Even with the gaming industry’s rapid expansion and its growing presence in mainstream culture, being a gamer still has a negative connotation. Gamers are usually stigmatised as being lazy, unproductive, unhealthy, socially isolated, even if this is clearly not the case. We can’t deny the fact that excessive gaming can have a negative effect on people but let’s not ignore the perks of gaming.
Let’s discover some of the benefits of gaming!
Believe it or not, gaming is a great way to increase problem solving skills. By playing games, the player is constantly exposed to unexpected challenges and therefore has to find solutions as fast as possible in order to overcome them and unlock the next level. Based on a study conducted by the American Psychological Association there are specific types of games, such as strategy games or puzzles, that enhance even more problem skills. Mastering this specific skill will allow the player to solve real life problems easily.
Furthermore, gaming also increases cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility enables a person to adapt when the rules of a game change or when new information contradicts previously held beliefs. It involves the capacity to modify thinking or behavior in response to changing circumstances. The same way rules might change in a game, our lives are also constantly prone to change. That’s why this skill can be of good use in our daily lives. Let’s take the example of students whom’s teacher introduces a new style of learning. Instead of holding a simple lecture and explaining the subject, the teacher asks the students to do autonomous learning by doing research and understanding the subject on their own. Students with cognitive flexibility will not have any difficulties adapting to the new learning style because they are able to change their strategy in order for it to fit into the new learning style.
In a day and age where mental health has become one of the most talked about topics, gaming has also an important part to play. Believe it or not gaming is considered to be a great stress reliever. After a long stressful day at school or at work, coming back to a good game is the perfect way to escape daily pressure. On a biological level this phenomenon can be explained as a release of dopamine. Dopamine can be described as a chemical in the brain that can be assimilated to the brain’s reward system that enhances and balances your mood if you do something fun. According to the statistics around 60% of gamers in Europe consider gaming to be a stress reliever.
The above tackled benefits of gaming are just a few out of many; proof that gaming does have its benefits. Like everything in life “It’s all about balance!” and contrary to the stereotypes conveyed over the years, gaming is and will remain an excellent tool to acquire real life skills.
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