In a nutshell, a recent(?) study suggested that teens who spent greater than 5 hours every school day playing videogames experienced a greater amount of sadness, a percentage displaying suicidal thoughts and tendencies, compared to those that played no videogames at all.
On the otherhand....
Those that played videogames for only less than 2 hours experienced more positive responses, again compared to those that played no videogames at all.
From this experimental study, those that played NO videogames were the controlled subjects. Less than 2 hours of playtime and greater than 5 hours of playtime were the variables, conversely. According to this study and this study alone, something concerning the psyche happens where stress and sadness ensues when the subject played videogames over this "threshold" of time. Less than 2 hours, the teens maintained a more-positive attitude, but greater than 5 and they display negative? Very interesting. I wouldn't be posting unfounded studies at any rate, since I know the basic rule of thumb concerning studies. But this one can be an exception, since, according to this, drastic changes occur based on the time spent playing videogames.
Objectively, however....
There are clearly too many dependent variables. Were the teens healthy and stable-minded? Were said teens playing the same games throughout the study? Did the games fluctuate between different genres, emotional vibes, etc?
- And of course, the rule of thumb is "correlation =/= causation". But hey! What do you guys think?
i really dont like studies like that. people look at them and think they are facts. think about this: some people might play more video games BECAUSE they are sad. if that is true then the above numbers are correct but they understood them so wrong. i know for myself that if i wouldnt play video games alot id be much more sad and bored. video games showed me fantasies and stories to think about. they develop imagination and can help in many real life situation. its just one of those researches that people like to show to you to prove something they believe in.
Just something from my experience: episodes of sadness cause me to lose any interest in games. During the worst 7-8 months I had I stayed away from gaming completely. So even if there's a link between these two things, they are not to take place at the same time. For me, at least.
Interesting, but there are WAY too many different things that can cause it. Like maybe if someone with a nervous disorder played FEAR it might be worse than someone else. Hehe, I play like 7 hours a day.
You may mean this however you want Freakenstein. I'm just happy you brought this to my attention, though. Now that I'm aware of this I can see how it may effect me. Personally? I don't think I play games greater than 5 hours a day, surprisingly. Before I could spend over 8, now though I'm doing things like this - writing, typing, discussing, and etc.
Not just that but I think I'm of sane mind anyway.
What does this mean? Well, is it your basic MW2 nerdraging fanboi able to do that or is it your relaxed family guy on the Wii?
Both? An intermediate? A pro gamer?
I don't know, but I do know that games have taught me an incredible deal, not only is my grammar and English skills beyond anyone else at School (and sadly, that bares no exaggeration as my English Teacher can't spell as well as I), but my brain works faster, I can think how I need to think, I also took into consideration morality from playing Fable I lol.
Many people argue that video games cause a lack of imagination because the gamers rely on the game for imagination, whereas a book pressures the mind to see the setting of the story.
this is just one way to see it. i think a game is as good as a movie or a book. anything with a plot is as good as those. anyone keeps thinking what is the next thing that will happen both in games and books. you imagine what would happen if that would happen and so on. books, video games and movies make people use imgination.
i do agree that people use more imagination for a book when thinking about the looks of characters etc. but gaming makes you imagining different ways to do some things.
