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Pokemon Go Argument Essay: Does Pokemon Go promote good health?

Prompt: You will be reading three articles about the popular app, Pokemon Go. Make a claim that answers the question, Does Pokemon go promote good health? In your response, use text evidence to support your claim. Mastery Rubric: Introduction (Paragraph 1): ___ 10 Points

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Wrap up by asking a question or making a thoughtful comment. Spelling, Punctuation, Capitalization, Grammar _____ 5 Points Use of transition words _____5 Points Total _____60 REMINDER: DO NOT USE THE WORD, “I.”

Health benefits of Pokémon Go Date: July 15, 2016 Source: Texas A&M University Summary: Real-life positive health consequences of playing Pokémon Go--a new GPS-based augmented reality game--are being realized across the nation. According to one expert, this quest to "catch 'em all" is great news for public health.

Do you want to be the very best, like no one ever was? Real-life positive health consequences of playing Pokémon Go -- a new GPS-based augmented reality game -- are happening across the nation. According to Matt Hoffman, DNP, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Nursing, this quest to "catch 'em all" is great news for public health.

I will travel across the land, searching far and wide

Players, known as "trainers," download the Pokémon Go game to their smartphones. To progress in

the game, trainers must walk around to find and catch Pokémon and access specific locations called

Pokéstops -- where Pokéballs and other useful items are collected. Poké eggs are among the things

that can be collected at these locations. Getting to Pokéstops, catching different Pokémon and

hatching the Poké eggs requires walking; lots of walking.

"Playing the game is a lot of fun, and it has been a catalyst to get people moving," said Hoffman who

has been affectionately dubbed the "Pokémon Professor" by co-workers.

"What began as just playing the game has now become a hobby for me that provides certain health

benefits," Hoffman continued. "I've spent an hour or two at a time venturing around the community to

find Pokéstops. And, to hatch one egg, a trainer must walk anywhere from one to six miles. There's

no doubt about it, I am exercising more as a result of playing the game, and I am enjoying it."

Hoffman isn't alone. Estimates of the number of Pokémon Go daily users range from nine to 21

million people, and this user base is growing daily. In addition to inspiring exercise, playing Pokémon

Go may have additional benefits.

Pokémon, (gotta catch'em all!) it's you and me

"There is a sense of community when trainers converge in search of Pokémon, or when they gather

together at Pokéstops," Hoffman said. "The game is bringing people together, providing opportunity

for social interaction and increasing our sense of belonging, which can have a positive impact on our

emotional and mental health."

Additionally, families may find that Pokémon Go lessens the technology tension that divides the

generations. "This is a relatively non-violent game, and I have seen families walking around playing

the game together," Hoffman said. "Or, it encourages parents to go outside with their children while

they play. Pokémon Go has the ability to transport families away from an evening on the couch to

walking around the neighborhood."

You teach me and I'll teach you

Hoffman said playing the game has even broadened his sense of curiosity and knowledge about his

local community. "I discovered new experiences within my community because the game has led me

to areas that I haven't explored, or, previously only driven through," he said. "Additionally, I've met

many interesting people while playing the game, and I enjoy seeing the variation in the character

designs and abilities."

Come with me, the time is right, there's no better team

Multiply the number of Pokémon Go players by the number of kilometers they must travel to

progress in the game, and the chances of negative consequences increase. "We often hear of

people falling off curbs or sustaining injuries as a result of staring at their phones and not paying

attention to their surroundings," Hoffman said. "It's good to always keep safety and best practices in

mind."

Hoffman emphasized players watch where they walk and be aware of surroundings when playing.

There is safety in numbers, and he encourages playing with friends as a team.

"Remember, you should never play Pokémon Go while driving. It's also important to avoid playing in

dark, isolated areas -- there have been reports of trainers being robbed and attacked," he said.

"Also, summer days are very hot, so use sunscreen and drink plenty of water before heading outside

during peak heat times. If you are one of the millions who are playing Pokémon Go, we hope you

catch 'em all!"

Story Source:

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Texas A&M University. Note: Content may

be edited for style and length.

The Health Risks of Pokémon Go Though the app has been lauded for its health benefits, several countries have cautioned their citizens about the adverse effects of playing the game.

