One of the previous articles highlighted how the different types of video games that are available ad the fact that playing video games can improve ones vision. This article will go on to look at similar studies that have been undertaken in the area of computer gaming and how the results can influence peoples health and lifestyle.

One of the older BBC news headlines highlighted how the use of computer games by children can actually promote problem solving and team building. However, parents argued that this wasn’t the case and that it actually promoted violence and turned people into couch potatoes. In the same year, a young boy was murdered and his family linked his death to the influence of a game called Manhunt. The Dixons group had to discontinue this game from their games line because of this. 

However, studies in this area have proven this theory to be incorrect, as you will see further in this article.

Dr Judy Robertson from Edinburgh University said that during a computer games workshop, some of the children expressed their views on whether or not virtual violence in computer games was linked to real life violence. The children responded by disagreeing with this and said that they felt that it restricted them from fighting with their friends because it allowed them to take their anger out on the characters in the virtual computer game.

The Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich later conducted a study (in 2007) into “linking computer gaming with real life accidents”. The study found that playing computer racing games to get cheap thrills could then impact how people drive in real life. Psychologist found that people playing car racing games were more likely to replicate the speed in real life and drive aggressively, causing road accidents and car crashes. It also found that after playing car racing games, men were more likely to take risky maneuvers and take risks whilst driving. This would then have a knock on effect on their driving habits in real life. 

A report by the European Parliament found that the appropriate video games can teach the players of the game important life skills. The BBC followed this to St Peter’s Youth Club in Jersey to see what they thought of this idea. Various Psychologists from around Europe and US including France, Germany and the Netherlands concluded that they did stimulate learning new skills such as team working, strategic thinking, creativity and co-operation. Team working is emphasized more as this is required in education and working life. Based on what was seen at the Youth Centre, it was found that children didn’t fight among each other to play the game, but they played together as a team.

So playing computer games isn’t all that bad if it can teach you essential skills that will be valuable across all walks of life but more importantly when driving because it doesn’t promote violent driving but teaches you to be patient and think strategically about what will happen next.

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