language (when the language of the game is other than the native one), although continued viewing of violent content is related to greater habituation to the violence. That is, people who are used to seeing this type of content end up getting used to it until in the end they normalize it more than usual.

Does this mean that if my son or daughter plays violent video games, he will end up engaging in violent behavior? Not necessarily. Although it is true that repeatedly visualizing violence habituates us not to have so much rejection towards it, It does not mean that by playing this type of video game the person will suddenly develop a psychopathological and violent behavior. For this to happen, more factors must be taken into account, both biological and environmental.

However, there is a greater risk of “accepting” this type of behavior as “acceptable”. We could say, therefore, that it is a risk factor, but it is not enough by itself.

Conclution

There is still considerable controversy in relation to whether the viewing of violent content in video games is related to the subsequent development of behaviors aggressive, although what seems clear is that the content to which we are exposed affects to a greater or lesser extent our perceptions, thoughts, opinions and attitudes.

It therefore seems clear that, despite the fact that there is no clear or causal relationship, the content of video games has an influence on the users who consume it. This does not mean that it is the cause of the subsequent development of violent behavior., but for this, many factors, both biological, social and family, would have to be taken into account.

The most important thing is that we control the hours that children and adolescents dedicate to this type of game, trying to become an "extra" after having performed the tasks or other mandatory activities and not neglecting other types of leisure that do not include sedentary lifestyle and social isolation, as well as to avoid addiction to video game.

The use of video game consoles or electronic devices can be positive, as long as we also control their content or we are aware of if there are changes in the behavior of our children that can give us "a warning" that something is wrong; in that case, the ideal thing to do is contact a psychologist. Since Mariva Psychologists We will be happy to assess the situation and, if necessary, intervene for its improvement and solution.

Bibliographic references:

• Feliu, J., Gil, A. and Bona, Y. (2005). The relationship between video games and aggressiveness: an intricate controversy of dubious resolution. Electronic Arts Spanish Web “Learn and play with EA”.