Do Video Games Improve Spatial Reasoning Skills? Essay Example

This paper posits to analyze whether video game playing may be beneficial, disputing some belief to the effect that video game playing causes any significant ill effects the paper also tries to give a presentation of a holistic view of the interaction between adolescents and video games. Subrahmanyam & Greenfield, (1994) have argued that more than 34 percent of American households have a Nintendo game system. Robertson, (2004) has postulated a model which is worth consideration and it relates to the theory of planned behavior which establishes an interconnectivity of the attitudes to behavior and it is an extension of theory of reasoned action. The theory has been proven to be efficient in productivity and persuasion. It has often found its application in studies dealing with relations in as far as belies, behavioral intentions, attitudes as well as behaviors are concerned in most of the field including healthcare (Robertson, 2004)

Playing video games is associated with potential advantages considering the vast importance of computer competence in today’s adult work world and therefore video game playing may be beneficial. Video have been found to enhance understanding and exposure to computers in adolescents. It is also true that video game playing may enhance eye–hand coordination, numerical concepts, decision-making, and the ability to follow directions. The use of exer-gaming as postulated by Cowley & Minnaar, (2008), which also means video gaming in a physically active manner, has been proven to improve the levels of activities in adolescents. The gaming console given the name Wii was introduced by Nitendo in 2006 and it was proven to be revolutionary due it’s virtue of incorporating the lower body part movement with the movement of the upper body. Another positive contribution of the game was facilitating some facilities for the players which on traditional context are played outside like basketball, bowling right as well as baseball that can otherwise be performed in the living rooms (Cowley & Minnaar, 2008).

Playing video games including bowling, boxing, tennis and aerobics among others are pretty to the level of exercise while the player continues to derive fun from the video games. They have also replaced the traditional games which are expensive based on the requirements to purchase them separately. It is also true that playing video games may actually give individuals an edge in life. Further exploration of the game proved that it is one of the highly effective means that can be adopted for a person to be physically active especially for the young people and that the game also improve spatial relational skills in the individual. The game also has been found to have significant influence of stimulation on the development of spatial skills, and therefore video game playing may contribute to gender equality in spatial skills.

The success of the game is based on the combination of the video games and high profile activities that will consequently lead to burning of a higher percentage of calories for the sake of enhancing the health and the wellbeing especially in adolescents. Cowley & Minnaar, (2008) also postulated that there is a positive correlation between the health of the mind and physical health (Cowley & Minnaar, 2008). Playing video games is the most effective way that can be adopted for a person to be physically active especially in adolescents.

References

Cowley, A. & Minnaar, G., 2008, “New generation computer games: Watch out for Wii shoulder”,  BMJ. 336(7636):110

Robertson, R. J., 2004, “Harnessing Technology in a Multidimensional,” International Conference on Urban Health, Oct. 31, 2007.

Subrahmanyam, K. & Greenfield, P. (1994). Effect of video gaming practice to the spatial skills. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 15, 13–32.