Video games are a huge industry. It has become a popular pastime for many people all over the world, with players spending thousands, if not millions of hours playing every year. Gamers often feel a kinship with their fellow gamers and they enjoy sharing experiences in the virtual gaming world. They may even create their own gamer culture with merch, inside jokes, characters, dances, internet communities, cosplay events and so much more. However, in some corners of culture, gamers are still stereotyped as socially maladjusted loners and when the positive social benefits of gaming are acknowledged, they are brushed off as an inferior substitute for real human connection.

Many researchers have studied the impact of video games on gamers and have found that they have some important psychological benefits. They can improve a player’s problem-solving skills, help develop social abilities, encourage multitasking and boost memory. It is no wonder then that a growing body of research suggests that gamers experience lower levels of depression and loneliness, and feel more connected to their community than non-gamers do.

A gamer’s gaming habits can have negative physical consequences too, such as neglecting their health, which is a major cause of addiction in other industries. If a person spends too much time in front of the screen, they can forget to drink enough water and eat healthy food. They can also suffer from sleep deprivation, which negatively impacts their performance in school or at work. In addition, they can have difficulty concentrating and tend to lose their focus easily.

Some researchers have categorized gamers into various categories based on their gaming preferences and habits, such as Achievers, who prefer to gain points and succeed within the game parameters; Explorers, who like to discover all parts of a game including hidden areas and glitches; Killers, who thrive in competition with other gamers; Socializers, who prefer to play games for the social aspect; and Completionists, a combination of Achiever and Socializer. It is worth noting that these classifications are skewed towards traditional gaming culture and do not represent the full spectrum of gamers.

A lot of gamers do not play video games for their educational or professional success but rather to escape from a difficult or unpleasant reality in their life. When this is the case, it becomes challenging for gamers to pay attention to their academic or professional performance and gaming can quickly turn into a dangerous addiction. In order to keep their performance high at school and in their career, gamers need to cut down on the amount of time they spend in front of the screen. In order to achieve this, it is advisable for gamers to find an alternative hobby in the form of sports, exercise or reading so that they can get back to their lives in a better state of mind. This article was written by Rachel Kowert, a freelance writer who is an avid gamer and has a passion for the gaming industry.