DSM Criteria Essay

The main argument of this article is that video games have a direct link to short term and long term aggression. The author presents this argument by providing studies from peer reviewed articles that all conclude that video games do cause an increase of aggression. The main point of this article is to answer the question, “Do violent video games lead to aggression.” The article is about the effects of violent video games leading to aggression. The author uses recent examples, like the Sandy Hook and Washington Navy Yard shooting. In both of these examples, the author cites that both shooters had a history with playing violent video games. The author uses a study which selected individuals to play violent video games for a certain period of time. The study would then compare the results to a group who played non-violent video games. The study concluded that violent video games cause a direct link in aggression due to humans reenacting the actions the characters within the video games perform.

Gentile, Douglas A. et al (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance. Retrieved October 4, 2010, from pdfcast.org: http://pdfcast.org/pdf/the-effects-of-violent-video-game-habits-on-adolescent-hostility-aggressive-behaviors-and-school-performance

There is debate over whether compulsive online gaming will eventually be acknowledged as a process addiction (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Currently, Internet gaming disorder is identified as a condition that needs additional study because it displays diagnostic criteria involving addictive criteria, however it does not endorse a diagnosis at this time (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Internet gaming does acknowledge the following statement,” Internet gaming has been reportedly defined as an addiction by the Chinese government, and a treatment system has been set up” (Capuzzi & Stauffer,2016). There continues to be research that studies Internet gaming addiction, but additional information would help to better understand.

Prolonged scenes of massive violence, graphic sexual content, and animated blood are examples of statements that the Entertainment Software Rating Board uses to depict the content in over fifty- five percent of the video games rated yearly. The debate of whether the aggressive nature of these video games influences youth violence in our country has been heatedly battled for decades. Since the mid 1980’s, it has been suggested that high profile cases of violence are due to an aggressor’s excessive video game use. However, much like a cold case the type of connection between video game use and youth violence remains without a definite answer. Most believe that video game use negatively influences child aggression acts in our country. Others firmly declare that video games provide a realm of opportunity for child development. Ultimately, it is impossible to say that video game use affects every child the same way. New studies suggest that video games do not affect every child that plays a game. Although violent video games are innocuous for the majority of adolescents between the ages of twelve and eighteen, the effects of these games are aggravated in those with pre- existing antisocial or depressive traits.

Internet gaming disorder deals with individuals who spend an excessive number of hours playing video games. Individuals who are addicted to gaming prefer playing video games than communicating with individuals in person. Individuals prefer to not eat just and rather stay awake playing.

“Approximately 90 percent of kids in the U.S. play video games, and more than 90 percent of those games involve mature content that includes violence.”-(Time Health). The link between violent media and aggression in video games has also created a spawn of research studies that has gone back and forth on the issue of whether

According to Hollingdale and Greitemeyer (2014), Video games that are violent are identified as very popular games that are played by the consumers. There is a concern that violent video games may pose a public health risk due to the levels of aggression due to the effects of the video games. In a cross sectional studies it has been found that there is a positive correlations with real life and video game aggression. Also in longitudinal studies shows that playing violent video games constantly it can predict that there may be later aggression even after controlling for initial levels of aggression. Experimental studies have showed that playing the video game is a factor of an increase level of

Ferguson, C. (2007). The Good, The Bad and the Ugly: A Meta-analytic Review of Positive and Negative Effects of Violent Video Games. Psychiatric Quarterly, 78(4), 309-316. doi:10.1007/s11126-007-9056-9

While anchormen and angry parents point fingers at video games for the source of all aggression in youth, studies show that the amount aggression video games cause is actually quite low. Christofer Ferguson, an associate professor at Texas A&M, studied video game violence and aggression in youth. He discovered that the effects the games had were “generally very low” and people were “overestimating the influence of violent games on aggression.” ( Jayson 3.) Instead, the main source of aggression was among peers, natural personality traits, mental disorders and, of all places, the home. Family life plays a huge part in a child’s behavior and while a violent game may add to aggression, it is not the main source and should not be to blame. For most, video games are relaxing. Eric Beaudoin, a twenty five year old graduate student in psychology says that he plays to relax and forget about his “dissertation, practicum, and clients and shoot some monsters.” (Jayson 2.) Gaming, no matter how violent, relaxes him enough so that he may deal with the people he faces everyday. However, it can be agreed upon by both sides of the argument that certain games are not healthy for certain age groups. A seven year old should

The survey consisted of questions pertaining to demographics, direct aggression, violent video game play, nonviolent video game play, overall video game play, academic marks, depressive systems, delay of gratification, peer deviation, sports involvement, friendship quality, and other factors. The researchers explained that scales were used to answer the questions. Additionally, questions dealing with learning disabilities and types of video games played were posed as yes or no questions. The study design used was appropriate because the researchers could test a variety of variables that could be responsible for aggression by using a survey. The way questions were posed was also appropriate because simple yes or no questions meant that adolescents could get through the survey without feeling overwhelmed or getting bored half way

ABSTRACT: Four articles are reviewed in reverse chronological order because they demonstrate an interesting trend in how online computer usage and gaming is being thought of as a contributor to violence and other types of anti-social behavior. In looking at this trend, it can be seen how reviewers of all types are looking more broadly at this emerging topic of interest.

However, by explaining the increase of video-gaming use and how media violence can increase aggression, the researchers provide valid rationale for the need of such literature review. A flaw is the possible existence of bias when searching for articles to review. A sense to prove industry leaders wrong may influence researchers to focus only on articles that have found significant effects between violent video games and aggression. Video games are known to be popular mostly among the younger population, from children to college students, so as researchers finding any effects relating to aggression and mental health is also beneficial for other motives such as raising awareness. Most importantly though, the methodology used in this meta-analysis is adequate and measures the appropriate variables associated with being or feeling aggressive, even socially and physiologically. Little information is provided about the sample in studies used for this review of literature such as how participants were selected or whether variables examined were all within the United States to consider any other factors that may lead to such results. The limitations of Anderson & Bushman’s (2001) literature review are not described so it is difficult for the reader to determine to what extent the information provided is

Although Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and homosexuality has been in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for many years, I was personally unaware of the controversy that surrounded it. I realized that I needed to educate myself in the issues and changes that have occurred in the DSM regarding GID and homosexuality over the years.

Internet gaming is one of the most common problem of which many people around the globe are facing in their daily lives. Addiction, one of the serious problems with internet gaming have caused severe changes to their behavior and attitude to life. Majority of teenagers and

“Recent contents analyses of video games show that many as 89% of games contain some violent contents” (Gentile, Lynch, Linder, Walsh 3). More than half of video games being sold around the world contain some form of violence. All of the violence involved in the video games being played by children is a pattern leading to aggression. Aggression can be caused by many things; however, violent video games are the main cause of aggression in young adults. “If a child began playing violent video games at a young age, then he might think that violence in real life is the same as the game violence and that it doesn’t have a real impact on others” (Gilad, Alto 1). Thinking that violence in the virtual world is the same as in the real world is the first step to showing aggression. Aggression in children caused by video games is the biggest effect parents and researchers worry about. Violent video games teach children that shooting and killing people are