Video Games Aren't Anxiety Relief Exclusive

This weeks reading provided a very interesting as well as informative discussion and research on anxiety and the effects of video games. First, let me say, the numerical results of the performed research was helpful, however, in this instance, I think scientists are complicating the actual situation. While I do agree video games have a positive affect in lowering anxiety in children, I also believe it is not the only medium of how to help children's anxiety. For the longest time before, we have used various visual and auditory aids to remove anxiety in children, such as the doctor's office with cartoon characters and the dentist's office with the TV in the ceiling as you were getting your teeth cleaned.

So why the big hype over video games? My personal guess is because video games are both visually, auditory, and physically distracting. Music, TV and other previous mediums of anxiety relief focused solely on one or two of these areas, leaving exposure in the remaining areas a possible, “wake back to reality,” if you will. With a two sided chi-squared analysis yielding a P-value of 0.97, one might go further to argue that video games are obviously the best way to relieve anxiety.

Of course, however, this begins to conflict with many of the theories in violence of video games such as cognitive neoassociation. According to cognitive neoassociation, a child using video games as an escape to relieve anxiety could potentially be building aggression, only worsening the situation we are attempting to relieve by introducing video games. Obviously, we try to keep violent games out of the hands of recovery patients and children, however, even even throwing snowballs at snowmen, is technically violence. Playful yes, but still violence. Ultimately, like many areas regarding video games and their effect's more researched is needed, however, based on the results, I'd risk a few sick aggressive kids pounding snowmen to relieve anxiety.