Strongest Argument

For my research paper, my strongest argument is that video games are addictive and cause ADD/ADHD (which I shall, from this point, refer to as ADHD). Dr. Ron J. Swayznia, a psychotherapist in a self-treatment center in Texas, says that video games are like neurofeedback therapy, with negative results. Neurofeedback therapy is where someone goes to retrain there brain. It is usually done in 60 minute sections for 60 weeks. What Dr. Swayznia is saying is that video games have the same effect as neurofeedback therapy, except the opposite of what would be considered a "normal," healthy brain. When someone plays video games, they usually play them for more than an hour a day!!! This means that the rate at which someone negatively retrains their brain is increased at a faster rate, and gets worse over time. What the person is doing, is retraining their brain to resemble someone who suffers severe ADHD. Hence, video games do not help with ADHD, but can only worsen the behavior.

Video games have also been found to have addictive properties. These addictive properties are due to how the brain reacts to the video game. When someone plays a video game, adrenaline is rushed to the brain, increasing the person's drive to continue to play the game and achieve higher in it. Since playing a video game is akin to increased ADHD-like behavior, this can only have negative psychological effects on the brain. Actually, a survey done at a Virgina high school found that there is no difference between the negative psychological effects of Internet video games and console video games. Both have the same addictive properties. Also, even "hard-core" gamers will admit that video games can be addictive. Michael Loos, a strong supporter of video games, says that anyone has the potential to become an addict. So, it is not just people who are against video games that are saying they are addictive, it is even people who love them! A 12-year old hard-core gamer boy, Jimmy Williamson, said that you can get lost in these games; they are just that addictive. To add, people have died from addiction. A Korean man died several years ago from heart failure after playing 50 hours straight of a video game. Video games are a danger to the human mind.

To conclude, the power that video games have on the mind is immense. Video games not only have strong addictive power, they are also the cause of ADHD. It is this that makes video games so dangerous. The power and potential of video games to be a medium in which anyone could do anything with is there. Since people get addicted to these games, it would be very easy to influence people through them.