Playing video games can have several benefits for the whole family. A study says so Horizon Psytech, which shows the positive effects of shooters even on the little ones. A conscious use of game sessions on Nintendo Switch consoles, which have always been designed for families, can actually improve some cognitive abilities.
Benefits of video games: the experts speak
On the occasion of the International Day of the Family (May 15, 2023) established by the United Nations General Assembly, Horizon Psytech has published a study on positive effects of video games even on children. The company, which specializes in digital psychology, has examined the benefits of gaming sessions on Nintendo Switch Onlinein particular on the shooter Splatoon 3. The study highlighted various cognitive and psychological benefits deriving from controlled use of video games of this genre, normally associated with violent behavior.
Thing fa Horizon Psytech
Horizon Psytech & Games is a Switzerland-based company active since 2016, operating internationally involving psychology experts from all over the world. He mostly deals with digital education, through prevention and awareness interventions also in school contexts. It is also one of the first companies to have worked in digital psychology training in Italian, as well as offering support and advice to those who develop forms of malaise with respect to new technologies.
I study it on his Nintendo Switch
To analyze the effects of video games on users, focusing on the minors, Horizon Psytech took the Nintendo Switch Online service as an example. Built on the basis of safety guidelines attentive to children, the service aims to guarantee an autonomous and safe gaming experience. On the other hand, Nintendo has always addressed particular attention to the family spheretrying to offer products and services that promote a positive and sharing climate.
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Nintendo Switch Online provides communication features available only to users registered in personal friends lists, voice chat can only be used by members aged 13 and over. In the wake of these guidelines, Horizon has highlighted a few useful tips to reduce any risks associated with online gaming, to ensure greater peace of mind for parents.
Active knowledge
It is essential for every parent to know GO, a video game rating system that lets you know about products before you buy them. The PEGI system is useful for assessing whether video games are age-appropriate for younger users.
Parental Control
The parental controls system is a useful tool for monitoring activity on the console, setting a maximum screen time, and preventing unsupervised content purchases. NSO also allows you to create a “child accounts” to be even more relaxed.
Media Education
Education and good knowledge of video games is one of the first steps to take to ensure a safe experience. It is important that the child is active part in the educational process, knowing any risk factors to which he is exposed and respecting behavior guidelines.
Behavioral models
The relationship with video games can easily be influenced by the association that the parent makes of them, therefore it can be affected by any conflicts with respect to the theme. Offer to the child positive behavior patterns of using video games, also through family sharing, will allow them to play them independently.
The family group
NSO offers the possibility to purchase afamily membership which allows all family members to enjoy the benefits through a single account. The profile will be guided by a parent, structuring an environment oriented towards transparency and sharing.
Positive effects of video games on health
Shooter video games and cognitive benefits
Among the various titles offered by Nintendo Switch Online for shared play it stands out Splatoon 3, one of the most iconic of the service. Precisely on this hilarious shooter, the Horizon Psytech experts have explored the theme of the benefits that the little ones can derive from this genre of video games. Splatoon 3 includes dynamics that greatly soften the impact of its content, such as the game world presented in a cartoon or the paint used instead of bullets. It is not possible to hurt other players or die and the competitive dynamic is based on teamwork.
Video games belonging to the “shooter” category are commonly known for their direct association with virtual representations of violent contexts or behaviors. However, scientific research has shown that video games are not the cause of aggressive behavior.
Greenfield, D.N., 2018.
Benefits of video games: selective attention and multitasking
According to recent studies, playing video games would lead to a long-term thickening of the cerebral cortex in the somatosensory, parahippocampal and superior pariental lobule regions (Momi, D., et al., 2018). These are areas related to spatial knowledge, the visual-spatial skillsmotor execution, stimulus inhibitions, and eye movements.
Shooting games require cognitive flexibility, reaction speed, ability to change tasks. They are therefore well suited to developing skills such as selective attention, visual stimulus maintenance, visual interference suppression, decision making and multitasking.
Recent research conducted by the National Institutes of Health in the United States has shown, from a survey of a sample of 2,000 children, that those who habitually play video games have superior cognitive performance compared to peers who have never played.
Benefits of video games and psychological well-being
Beyond the cognitive benefits that derive from controlled use of video games, experts have also identified correlations with psychological well-being. Video games can indeed satisfy some basic human needs: competence, relationship and autonomy.
It is important to underline that these data are based on a use of video games considered regular and not problematic. Shooters, like other video games, can produce benefits and psychological well-being to the extent that they are established as healthy habit. A gamer addicted to video games will not enjoy the same benefits, neither cognitive nor well-being.