The Therapet Ic Value of V Ideo Games

Until recently, most reported effects of video games centered on the alleged negative consequences. These included video game addiction (e.g., Griffiths & Hunt, 1995, 1998), increased aggressiveness (e.g., Griffiths, 1998), and the various medical and psychosocial effects (Griffiths, 1996). However, there are abundant references to the positive benefits of video games in the literature, including brief overviews (e.g., Lawrence, 1986; Griffiths, 1997). Despite research into the more negative effects, for over twenty years, researchers have been using video games as a means of researching individuals. Many of these reasons also provide an insight as to why games may be useful therapeutically. For instance: