Effects of video game addiction

Addiction is a broad term and the only way to beat it is to learn what causes it. More males are more likely to get addicted to video games. This is due to masculinity and aggressive tendencies as well as frequent lack of self-control. Some of the effects analyzed in this text are not from experience, but assumption gathered from scientific and other related research.

Some call this particular addiction a ‘diagnosable disorder’ that is known to keep the addict unwashed, withdrawn and an insomniac for days on end. Addicts often claim to get tired of playing only when they experienced great numbness on their limbs. On conducting a research in India, one of the respondents, Anirudh Ganapathy, a college student, said, “For me, it’s a mental escape from a mundane everyday existence. The idea that you’re in central of a character in a setting you’re unlikely to see in life is enthralling. Whether you’re Dr. Gordon Freeman( Half-Life series) battling other-dimensional aliens or Prince Arthas fighting Orcs, you get to live the experience. Game designs are so advanced that each aspect lends realism(quite paradoxically) to the fantasy.”

Short-term goals in a game prevent boredom of the player. The greater the level, the more one gains a sense of accomplishment. Video games involve a high level of competition against the computer. One gets a chance to: actually live in a world beyond reality; assume the character of a popular personality; and in the end gain victory. This offers a thrill so intense that many get addicted.Sadly; most games are designed to hook the player and exploit their natural hoarding instincts at the expense of their money and time. Earning of rewards is manipulative and carefully scheduled; any pause in the game leads to lose of progress and decay of ‘property’ already gained.

Many result to video games in case they are dissatisfied with their work or studies. Video games supposedly fill a ‘void’ in their lives. Unfortunately, this void may be filled while at the same time another is created. This is due to resulting eyestrain, obesity, lack of exercise, blurred reality, and change of behavior. As fulfilling as it is to play video games, it often raises neuro-chemicals, which cause addiction. It also denies one the physiological and psychological well-being that comes with seeing, hearing and touching live people. It is also proven that younger children who start playing early in life, develop dependence-like behavior.

Video games have an advantage as they make learning in school fun. Manufacturers of video games are currently working on educational games. Other positive effects of video game addiction are the ability to learn teamwork. Games that require two or more players competing against each other or the computer encourage this particular value. An example of such a game is FIFA as it teaches the player to use teamwork in a football game to score goals. The player also gains the skill of managing groups. They are able to solve problems faster and with more ease. Problem solving is actually a skill taught in many organizations and is very relevant in life. Some video games are actually very thought provoking and intellectual. Such games include chess, scrabble, and monopoly, among others.

Players also gain increased visual acuity especially in games that have numerous movements such as car racing and shooting at range. This also helps improve visual cognition. In summary, most video game addicts are known to be very observant people. Another advantage of video game addiction is an accelerated acquisition of motor skills. Most games are played with a keypad or game pad, either mobile or stationary. This allows for control of figures or objects on the screen. Speed is always a necessary aspect of control. Once this speed is learnt, it may be used as a skill in operating other machinery used in our daily life.

Condensed response times and improved rate of activity can also be practical in self-control and anger management in normal life. In addition, one gains organizational skills including multi-tasking and hence more time is saved in carrying out daily activities. Video games too improve mental rotation skills. Enhanced illustration and spatial recollection is also useful in remembrance of other things in life. A sharp memory is undoubtedly a very useful asset in anyone’s life. Video game addiction contributes to increased ability to maintain divided attention. Video game addicts can carry out many activities at once, with accuracy hence saving time and labor. It is said, ‘time is money’, and hence this skill can help the player save a lot of money especially in a workplace.

In addition, video game addicts achieve a greater concentration. They are able to think logically as well as make quick decisions under pressure. Very few people are capable of making fast but accurate decisions. This skill can be used at a busy workplace such as a media center or a police station. Employees who make speedy but correct decisions are a great asset to their companies as they save their employers as well as their clients a lot of time and money.

In summary of the positive effects of video game addiction, leisure is a necessary aspect of any human being’s life. Some people play outdoor games in their free time, others go out for hiking, while others play video games for relaxation purpose. As much as playing video games is beneficial to an individual, addiction has several negative consequences. One of them is emotional disorder symptom. An example of this is withdrawal and aggressive behavior. Most addicts lack a social life since their whole life revolves around video games. Anything or anyone who comes between them and their game is seen as a distraction or a threat. It is common for most addicts to get very irritated once interrupted while playing a video game. Some may result in aggression and physical abuse.

Addicts may also develop behavioral disorder symptoms. This may be anything from over-excitement to depression. Some may be very moody while others may always be at edge. Their mood is determined by the number of times they win or lose in a game. There may be decline in verbal memory. This is common in addicts who normally play ‘one-player’ video games. Such addicts spend numerous hours playing alone and rarely communicate with other people in reality. It is common for young children who learn to play video games at a very early age to develop speech problems. Some of them end up learning game sounds or languages of video game characters, instead of their own languages.

There have been somatic complaints raised with the invention and addiction to video games. Most addicts especially the younger ones have an attention problem. They easily lose attention in matters that do not concern video games. In most cases, they give more attention to characters in video games than those in reality. They believe the characters on the screen live in a more interesting world and thus they prefer interacting with people from the ‘virtual’ world than those in real life. Video games addiction especially in the USA is one of the causes of academic deterioration. Most students reporting bad school performance spend numerous amounts of time playing video games instead of studying.

Addicts also have a problem interacting with family. They consider family members as a disruption from their playtime and hence some completely ignore their close relatives and friends. Some addicts consider characters from the video games as their family. This is common especially in addicts who developed the habit at a very tender age. This addiction slowly leads to self-exclusion from society. This in time can lead to depression or loneliness. The addicts hence seek consolation from controlling video game characters and even talking with them as though they were alive.

Another negative effect of video game addiction is insomnia. This results when addicts spend long periods playing video games to a point where they lack interest in normal human activity such as eating and sleeping. They are often likely to suffer from exhaustion due to sleep-debt. This in time affects their daily activities as well. Addicts also experience modified visual selectiveness resulting from long periods of exposure to the bright computer screen. This may be corrected with the help of a good specialist, but at a cost that would have otherwise not been incurred. Many companies have come up with an anti glare screen to protect people who spend long periods in front of the computer, from exposure to the bright rays. However, not everyone can acquire this screens and some of these people may be addicts and hence, they eventually develop eye problems.

Some of the video games encourage physical aggressive behavior due to their violent nature. Young addicts often emulate video game characters and therefore, end up being as violent as most of these characters. Some of the games are also pornographic. This encourages improper sexual behavior such as promiscuity. The results of such behavior are numerous and mostly negative. However, to achieve the serious effects, one has to spend excessive amount of time playing these video games. In conclusion, video games do not have dangerous effects on players but it is wise to put in mind that anything causing addiction and any sort of harm to a person should be used or done at a normal level or rate.