Video games make kids aggressive: Psychologists

Adarsh Kohli,professor of clinical psychology at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research,said,“Gaming is almost pathological as children forget to eat,can spend hours on it and feel restless and irritated if refused. They also have withdrawal symptoms if kept away from games. It leads to social withdrawal,lack of participation in family activities and disinterest in people. Many children with autism are involved in video games because they have difficulty forming social relationships.”

While being highly addicted to video games,youth claim that games are the best source of relaxation,say other psychologists.

Suman Verma,a city-based child Psychologist who runs a private clinic,said,“Games can have adverse psychological effects on the minds of children. It affects their thought process and also influences their perception of reality. These games are provocative in nature and influence the youth negatively,making them immune to traumatic circumstances that may occur in life. They become aggressive and rebellious.”

Several other conditions are associated with excessive gaming,pointed out Dr Sandeep Chhatwal,a physician at a private hospital in Sector 34. “Cervical Spondylitis is a common condition which is caused due to bad postures that gamers may adopt.

Another dangerous problem is photogenic seizures. These are caused by flickering lights and are common in patients suffering from photogenic epilepsy. Of course,gaming is also the biggest cause of obesity among youngsters which in turn causes other problems,” said Dr. Chhatwal.

The doctors also noted that video games are a big cause of weak eyesight among children.

Dr Vishwaneet Singh,Medical Officer,Haryana government,said,“The Cornea is supplied oxygen through thin layer of tears in the eyes. The oxygen is replenished when we blink,but gaming enthusiasts are so focused in the game,that they forget to blink while playing. This can lead to a condition called dry eye which causes redness and itching in the eyes.”