Video games can help mend relationships with a “difficult” teen
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Over the past decades, video games have become very popular among young people. Now their diversity is amazing. In addition, there are various adaptations that allow you to play not only at home, sitting at the computer, but also anywhere: on a trip, in a cafe, in a park, etc.
With the help of the game, a person changes his real world (in some cases quite boring, monotonous in his opinion) to a fictitious, virtual, in which he becomes the main participant in interesting, incredible events. Quite often a video game serves as a good way to relax after a hard day's work, to relieve stress. With a good game, the person begins to stand out hormones of happiness, adrenaline, which stimulates the body.
However, such pastime is considered harmful for a person, the game world further takes a person away from reality, failure in the game leads to severe mental disorders, a person becomes prone to aggression, violence, etc. At least, this was considered before, until the results of the latest research appeared.
Scientists have found that games raise the mood, reduce the negative effects of stress on the body, increase the level of self-esteem rights. It is especially useful to spend whole evenings with family for a video game. Experts believe that parents and children should play together, this helps to increase hormones necessary for happiness and peace in the brain, as well as understanding and rapprochement of family members.
To confirm their assumptions, the research team, headed by D. Johnson, conducted an analysis of over two hundred reports and scientific publications. Scientists were interested in how the game can affect the social well-being of a person. As it turned out, the type of game (strategy, game, role, arcade, logical, etc.) has absolutely no significance, but the joint pastime of the game greatly brings people together, improves communication skills, increases brain activity, contributes to the social well-being of a person.
Specialists have drawn such conclusions: to establish relationships with a troubled teenager, the best way is to start playing video games with him, not every day, but at least occasionally, a couple of times a week. Such a joint holiday will improve mutual understanding between generations, get closer. However, you need to pay special attention to the time that is spent for the video game. The number of hours spent behind the monitor may adversely affect the quality of the child's learning. Too long a game can provoke instability in behavior, irritability, attacks of aggression. If the child will spend all the time possible after the game, his world will narrow to this one virtual world, all that he will be interested in, are ways of passing, hacking the game, destroying monsters, etc. The child can completely break away from the social environment, completely immersed in his game world. But the periodic joint passage of a game will help not only relax both parents and the child, after a busy day, but will contribute to a closer connection between the parents and the child. To this infrequent video game sessions help improve the emotional state of a person.