Violent video games have been around for well over thirty years. Such games have over the years emerged to be the favorites of many children. Typically, the average kid will be thrilled by a violent superstar thrashing other characters and moving behind enemy lines. Apparently, the impact of violent video games on kids has been a topic of concern in the field of social sciences for a considerably long time. While other social scientists argue that video games improve the brain capacity and judgment of a kid, others maintain that violent video games increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior among kids (Anderson et al 56). The effects of video games on the academic endeavors of children have been a primary topic of debate among many psychologists and academicians. This evaluative essay tends to explain some of the most prominent effects – both positive and negative – of violent video games on kids.
Violent video games have been closely associated with violent behavior in children and adolescents. Researches indicate that children that spent most of their free time playing violent video games were likely to be aggressive towards their peers, resorting to physical conflicts over petty issues. Apparently, the video games bear themes of immortality. Such themes deceive children to the extent that they see no danger in engaging in street brawls and fight with their rival peers. Such fights usually come with various negative effects. For instance, during the fight, a kid could end up with a permanent injury that may impact negatively on their self esteem. Worth noting is the point that a huge scar on the forehead could make a kid feel inferior and deformed. Psychologists explain that this lowers the self worth of the kid in such a way that they feel looked down upon.
Violent games may cause children to develop negative prejudices and discriminatory opinions. The violent video games use characters from different races. Such characters are organized in such a manner that some characters, from some particular races are seen as being superior and stronger than others. This may cause kids to form opinionated judgments about their peers. Such popular video games as GTA vice City, portray the black characters as weak and poor members of the society, who live in the down town area of the city. This brought controversies among anti-racist activists during the first year of the launch of the game. The controversy pointed out the impact on children as one of the key points. Children playing the game were likely to view black people as inferior beings. This enhances social conflicts and kills the spirit of coexistence among children (Anderson et al 74). Similarly, the white kids may be aggressive and discriminatory towards the black kids.
Early childhood development experts have established a strong connection between the health status of a kid and the violent video games. Apparently, video games are addictive, but the violent ones are particularly absorbing and highly habitual. When a kid gets used to sit in front of a computer playing the games, the chances of developing such complications as obesity and high blood pressure is considerably high. Considering that first foods are becoming a favorite to most teenagers and kids, it is worth concluding that growing over-weight is inevitable, especially where the child or the teenager does nothing but sit and eat. Child obesity is among the most common complications in the medical world today, thanks to video games. Similarly, children may develop eyesight complications following the habit of sitting with eyes fixed on the screen of the television or the computer. The light has been systematically verified to be perilous to the users.
Addiction is another primary problem associated with violent video games. Following the thrill they bring, video games are said to be particularly habit-forming. Children, especially those in the developed nations have made it a routine to play the games after school. There are many problems associated with addiction. The first problem is that the child will not have the opportunity to interact with other children. This impairs the social skill development of the kid. This makes the child a social misfit as they do not get the chance to play and interact with other children. Playing interactive games may help a child develop interpersonal communication skills (Anderson et al 116). Locking up oneself playing video games makes a child lose friends and forego the opportunity to develop interactive skills and teamwork. In addition to losing friends, a child may lose intimacy with their parents and siblings because in most cases, the kid is either at school or seated playing violent computer games.
Researchers have established a very strong connection between violent video games and poor academic performance. A country by country research indicated that children that played video games were more likely to engage in confrontations with their teachers than children that did not have access to such facilities. Further research revealed that the main reason behind the student-teacher conflict was the fact that the kids had no time to do their homework. The time after school was spent on playing games. Further analysis indicated that most of those students that owned video games played deep into the night such that they came to school tired and sleepy. These reduced their understanding capacity. Additionally, they kept fantasizing about their video game heroes while in class. This deterred concentration on the teachers’ instructions.
Emotional instability is among the most prominent impacts of violent video games on children. Such emotional instability caused children to develop mood swings, uncontrollable anger, physical conflicts as well as lack of consideration for human suffering. Violent video games show scenes of people getting hurt and even dying. Most unfortunately, such video games do not display human feelings and consideration for suffering and pain (Anderson et al 89). This makes the child lose feelings for other people in such a way that they would not help even if they saw someone almost dying from pain and suffering. Psychologists explain that this is particularly dangerous as it may make a child develop psychopathic tendencies, which may cause lack of understanding between kids and their peers.
Among the few positive impacts of violent video games is that, depending on the upbringing of a kid, such games teach the child the outcome of war and violence. Seeing people bleed and die in the games may make a child desist from violence as such aggression may cause them to get hurt or to die. Again, linking such killings to religious teachings may make a kid learn to coexist with peers without much trouble. Another notable positive effect of the violent video games is that such games increase overall dexterity and precision of a child. Apparently, there is a lot of sharpness and accuracy required to win the game. Such accuracy and sharpness is associated with creativity. Being creative may help the kid know how to go about solving real life situations as they arise.
Another positive impact of violent video games is the facts that, much like all other games, such games enable a child take the much deserved break from books. Such breaks, according to many psychologists, may help an individual relax, such that they perform better as their understanding capabilities will be enhanced (Anderson et al 128). Apparently, video games enhance computer literacy among kids. With the fast advancing technology, computer literacy is inevitable. Being computer literate is particularly important. It is for this reason that some psychologists and social scientist advocate for video and computer games, however violent they may be.
In conclusion, it is apparent that the violent video games have both positive and negative impacts. Among the primary negative impacts of violent video games is the actuality that such games promote aggression in kids and teenagers. Such aggression causes physical conflicts and fights that have numerous negative impacts. Similarly, violent video games are addictive, in such a way that they hinder academic excellence. Video games hinder social development and interpersonal skills among the kids and teenagers. Similarly, violent video games may cause poor health and opinionated judgments, as well as prejudices and discrimination which may as well cause lack of feelings and consideration for human suffering. Among the constructive impacts of violent video games on children is the actuality that such games improve creativity and computer dexterity. They as well help the child to be accurate in making judgments.
Work cited
Anderson, Craig A, Douglas A. Gentile, and Katherine E. Buckley. Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents: Theory, Research, and Public Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print
