Sneak peek: Parents often ask why are video games addicting to kids? Research gives us some surprising answers about why kids like video games.
I’m kind of embarrassed to admit this, but my 6-year-old is known as the “pinball king” in our house. From the time he learned that arcade and video games existed, he was fascinated. His older brother received a 1980s-style game controller for a birthday and he couldn’t get enough of it. While we limit gaming time in our house, I can sometimes see that the games are still on his mind, even after playing. He’ll ask me to “play Minecraft” on the playground or act out game scenarios in real life with his brother. He and his brother debate about different game strategies. When he is allowed to play a video game, he will get so drawn into it that he doesn’t hear a word I say. This, of course, makes me wonder: why do kids like video games?
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You may have seen this with your own kids as well. Whether it be on a tablet, TV, or gaming device, kids seem inexplicably drawn to video games.
As someone with a background in child development, this is the point where I get very curious. What is it about the play, the situation or their mood that makes the game so appealing? I’ve started trying to really observe when my kids are most drawn to games—what else is going on? What is their mood? Are they tired, hungry, or overstimulated?
Next, I turned to the research to help understand why video games are so addicting. What’s going on with kids’ brains when they play?
Why are Video Games Popular with Children?
You don’t have to investigate the research on video games for long to realize the dopamine plays a key role in their appeal. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that becomes active when individuals participate in something fun and pleasurable, like video games. Some research has shown that dopamine levels rise when kids play video games and therefore, they want to continue to play to get this “hit” of dopamine.
Some researchers have discussed this rise in dopamine as a serious phenomenon, even equating it to drug addiction. It’s important to remember, however, that dopamine rises whenever we do anything enjoyable—eat ice cream, win a sporting event, etc. Most studies have concluded this the rise of dopamine seen while playing video games is similar to these activities, which is substantially lower than the rise of dopamine seen in drug users.
Related reading: The Key to Raising Successful Kids in a Tech-Saturated World? Turn up the Challenge…
Nevertheless, it’s helpful for parents to understand the role of dopamine in their children’s brains as they play video games. Just as you wouldn’t let your child eat unlimited ice cream, just because it makes them feel good, limiting video game time is necessary so this dopamine effect doesn’t become overwhelming. Some research has shown that repeatedly reinforcing this dopamine pathway can make the receptors less active, so more dopamine is needed in the future to get that pleasurable feeling. For a fascinating discussion of this process (for us non-neuroscientists) listen to this awesome podcast or the accompanying book, Dopamine Nation.
A note: in this article, I am not using the words “addicting” or “addiction” in the clinical sense. Currently, there is no diagnosis for “video game addiction” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by psychologists.
Why Do Kids Play Video Games? The Psychology of Gaming
While the dopamine effect itself might not be a huge concern, most researchers agree that the combination of this factor with the built-in reward system explains why video games are so addicting.
Many video games are built on the classic psychological principle of a reward system. Gamers are periodically rewarded (with points, tokens, prices, etc.) but the reward schedule is unpredictable and tends to increase in its challenge level.
In other words, kids playing these games know they will get a reward eventually but do not know when or how often it’s coming. This only heightens their compulsion to continue playing. If you’ve ever read about psychologist B.F. Skinner’s classic reward experiment with mice, you can see the similarities.
The increasingly challenging obstacles combined with intermittent rewards that produce a “hit” of dopamine makes for games that most adults can’t resist, not to mention kids.
The Underlying Needs
Just as I mentioned how I try to observe when my kids are most drawn to video games, researchers have done the same investigations on a large scale. They’ve questioned whether video games provide a technological answer to some larger psychological needs. In other words, do video games meet a need that kids (or adults) are not receiving in real life?
Related reading: Distracted by Your Device? This Parenting Research Will Change Your Perspective {plus a Printable Mantra to help}
While many people have heard about the dopamine and reward factors of video games’ appeal, I don’t think as many of us have considered these larger psychological issues. Most of the research focuses on 3 main psychological needs: competence, autonomy and relatedness.
Competence
Just like adults, kids want to feel competent in being able to master a task well. If you’ve ever seen a toddler try stacking blocks, you’ve witnessed this innate desire we all have to master a new skill. Video games offer kids this same chance in a virtual setting. It is clear when they master each level of a game and it motivates them to continue.
Autonomy
Similarly, kids have a strong desire to feel autonomous in how they interact with new information and new skills. Again, even toddlers show this need on a regular basis. Every time your toddler says, “me do it” she is exhibiting this inherent desire we all have for autonomy. As kids mature, this need is even more evident as they strive to do more and more tasks on their own. Video games provide an avenue (if inadequate) for this need to be met as well. In the gaming world, kids are in charge of their decisions, which path to take and how to solve each challenge.
Relatedness
Lastly, we all know that the need for relatedness is strong in all of us. We all have an innate need to feel known and that we matter to others. Why do you think we adults are so drawn to Facebook and Instagram? We want to feel that we matter to others, that our story matters and that we have a connection to people.
Some video games mimic this sense of relatedness as well. More and more online games (mostly targeted at older kids) have a built-in social aspect. Kids can chat with friends online while playing the game, perhaps even taking on different personas in the game world.
These psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness are real and exist with or without video games being in the picture. The problem we see is that while video games attempt to meet these needs, the answer they provide is far inferior to having these needs met through real-world interactions. Trying to meet these needs through video games doesn’t provide near the richness, meaningfulness, and growth that the real world can provide.
The real question, therefore, is how and why are these needs not being met in real life? I think this is where careful observation on our part is key. Take notice of when your child is really drawn to video games. Is there some underlying psychological (or physical) need not being met at that moment?
Is he just bored?
Or did he really have a rough day at school and doesn’t have the words to express it? Did she not do well on a test at school and the video game is fulfilling a need for competence?
Considering the underlying psychological needs can often explain a lot about the question of why are video games so addicting.
Alternative Activities to Video Games
Now that we understand the appeal of video games, the physiological and psychological workings behind them, we can start to think of real-world solutions to dealing with them.
If you are like most parents I know, we are trying to find a balance between screen-time pursuits and real-life endeavors that can enrich our kids’ lives. Most of us understand that banning all video games is neither realistic nor helpful. Kids need fun, pleasurable outlets just like we do. The key is to find a balance between screen time and real-life activities.
How can we use what we know about video games to help our kids engage in more real-life activities that they might find as appealing? Find out in my guest post on Nurture and Thrive! I explore easy, active activities kids can do to meet these needs (without screens).
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