The Influence of Computer Games on The Physical and Mental Health

in #psychology7 years ago





Today many children are keen on computers and especially computer games: in the game they cease to be passive observers, and have an opportunity to actively influence the events of the virtual world. But society and families often have discussions that from computer games children become stupid, cruel... so what's there, all the troubles of the world because of computer games! At what most often, I hear such statements from people who are far from computers...



So let's try to figure it out!



I will not deny that a lot of parents do not monitor the amount of time a child spends with gadgets! What games does the child play (after all, the age limit is indicated in the games, but who cares?). In such cases, the consequences can really be sad:



  • Depletion of the nervous system (nervous breakdown)

  • Psychological dependence

  • Chronic stress

  • The sense of reality is lost

  • Insularity (Lack of social development)





Who's to blame?



In this case, as I believe, only the parents are to blame! Neither the producers of computer games nor, especially, the computer games themselves! We live in a rather "convenient" time. Why give your child attention and engage in development? You can give him a gadget and forget about him existence... And then, when everything goes to hell, accuse in all yours omissions, errors in education and failures, these satanic computers and computer games!





Is there any benefit?



There are many computer games of cognitive and developmental orientation! These games helps to children:



  • Open the mind for new (Expand their horizons)

  • Understand general awareness of different sciences

  • Develop the child's logical thinking

  • Develop accurate eye and speed of reactions

  • Form planning skills



I'm not even talking about the fact that a child can achieve really amazing results and build his life connected with computer games!





Bottom line (my opinion)



In fact, the question is not about the danger or benefits of computer games... Like many things related to the upbringing of children, the essence of the matter here lies in the very fact of upbringing! Either parents devote time and energy to this question, or not. There is always will be millions reasons why stupid, lazy or just "unskillful" parents will not take responsibility for their actions or, as in this case, inaction! Just as parents take care of the quality and sufficient amount of food for the child, they should take care of the quality and quantity of computer products consumed by the child! Interest the child in training and developing games, prevent the use of low-quality games and monitor the time the child spends in "alternative rality". Only parents can give the child what he need, what will interest him to live in the real world!



Sincerely, Terry Craft.



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I too agree with this post. Computer games are good but we mustn't addict to them. There should be a balance. Then it will be ok.

This is very true. Most of the time the parents are the ones that 'take the easy way out' by submitting their children to computer games, just as long the children leave the parents alone. In fact most parents are in a way addicted and spending too much time on their screens!!

What can a "addict" teach? To the fact that this is the only true way... Many are too early to raise children, they need to first solve their problems and understand who they are in life!

haha...yes that is very true. Monkey see monkey do!!

Great blog. I agree with you. Try and tell a parent who is smoking a bong in the bedroom, while their 6 year old plays Call Of Duty though. Tests have been done that show a violent game can have immediate affects on a child's ability to feel empathy, as opposed to a sports game which has no effect.
There are so many games appropriate, and even somewhat beneficial, for kids why any parent would let their small child spend hours shooting simulated human beings is beyond me.

Exactly! I really share your point of view! Child's ability to feel empathy - realy very important issue in this all!

When a child is addicted to gaming, it can lead to some strange behaviour... even gradually withdrawing from his/her peers.
Thanks for sharing this information @terrycraft

was addicted to them as a kid ..it only lasted a couple of years though thank gawd

At 14 or about it I also did not sleep and did not eat, just to play longer... My parents were almost always busy, they ignored me. It really is like a drug addiction, the real world ceases to interest you...

now i'm addicted to STEEMIT lol

I have friends who are hooked to battlefield 1 and some even play for 7-15 hours straight, they are pros at it but everything else is in sorry state of affairs :(

Psychological health is undermined, a person's physical condition also requires increased attention. Everything from the fact that it is much harder to "find yourself" in the real world, but in virtual you can see faster "results and victories"

i played commando back in the day at 7-11 for 12 hours straight on 1 quarter lol what was i thinking ?? craziness

Only about the game, i think )

Thanks @terrycraft for sharing. Thank you Mario! but our princess is in another castle!

Haha ) Have a nice day @sam99! And mario of course :)

I think parents let their children play games and play on their tablets all day is so the parents can play games and on their tablets😜

Nowadays it's frequently situation...

It's really sad I see it everywhere the parents don't want to be bothered it's like in older days they sat the kids in front of the TV as a babysitter. I'm so glad that two of my three kids only let their children on am hour a day and they spend quality time with their kids. I wish parents would pay more attn

Yes, it is, the reasons for not giving time to your child will always be with "unworthy" parents! No PC or gadget? TV - welcome baby!

