Video Games and Their Effects
By: jahna lewis-poole
issue 3 spring 2021
Violent behavior, vengeance, aggression, three things video games reward and three things reality deem wrong. Having an aggressive nature may be natural to some, but when mixing that with the aggressiveness of games meant to cause addiction, that could be a disaster recipe. Study reveals that "young men who are habitually aggressive may be especially vulnerable to the aggression-enhancing effects of repeated exposure to violent games," said psychologists Craig A. Anderson, Ph.D. With this, we can determine video games may not always cause aggression, but they sure do not help.
Having an aggressive nature is one thing, but when video games induce and nurse that aggression to the point where you are aggressive in times of conflict or resolve conflict, you are in trouble. Frankly, video games have most likely saturated your thoughts where you think aggression is a solution. "Violent video games provide a forum for learning and practicing aggressive solutions to conflict situations," said Dr. Anderson. Not only do video games encourage violent behavior when playing, but also when it gets to the point of excessive and extreme amounts of playing, violence and aggression could be seen as a viable and reasonable reaction or solution in reality to an avid player.
Not only does over excessive video gaming cause and increase unnecessary violence, but it has a damaging and harmful effect on students learning and grades. "Researchers found that intensive computer gaming did harm grades, especially when kids spend multiple hours playing them on a school day." Said by Fatherly.com, video games do not directly harm school work. Still, once you get to a point where you are highly addicted to gaming, you are so easily distracted and occupied, you do not care about school work. "Statistics show that more than 2 billion people play video games globally, 150 million in the United States. Several surveys indicate that Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) affects between 1-10% of Europe and North America." Addiction is something that can take over your life. It is a life-altering illness. Being addicted to anything can change your mindset and work ethic. With this being said, being addicted to playing video games can reduce work ethic, reduce your motivation to complete schoolwork, or zone out in a fantasy world of video games to a point where you do not remember you have work to do. Jahaad Lewis Poole, a student at Hillgrove High School and avid video game player, says, "I do not think gaming affects my work besides when I am on too late and forget to do my work" even a player of video games recognizes when he has been on too long. However, he may not always get off and do what he should, he knows, and I would like to believe most players know.
In summary, gaming may be intriguing, fun, and something to look forward to, but on the contrary, it induces violence and a lousy work ethic. Gaming releases serotonin in the brain. It will make you happy at the moment, it is designed to keep and make you addicted, and that is why it is so hard to break away from video games are momentary happiness. For that very reason, you should focus on yourself, a safe hobby no matter how fun It is. Being behind on work and easily using violence as a solution is a life that anyone should be comfortable living.
Having an aggressive nature is one thing, but when video games induce and nurse that aggression to the point where you are aggressive in times of conflict or resolve conflict, you are in trouble. Frankly, video games have most likely saturated your thoughts where you think aggression is a solution. "Violent video games provide a forum for learning and practicing aggressive solutions to conflict situations," said Dr. Anderson. Not only do video games encourage violent behavior when playing, but also when it gets to the point of excessive and extreme amounts of playing, violence and aggression could be seen as a viable and reasonable reaction or solution in reality to an avid player.
Not only does over excessive video gaming cause and increase unnecessary violence, but it has a damaging and harmful effect on students learning and grades. "Researchers found that intensive computer gaming did harm grades, especially when kids spend multiple hours playing them on a school day." Said by Fatherly.com, video games do not directly harm school work. Still, once you get to a point where you are highly addicted to gaming, you are so easily distracted and occupied, you do not care about school work. "Statistics show that more than 2 billion people play video games globally, 150 million in the United States. Several surveys indicate that Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) affects between 1-10% of Europe and North America." Addiction is something that can take over your life. It is a life-altering illness. Being addicted to anything can change your mindset and work ethic. With this being said, being addicted to playing video games can reduce work ethic, reduce your motivation to complete schoolwork, or zone out in a fantasy world of video games to a point where you do not remember you have work to do. Jahaad Lewis Poole, a student at Hillgrove High School and avid video game player, says, "I do not think gaming affects my work besides when I am on too late and forget to do my work" even a player of video games recognizes when he has been on too long. However, he may not always get off and do what he should, he knows, and I would like to believe most players know.
In summary, gaming may be intriguing, fun, and something to look forward to, but on the contrary, it induces violence and a lousy work ethic. Gaming releases serotonin in the brain. It will make you happy at the moment, it is designed to keep and make you addicted, and that is why it is so hard to break away from video games are momentary happiness. For that very reason, you should focus on yourself, a safe hobby no matter how fun It is. Being behind on work and easily using violence as a solution is a life that anyone should be comfortable living.