YASMEEN SERHAN

JUL 25 , 2016

NEW S

Since the release of Pokémon Go earlier this month, users in the United States, the United

Kingdom, and New Zealand have gotten into car accidents, beenrobbed, and stumbled upon dead

bodies in rivers, their attention compromised by the need to catch ’em all. The app has since

been released in 38 countries, and some government officials appeared to have learned a thing or

two from the experiences of the app’s first users.

France’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health Marisol Touraine issued a warning Monday in a

tweet addressed to “all trainers,” encouraging Pokémon Go users to exercise caution while using

the app. The app debuted in the country Sunday.

“To all the trainers: Go out, walking is good for your health! But be very attentive to avoid

accidents. Happy hunting! #PokemonGo.”

To use Pokémon Go, players must physically wander around real-world

locations in search of Pokémon characters. The app taps into a cellphone’s

GPS and camera to make Pokémon “appear” against the backdrop of users’

surroundings as they move around. The physical component of the game has

prompted many users to increase their overall physical activity, with early

reports praising the game for its ability to encourage daily exercise.

But the app has taken users to some strange places. Some locations have

proven to be more dangerous than others; two menfell off an ocean bluff while

attempting to catch a Pokémon in San Diego.

Several government officials and organizations in countries where the app is

available have issued warnings about potential health hazards. Turkey’s health

ministry advised users against playing the game during peak daylight hours in

a Facebook post earlier this month, cautioning against too much sun exposure.

The Israel Medical Association echoed similar warnings Sunday, advising

users against playing the game between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and encouraging

the use of sun protection. Japan’s National Center of Incident Readiness and

Strategy for Cybersecurity released a nine-point flier with safety tips for

players when the app went live last week.

In Bosnia, a nongovernmental agency warned citizens in a Facebook post of

the dangers of playing the game in dangerous areas, citing the risk of players

wandering onto old landmines that have existed since the 1992 Bosnian War.

Source: The Atlantic Magazine

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D.Urban Survival

The Psychological Pros and Cons of Pokémon Go Can the game craze actually help people with depression and social

anxiety?

Posted Jul 12, 2016

Source: Matthew Corley/Shutterstock

I have been playing Pokémon Go this week to try to figure out what the buzz is all

about, and I can see why so many people are hooked. Pokémon Go is an augmented

reality game app in which you walk around capturing virtual Pokémon in the real world.

In terms of app downloads for Android users, the game has already surpassed Tinder

and is expected to surpass Twitter soon.

Amid all the talk about the game craze's numbers, there have also been suggestions

that the app can actually help people with depression and social anxiety. While it’s too

early to know whether Pokémon Go will help long-term with the treatment of anxiety or

depression, the game has successfully encouraged people to go outside, walk, and

interact more socially. The app has the potential to benefit people who would not

otherwise be motivated or able to leave the house due to fear or anxiety.

The use of virtual and augmented reality technology in medicine to improve

psychological and physical health is not new and has an emerging role in the

treatment of many disorders. Virtual reality games are currently being used and

researched to treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as to alleviate pain, and

even to improve rehabilitation after strokes.

Augmented reality is slightly different than virtual reality because it doesn’t

transport you into a new space but keeps you in the real world. Virtual objects,

such as the Pokémon in this game, are blended with real objects using GPS.

Augmented reality technology has been studied, though less so, as a form of

exposure therapy to treat phobias, such as cockroach phobia, as well as post-traumatic

stress disorder. It has also been studied, in at least one case, to treat an amputee’s

phantom pain, a phenomenon that occurs when a limb is severely damaged or missing.

Pokémon Go harnesses the power of augmented reality in a different way by giving

people incentives for people to go out and explore.

Source: Marlynn Wei

Here, then, are some of the psychological pros and cons of Pokémon Go:

Pros

1. It’s fun, so it provides positive reward in and of itself. Pokémon Go is fun and

simple to play. This provides incentive for people to get off the couch and walk

around their neighborhood. A basic concept incognitive behavioral

therapy is behavioral activation, which means that if you can go out and

experience the positive rewards of healthy behavior, like going to the gym, then

you are more likely to feel better and create a positive feedback loop to pursue

more healthy behavior.

2. The game is structured with clearly defined goals and step-wise levels. Clear

structure, immediate feedback, and attainable goals are all very helpful, especially

for those with depression, to keep people interested and engaged. A lack of

structure can keep people with low energy, fatigue, lack of motivation, and

depressed mood in a rut. By creating incremental goals, the game encourages

feelings of effectiveness and moving forward.

