The Downside Of Violent Video Games

Psychotherapists have long been concerned about potential psychological damage from repeated exposure to violent video games. The psychological payoff from a violent video game is the opportunity to indulge in a taboo behavior, killing people, without punishment or consequences. A video game without violence is, naturally, highly frustrating to its users.

Violent Video Games Alter the Flow of Blood in the Brain

Indulging in a taboo behavior, even in a fantasy game, comes at a price. 

The more characters the gamer kills during the game, the lower the blood flow to the anterior cingulate cortex. The brain has to "turn off" its center for detection of moral mistakes for the gamer to participate in a violent game, much like a soldier has to switch off that part of the brain to function optimally.

Noise from Video Games Affects Cardiac Coherence

Blasts of noise from violent video games also affect the heart. Violent video games reduce a quality of the heartbeat known as cardiac coherence. The rhythm of the heart stimulates the brain. When the heart beats too slowly (as the result of medication or disease), lack of brain stimulation leads to depression. 

An altruistic, caring personality is affected less by violent video gaming, and self-centered, narcissistic personalities are affected more, which will surprise nobody.

And Video Games in General Have a Variety of Detrimental Health Effects

Playing any kind of video game in excess, however, can have a variety of detrimental effects on a person's health.

In the United States, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System sponsored by the Centers of Disease Control reports that in an average month, 1 in 3 teens is involved in a fight, and 1 in 5 teens either bullies or is bullied. We don't know that violent video grams keep these numbers high — but if the urge to game is taking over a teen's life, intervention is required, especially when you keep in mind that the rise in cyberbullying certainly unfolds in online multiplayer games as well.