How Video Games Help Avoid Depression and Develop Useful Skills

Video games are considered to reduce the likelihood of developing depression. This is based on research conducted by a scientist named Brian Sutton-Smith.

Gamers can be proud of themselves: science has proved that games are good for our minds and consciousness.

With the help of such entertainment, you can reach remarkable heights in self-development.

more importantly, video games stimulate our brain and minimize the possibility of depression. 

In this article, essay helper explains how video games help avoid depression and develop valuable skills.

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," typed the protagonist of The Shining on the typewriter.

Indeed, "work" is often seen as an antonym to the word "entertainment." But recent scientific research has proven that the opposite of play is depression.

This idea was first suggested by Brian Sutton-Smith, a scientist who devoted his life to studying the psychological aspect of play. 

He became famous in the 50s and 60s of the 20th century when he studied the effects of entertainment on children and adults.

Sutton-Smith learned that people become more confident and energetic while playing and experience strong positive emotions.

All of this describes the opposite of depression, when one is incredibly pessimistic, especially about one's talents, opportunities, and prospects.

Sutton-Smith did most of his research long before scientists began using specialized brain-scanning machines to monitor blood circulation and thus diagnose mental illness. He also worked without knowing that video games would take over our world.

Statistically, more than 1.23 billion people are addicted to computer games, but, most importantly, we now know exactly what is going on in these people's heads.

Over the past few years, many studies have used functional magnetic resonance therapy. The most notable one was conducted by Stanford University, which "looked inside" gamers' brains.

The results show: “When we play video games, two areas of our brain are continuously stimulated: the area responsible for motivation and the area that makes us want to achieve new goals.”

After all, we are incredibly focused on the task at hand during such entertainment. Whether we are solving complex problems, trying to find hidden objects, striving for the finish line, or scoring maximum points doesn't matter.

Either goal captures our attention, motivates us, and forces our focus. We expect to succeed - and the right part of the brain begins to work actively, making us want to win.

Meanwhile, all games (not just educational games) are designed for one to learn. The first level is always superficial, and the player is quickly drawn into the process, testing different action strategies and skills. With each class, the tasks become increasingly complex, and most games are made so that the person continues to learn throughout the entire scenario.

Gaining new experiences is the key to the player's growing interest, and that is the secret to enjoying video games. The excitement is gone when nothing happens, and you are not pushed to learn. The person stops playing.

So few adults like the classic “tic-tac-toe” game – All the winning strategies have been learned by heart. But as long as the game requires persistence, hippocampus will be included in the process, and players will enjoy it.