3. It's an easy conversation-starter and can help ease social anxiety. Within an

hour of playing Pokémon Go outside, multiple people walking by me started talking

about the game. Social anxiety and depression are commonly marked by being

socially withdrawn and feeling uncomfortable around other people. With social

anxiety, it’s common to feel like you don’t fit in or that other people will judge you.

This game has the flexibility to let you play alone but also to be around other

people, so it gives you a way out if you want it but also the option to interact with

others over something you share in common, so it's low risk interaction. After 48

hours of playing, I can attest that other gamers will feel comfortable talking to you

when they see you playing the game. As one teen on the subway noted, when I

asked if she felt like people are talking more to each other, "Definitely! I would

have never talked to you if you weren't playing the game."

4. It is centered around a theme and cartoon that is non-threatening

and kawaii.This allows for users to focus on something that is innocent and cute

outside of themselves, in contrast to dating apps like Tinder or Happen, in which

people may feel like they are being judged or feel pressure to present their image

in a certain way. Pokémon Go also has advantages over social networking apps

like Facebook or Twitter, where users may feel pressure to produce interesting

content or may access information that can induce feelings like jealousy or envy.

This game in its simplicity and innocent subject matter minimizes that type of

social anxiety, pressure, or potential negative interactions.

5. It encourages walking by giving you an incentive to discover and collect new

Pokémon and balls to catch them—and it requires you to walk certain

distances to hatch "eggs" that you collect. Physical exercise is known to

effectively aid depression and overall health, and the app is a useful incentive to

go out and walk more.

6. You’ll notice things around you that you didn’t before. In the game, you collect

items at Pokéstops, which are around the neighborhood in places like sculptures,

architectural details, murals, or buildings. While the game does not expand

awareness and attention in the same way that meditation or mindfulness does,

you will notice more details in your environment that you typically overlook. This

can help you develop an appreciation of your surroundings.

7. The blending of reality and fantasy can spark

your creativity and childhoodimagination. Finding cartoons popping up in the

middle of buildings and streets can make you feel like a kid, and the app allows

you to create some fun and creative photos.

Cons

The game is already getting blamed for some injuries, criticized over

data privacy issues, and implicated in crimes, as a few people have used the game to

lure players to locations to rob them, so it’s important to exercise appropriate caution.

Here are some of the potential psychological cons or limitations of the game:

1. It gets you outside, but you’re still on your phone. While the app does

encourage outdoor play, you’re still plugged into technology. (As one teen pointed

out to me: Watch out, the game will drain your batteries!) This may not change

your life if you're already typically on your phone while walking outside. For

children and teens, the American Pediatric Association recommends screen time

of just one or two hours a day. (The app does allow you to meet and interact with

other players, rather than just look at the phone, which could offset this con.)

2. Playing the app makes you more distracted. The app itself features a

disclaimer cautioning you to be alert and aware of where you’re going while you’re

playing, but there have already been reports of injuries incurred when playing the

game. It does put the mind into a blended reality state, in which you’re not quite in

the real “present moment” since your eyes are focused on the phone looking at

something that isn’t actually there in reality.

3. The game puts you in a heightened "stressed" state. Since you’re technically

trying to find and catch something, your body is most likely in a fight-or-flight state,

meaning your adrenaline is pumping and your heart rate is a bit higher than usual.

For a short period, this can be fun, but long-term, you can experience fatigue and

feel more worn out, so it’s important to take breaks and make sure you’re not

experiencing side effects of excessive gaming.

4. The game could cause you to spend more time on your phone and make you

less social. Playing the game could actually make you less social and increase

the time you're on your phone and not interacting with people "IRL." But this will

vary based on an individual's experience.

5. The game could exacerbate symptoms for people who have difficulty

separating reality and fantasy. The game blends elements of reality with

virtual/fantasy elements, so it can be confusing for those who already have

difficulty distinguishing out what is real or not, specifically people who may have

psychotic symptoms, so it's important to be cautious in that situation and discuss it

with your doctor first.

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How the pros and cons of the game weigh out over time has yet to be studied

scientifically, but so far, fans of the game are out having fun and exploring. If you're

finding the game to be helpful for your anxiety, depression, or stress, please share your

experiences here.

Marlynn Wei, MD, PLLC © 2016

Source: Psychology Today

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