11 Traits of Adults Who Loved Video Games as Kids(This title focuses on the 11 traits and emphasizes that adults loved video games as kids.)

While video games often face a negative perception, there is a hidden positive side that often goes unnoticed. Contrary to common beliefs, adults who played a lot of video games as kids possess several remarkable traits. Let's explore these traits and understand how video games can have a beneficial impact on our lives.

Discover the Enviable Traits of Video Game-Playing Adults

They have strong problem-solving skills

Research by the American Psychological Association shows that video games help kids develop advanced problem-solving skills. Strategic video games, in particular, give a significant boost. For example, kids playing role-playing games witnessed improvements in problem-solving abilities during academic settings and achieved higher grades. Parents might not understand their kids' obsession with pretending to be an intelligent elf on a treasure hunt, but it's actually enhancing their problem-solving skills, which remains an enviable trait in adulthood.

They have enhanced cognitive abilities

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study shed light on both the positive and negative aspects of playing video games. It involved nearly 2,000 video-game playing kids. While those playing for three or more hours daily had higher measures of depressive symptoms and ADHD compared to non-players, they also scored higher on cognitive skills testing involving impulse control and working memory. As Dr. Nora Volkow explained, this study suggests there may be cognitive benefits worthy of further investigation.

They’re more resilient

The American Psychological Association defines resilience as successfully adapting to difficult life experiences. Video games play a role in boosting kids' resilience as they learn to accept that not every game can be won. It acts as a tool to teach them how to face failure and keep going. Coping with losing in the world of video games helps kids build emotional resilience that lasts into adulthood.

They have better memory retention

Video games not only aid in learning but also enhance memory retention. As noted in the APA study, engaging in this activity is often misjudged as "intellectually lazy." However, in reality, video games strengthen various cognitive skills like reasoning, perception, and memory. When kids play, they have to hold a lot of information in their minds simultaneously, like remembering the route out of an abandoned city during an alien invasion. Their minds work at high speeds to remember everything needed for victory.

They have strong social skills

Contrary to the common image of kids playing video games alone, they actually develop excellent social skills. As the APA study authors noted, multiplayer games become virtual social communities. Kids make connections and work together towards a common goal, gaining a deep understanding and appreciation for cooperation and communication. Video games aren't always solitary; they involve high levels of collaboration, teaching kids how to rely on others, a valuable trait as adults.

They manage better stress better

Adults who played a lot of video games as kids have the ability to manage stress in a mindful way. Having fun for fun's sake has major emotional benefits, lowering stress levels. Elon Musk explained on Joe Rogan's podcast that video games can inspire being present in the moment. If playing a difficult video game requires full concentration, it has a calming effect, like a restoring effect mentally.

They can regulate their emotions

Adults with a history of playing video games as kids have emotional regulation skills. They learn to deal with losing at a young age and can handle disappointments as adults. This ability to self-regulate helps them handle both negative and positive emotions. As researcher Isabela Granic noted, if video games make people happier, it's a fundamental emotional benefit.

They have higher spatial intelligence

The APA study results show that action video games enhance the ability to think in three dimensions. Isabela Granic, the study's lead author, explained its critical implications for education and career development. Surgeons with past video game experience make fewer errors in surgery, as shown in a 2007 study. Musk emphasized the need for high manual dexterity and quick reactions. Playing video games as kids gives adults the advantage of higher spatial intelligence, leading to a successful career path in STEM.

They’re more creative

Playing video games increases kids' creativity by exposing them to different environments and ideas. It enhances their imagination and allows them to be more adaptive. The APA study found that video games have a unique boost in creativity compared to other electronic platforms.

They have better concentration skills

Adults who played video games as kids have better concentration skills. Their ability to focus intensively on games as kids, like completing a spy mission, helps them focus as adults. They can tune into details at an extreme rate and think about multiple strategies simultaneously.

They learn new things easily

Kids who played a lot of video games can easily learn new things as adults. Through years of gaming, they learned to adapt quickly to unknown situations and pick up new skills. They took on top-secret assignments and pushed themselves out of their comfort zone, transferring this skill to their academic and professional lives.Alexandra Blogier, MFA, is a staff writer who covers psychology, social issues, relationships, self-help topics, and human interest stories.