The impact of video games on children ( Part I )

Video games have been available to consumers for the last 30 years. They are an unique form of entertainment because they encourage players to become a part of the game's script. Today's sophisticated video games require players to pay constant attention to the game, rather than passively watching a movie. This have both positive and negative impacts on players. Several studies have been published that explore this impacts on today's children.


What impact does playing video games have on children or adolescents?


The most widely used positive impact video games are said to have on children is that they may improve a player's manual dexterity and computer literacy. Ever-improving technology also provides players with better graphics that give a more "realistic" virtual playing experience.
This quality makes the video game industry a powerful force in many adolescent lives. However, numerous studies shows that video games, especially ones with violent content, make teens more aggressive.
Part of the increase in aggressive behavior is linked to the amount of time children are allowed to play video games. In one study by Walsh(2000), a majority of teens admitted that their parents do not impose a time limit on the numbers of hours they are allowed to play video games. The studies also showed that most parents are unaware of the content or the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating of the video games their children play.
In another study conducted by Gentile, Lynch, Linder and Walsh adolescent girls played video games on an average of 5 hours a week, whereas boys averaged 13 hours a week. The authors also stated that teens the played violent video games for extended periods of time:
-tend to be more aggressive;
-are more prone to confrontation with their teachers;
-may engage in fights with their peers;
-see a decline in school achievements.
The interactive quality of video games differs from passively viewing television or movies because it allows players to become active participants in the games's script. Players benefit from engaging in acts of violence and are then able to move to the next game level.
Video games also encourage players to identify with and role play of their favorite characters. This is referred to as a "first-person" video game because players are able to make decisions affecting the actions of the character they are imitating. after a limited of amount time playing a violent video game, a player can "automatically prime aggressive thoughts". The researchers concluded that the players who had prior experience playing violent video games responded with an increased level of aggression when they encountered confrontation.