Video gaming is so influential that some researchers are concerned about its effect on people’s behavior. Despite it, based on current scientific evidence, virtual leisure activities positively impact mental growth. Periodic experiments show that video games of the action genre significantly improve players’ performance in tests of visual-spatial orientation, including those tests that are components of standard IQ tests. Let’s take a look at some of these studies and decide whether video games influence students or not.

Leadership skills

Some researchers have found that depending on the genre, video games develop working memory, critical thinking, and stability. Having mates, being able to get along with others, and being socially skilled are all crucial leadership qualities. In addition, there is evidence that children who show no interest in reading and writing become more literate thanks to chatting in the game.

While the play is one way for kids to learn how to deal with challenging situations, it might not always be the best approach to developing interpersonal relations. Teachers, parents and gamers should care about the environment they are building. Pity, but rage and disappointment are more widespread than the atmosphere of fair rivalry.

Building Relationships

Adolescents spend more and more of their free time playing video games online. For most, this positive experience allows them to connect with friends, even if they cannot physically be around them. Playing games is especially true for people who find it challenging to spend time with others, such as people with major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder.

Researchers followed a group of 873 children for six years: the experiment began when they were six y.o. The results showed that gaming could not predict a failing in social capabilities in boys and girls under the age of ten. But the games negatively affected girls’ abilities over the age of ten. To better understand this topic, a study of additional literature would help. There are a lot of interpersonal communication essay examples in the digital space. Much valuable and exciting information about social skills is freely available.

Researchers at the Pew Research Center cited several reasons for these results. The fascination with video games is more prevalent among boys, so talking about them promotes their socialization among peers. Virtual entertainment is considered less effective for girls. Therefore, it is difficult for them to find friends with similar interests, and peers may exclude them from their group. It directly affects their social skills and forms a reaction to the emotions of the other person.

Solving different situations

Strategies are possibly the best and most exciting way to spend time and strengthen your analytical skills. There are various video game franchises with countless gameplay mechanics. Still, they have one thing in common — the development of your abilities to find the best solution to particular issues.

Sometimes you will develop not only your game mastership but also your social skills. For example, you might be annoyed with your friends when they repeatedly bug you into playing a game you don’t like. When this happens, it’s best to tell them why you don’t want to play right now so that they understand your boundaries and give us some space.

Developing Individuality

Individuality is an acquired characteristic that can develop through play. For example, the capacity to read body language, understand the tone of voice, maintain eye contact, and quickly perceive and respond to information. The online video game allows players to connect with others and make friends at their current level of capability. Even if they are emotionally or physically unable to leave their homes, this can help develop the social skills and confidence needed to try the game in person.

Parents do not understand all the benefits of such social interactions as playing video games. Computers in human behavior play a significant role. For example, this type of recreation is recommended for people with autism spectrum disorders. Children with ASD can improve their social behavior, conversation capabilities, and concentration and enrich their environment.

Emotional Control

It is also worth noting the dramatic increase in the popularity of violent video games over the past decade. Kids’ violence in the real world shows a steady decline. Everyone has a different attitude to it, but there are undeniable facts. Of course, this is only a correlation, so we cannot say that video games are the reason there is less real-world violence. Nevertheless, there is evidence that virtual “genocide” helps children control their aggression.

For example, students were given a challenging mental task in one experiment and evaluated their feelings about aggressiveness. It turned out that children who preferred brutal video games felt much less depressed and unhappy after completing the frustrating task than others.

Ability to empathize

In a video game, interacting with artificial intelligence characters strengthens connections and triggers unique dialogues and experiences. It teaches the importance of spending time with people. The player also gets an idea of teamwork, starting with choosing his party members. And it’s not just about combining your best abilities to complete a quest.

It increases understanding and allows people to feel the other person’s feelings when communicating. Empathy can make it easier for someone to find the best ways to help others. For example, suppose a person is trying to be supportive. In that case, empathy will allow them to know how the other person feels, leading them to say or do things that might provide comfort or alleviate stress.

To Conclude

An unconventional method of communicating in games helps to strengthen bonds while developing the abilities and confidence needed to communicate face-to-face. Despite the need for Internet safety measures, online gaming is an important part of life and should be recognized as a source of essential support. Individuals with depressive symptoms get more out of conversations with different people online. If you decide to play games, the main thing is that it does not take all your spare time.