Do Video Games Promote Positive Youth Development?

Abstract

We argue that video game play may meet Larson’s (2000) criteria for fostering initiative in youth, and thus, may be related to positive outcomes such as flow, cooperation, problem solving, and reduced in-group bias. However, developmental and social psychologists examining adolescent video game use have focused heavily on how video games are related to negative outcomes, while neglecting potential positive outcomes. In this article we review the adolescent video game literature, examining both negative and positive outcomes, and suggest important directions for future research.