Video games are controlled electronic, interactive games with vibrant colours, sound effects, and complex graphics played on a computer, a console, an arcade machine or on small, hand-held screens where players interact with objects for fun.
Competence: to fulfil our desire to feel competent Autonomy: desire to feel independent or have some control over our actions Relatedness: to feel like we matter to others and we are making a significant contribution to society
Action Arcade Strategy Simulation Driving Puzzle Adventure and Role Playing
To develop essential skills for the learning process To be teaching, inspiring, challenging, and engaging in ways that reality is not To increase interest in a certain topic or area To develop decision-making skills To improve social skills (players can interact with players from all over the world and make new friendships)
To fulfil genuine human needs that the real world is unable to satisfy To improve confidence in the real world To stimulate imagination To give players the opportunity to play different characters in different environments To be good and enjoyable entertainment
To give children/teens role models to look up to To be a release of violence and aggression/to make children/teens oriented towards violence
To affect negatively the players’ behaviour: may increase the amount of aggression and violence may make players uncompassionate and insensitive towards death To make players mix up the virtual world with reality To cause players to miss out on having a well-rounded social life
To cause health problems (neck ache; backache; repetitive strain injuries; eyestrain; headaches; chest pain; fatigue; mood swings; sleep deprivation; obesity) To be fatal in extreme cases (heart attacks and blood clots caused by an unhealthy lifestyle) To become an addiction
Spending most non-school hours playing games Preferring to play video games rather than hang out with friends or spend time with family members Skipping household chores and homework to spend more time playing video games Falling asleep during lessons Worsening school performance
Thinking excessively about game play Feeling irritable, restless, angry or anxious when unable to play Giving up other activities due to gaming Using the games to forget about personal problems or escape unpleasant emotions Trying to play less and fail
Lying to others about video game use Stealing games or money to play
Carpal tunnel syndrome Dry eyes Headaches Back and neck aches Sleep disturbances Irregular eating habits Poor personal hygiene
Recognise that you have an addiction Identify the underlying causes of the problem Reduce the amount of time you spend gaming Replace gaming time-slots with other activities such as playing sports, going out with friends, etc. Get support from friends and family Get medical help and participate in recovery groups in extreme cases
play-video-games/ treatment-program-options/
014/04/effect-of-video-games-on-child-development/ This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.