Yup it's sad no wonder kids act how they act with no respect

When I had my three children I didn't want a TV or anything my ex husband would get mad but I wanted to be too my children what my parents were to me. We interacted we play cards and board games, we played outside. Oh if only..

The question of socialization, "closeness" of children with parents, general initial development... All this goes into the background, if we fence off our children. And then the abyss are already so great that it is impossible to overcome it!

You are worthy of respect! Thank you! There are fewer and fewer such parents...

Thank you Terry I have very low self esteem but I have manners and morals and i think if you have a kid pay attn to it! Thank you for the respect I always put my children before anything

Gaming is good.
I love and my kids love it.
My kids are better problem solvers and identify logic patterns way quicker than I did.
Their gaming society is amazing and their ability to play together is heart warming.

Limits need to be placed on the time spent. Content needs to be monitored as well as the social interactions.
You gleen alot about you kids by what they like and how they conduct themselves.

Fun!

I was a hardcore mmo player and my social skills increased why? Communication over voice was the key to succeed in arenas. Met a lot of friends of diferent backgrounds. I think as a father, I would let my kids play just because it could enhance a lot of their cognitive skills and problem solving.

I use to be pro gamer not so back like 2013-2014, had to end all of this as it was taking so much time and cutting down you lifestyle and making your ass super fat :P Thanks for sharing, enjoyed it!

As the saying goes - The balance is important in everything! Another question is that often we are too lazy to eat "normal" food and carry our fat ass to the gym :)

Nice question, fries are favorite food for most gamers, however it's just a point of view, so many levels you have to trade your time with anything :P

So true! :)

I play Minecraft to chill out.

I agree with you 100% my husband always say, and he was a headmaster of a school for many years we have a lot of obedient parents, and not always obedient children. They get what they want just to keep them quiet.

This is called the path of least resistance... But sooner or later, they will have to face the consequences!

I agree.

I think that society develops more and more into a digital world. I agree that we need a bit of control, but overall, games and other digital stuff develop peoples's mind.

Imagine a child of 3-4 years old, 50 years ago, compared to a child, same age today.. much smarter, much more aware of the multitude of things in this world. Some may say that education may be the differentiation factor, but i also think the logical is much more complex, and games contribute at this fact.

I've seen parents who denied cell phones, tablets to 10-12 years old.. it's a mistake in my opinion, it's like raising a handicapped child.. they will not integrate very well in the future society.

Supervise your child, control a bit what is he doing, but let him discover the digital world because that is the world he will live in. Thanks for sharing this article!

This is about me. Grandma wants to send a psychiatric hospital.

Great post, theres a lot of parent blaming in the comments but I believe if were honest parents don't have much influence in their kids lives anymore compared to the state and media. The sophisticated programming we all under go our whole lives is unavoidable in society even by the most resolute of us. Behaviourism and social engineering is a very series problem that needs to be tackled at source. Maybe bring out a computer game where the kids get to kill George Soros might be a good start 🤣

A very good post @terrycraft...our young people has been negetively affected by these games and especially smart phones. Sometimes my daugther is uncontrolable if you take her smartphone or if there is no internet..No more time to play and socialize with friends and family members. Best thing we did is to take it out!!!! thanks for sharing

My wife, our soon nine-year-old daughter, and I are Finns living in Finland. Our daughter's screen time has usually exceeded the recommended amount. She likes to play games and watch mostly English language videos on YouTube. While I have always had lingering doubts about letting her use the Internet as much as she does, I have allowed it because the pros seem to far outweigh the cons. A lot of this has to do with the type of videos she watches (I have set up all the accounts myself I and I know exactly what she watches). Apart from kiddie stuff, she's into popular science. She watches mostly English language content. When she was in first grade last year, she'd often come up to me and ask what this or that word meant. Now she knows how to use online dictionaries. I have measured her passive English vocabulary using testyourvocab.com and the latest result from March was 4,400. She likes to tell me about interesting topics she has watched videos about. Once at breakfast she explained to me how DNA works, how telomere depletion causes cells to stop dividing and how that prevents them from becoming cancerous, germ line cells being an exception. So, I'm not going to curtail her Internet use just because some guideline says that 1,5 hours a day is the maximum allowed time online for kids her age. She does have IRL friends and attends school normally.

I feel like it all depends on how you see it . To me gaming relaxes me and in no way has made me violent. Gaming over the years have increased my reaction time and my way of thinking like you stated .

Thanks I agree with your bottom line!!