Violent Computer Games: Do they do harm?

The brain can generally differentiate between computer games and reality, but you and I know that once children are glued to these games for hours at a time, on a daily basis, this immersive nature of modern gaming often blurs the lines.  I remember our son being great at Nintendo Wi Tennis and as result on his first game of real tennis, approached it with the seal and confidence of a pro, only to realise that reality is very different to the computer screen he dominated.   Research has shown that while the brain recognises that video games are a simulated environment, the emotional, cognitive, and sometimes physical responses can mimic those experienced in real situations.

Society is still umming and arrrhing about the dangers of violent computer games, but I argue there is enough evidence amongst research and anecdotes to show that we have a problem on our hands.  Our children are spending too much time on these games and then some are acting them out on the streets.

We already know the power of immersive activities as recently we have seen a big move to capitalise on the value and effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) in learning and entertainment. VR can create highly immersive experiences that can trick the brain into reacting as if the events are happening in real life, such as experiencing vertigo while standing on a high ledge in a VR. VR, thus blurring the line between gaming and reality.  Some skills learned include.

1. Perception and Response: Action games can stimulate areas associated with attention and spatial skills and enhancements in cognitive functions.

2. Emotional Impact: Games can elicit strong emotional reactions, such as stress, joy, or frustration, similar to those triggered by real-world experiences.

3. Learning: Skills learned in video games can transfer to real-world tasks, suggesting a cognitive link where the brain applies learned behaviour from a virtual environment to similar real-life situations.

   
   

A negative is that desensitisation to violence can occur if our children are left immersed I violent scenarios, with no supervision or support to counter what they are involved in. Prolonged exposure to certain types of content in video games, such as violence, can lead to desensitisation, where the brain diminishes emotional responses to similar real-life situations.  There is a decrease in empathy and prosocial behaviour. While the brain can tell the difference between video games and reality, the physiological and psychological effects can sometimes be quite similar. Leaving our children with a blurring of reality and gaming.

Children spending extended periods engaged with violent computer games raises considerable concerns about their potential to blur the lines between virtual and real-world behaviours. The potential negative consequences include emotional desensitisation and reduced empathy.  While some cognitive benefits, like enhanced perception, response skills, and emotional engagement, are noted, the overarching impact might carry significant risks. Thus we must keep our children for the consumption of these games,  parents are to monitor and moderate the kind of virtual experiences their children are exposed to, ensuring they contribute positively to their development and understanding of real-world dynamics.