Do Violent Video Games Help Young Children?

An Iowa State University News Service article featuring three studies done by Iowa State University psychology professors Craig Anderson and Douglas Gentile makes note of this and in their research, the professors looked into whether violent video game exposure led to more violent behavior in children and adolescents or not (“ISU Psychologists” 449). In their three studies, they noted that kid’s games in general have a behavioral effect, that students who played violent video games were more violent or in favor of violence, and that violent video games may lead to poor performance in school as well as a higher rate of social rejection (“ISU Psychologists” 450). Regarding this information, a major increase in aggression in individuals would definitely run the risk of being detrimental in many cases, especially in regard to children. Since children are still in a developmental stage, violent video game could potentially have more of an overall impact. However, in some cases, it can be argued that perhaps video game-related aggression can be a good thing because it’s only a minor amount of aggression in most people, and this minor amount of aggression can be a good thing as it can provide a competitive boost. Even violent video games may have some sort of benefit to the

Another point supporting violent games is backed up by a study Journal of Adolescent Research. This study concludes, “Kids use games to experience fantasies of power and fame, to explore and master what they perceive as exciting and realistic environments, but distinct from real life, to work through angry feelings or relieve stress” (Casey). Another theory is that violent video games might cause guilt. Research shows that gruesome video games can induce a feeling of guilt that could have a positive effect on kindness, civic engagement, and prosocial behavior (Casey). By making kids feel bad, they may want to do something kind to feel better

The article by J. Ramirez, Clinton Village News, states that Violent Video Games Harm Our Kids ensuring the reason of violence in young people who have played countless hours of violent video games.

As many parents and educators like to emphasise, “Violent video games make kids more violent”. Video games affecting youth is a very debatable topic. Most people just come to that conclusion without acquiring any evidence or reason, but there are some reasons why this is a wrong assumption. I believe that violent video games are actually good for people. They allow them to have an escape from real life which is positive, the violence allows people (young people in particular) to think morally about what they are doing, and most violent games let children have fun with their friends.

Violent video games and many games in general also rob kids and adults of living life. Instead of going outside hiking, biking, or hanging out with friends at a coffee shop, young adults stay inside in their own virtual reality. If young adults stay inside playing games, they won’t be able to go out into the world and grow. Kids won’t learn how to properly communicate with people and learn social skills. Video games are ultimately a distraction for kids. Kids won’t focus on school or any responsibilities they might have all they can think about is their game.

There is overwhelming scientific research that suggests that playing violent video games are harmful to children and adolescents. The scientific evidence has uncovered several areas in the development of children and adolescent that are negatively impacted because of the exposure to and playing of violent video games. Some of the key areas that are negatively affected include brain activity, stress levels and behavior.

Violent video games cause dangerous and, aggressive thoughts to appear, and may make people act out in violent ways causing them to become harmful to their surroundings. In addition to making the player aggressive, violent video games are also linked to criminal activity. According to the article, "Do Games like 'Grand Theft Auto V' Cause Real-World Violence?", “The Aurora shooter, James Holmes, the Sandy Hook shooter, Adam Lanza, they’re all described as essentially being addicted to video games” (Kain 1). Becoming addicted to video games, like these people, can reflect in actions, making gamers dangerous. On top of causing aggression playing violent video games, “Increases the likelihood that a person will commit a violent crime, like murder or assault” (Carey 1). Playing violent video games is harmful to the player and, their surroundings because they can have sudden outbursts causing harm to others. Video games, especially addictive, and violent games, are linked to criminal activity and, make people addicted, and harmful.Some people think that if they distract children with enjoyable video games it will cause them to be too distracted to do anything else, like violent behavior.

It is agreeable that there are some correlation between teenagers playing video games and how it affects the youth mentally. Heavy consumption of violence video games does indeed stimulate a change reaction in the brain waves, but there is no hard evidence stating that those changes causes teenagers to act aggressively and violently. On the contrary, it is a popular beliefs that violence video games does indeed causes teenagers to displayed unpleasant behaviors and actions because that is what they learned and observed from the games. Therefore, parents should limit and regulate the amount of time their teenagers are playing violence video games so that they can protect their children from negative behaviors.

If you give a six-year-old kid a game and have him go on a murder spree in the game, it will have an effect on him. Violent video games have an effect on everyone. In an article from American Psychological Association determined violent video games do not have a direct link with criminal behavior. However, it can make people more violent.

There has been a long-standing debate that violent video games are harmful to the rising generations. The article that was selected to be critiqued is, “Are Violent Video Games Harmful to Children and Adolescents?”. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and critique the research methods and conclusions included by the author of the article.

Although many would believe that violent video games increase kids aggression and make them do violent acts, this is not true. There is no evidence supporting that kids will become more aggressive or do anything violent after playing violent video game. Even though many people believe that video games will cause aggression, it doesn't because there are no tests showing any behavior or aggression differences in kids and some tests even show decreased aggression after playing games.

Games are cool and nice and all but there are some video games that are considered ultra violent video games due to the real world type of violence it shows. These games are graphic and do have violence in it, but it isn’t enough to conquer or influence a teen. In other cases, it may conquer or influence a kid because kids have fresh minds, and learn everything in their way. It’s been experimented to see if games do influence but until present day, yet, there’s no proof or evidence. Violent video games may have an affect on children depending on their age. Younger children are more influenced by violent video games than teens.

Findings supporting these claims also show that with an increase in violence comes other negative health risks such as an increased likelihood of substance abuse, sexual activity, and obesity(Denniston, Swahn, Feldman, and Romero). Media use, and subsequent exposure to violent content is extremely prevalent among 8 to 18 year old children who spend, on average, 7.4 hours a day using media or computers and 80% of teens have some type of gaming console(Denniston, Swahn, Feldman, and Romero) These claims and the amount of media children are exposed to were concerning enough that the American Academy of Pediatrics started making advisory statements about violent video games and media being health risks for children in 2001. (Hall, Day, and Hall) Since then the link between violent games and violent behavior in youths has been researched across many “population groups”(Denniston, Swahn, Feldman, and Romero). The second theory revolves around any positive effects that might be gained from playing these games (Hall, Day, and Hall). Stating that these may offer “safe” outlets for negative emotions and thusly allowing players to be more emotionally balanced. (Hall, Day, and Hall)

“On the other hand, considering a specific violent video game may have the reverse effect and actually reduce perceptions of negative effects if it is difficult to generate arguments for negative effects of the specific game” (Ivory, Kalyanaraman 4). Although you may believe that violent video games increase the youth violence rates, in actuality some violent video games can have separate effects on youth depending on the child for instance, one child could become more violent whereas another child will not have the urge to be violent.

Video game addiction takes place all over the United States, there is an estimated 72 percent of American households who play video games (Scientist Douglas A. Gentile, Ph. D) and an estimated nine percent of the youth in the United States are addicted to video games (Douglas A. Gentile, Ph. D). Researchers are developing ways were video game addicts can become less involved with video games, they are doing this because of all the problems associated with video games (Addiction Expert Bakker). Video game addiction can relate to other addictions in this world people do things to change the way they feel, people play video games to change the way they feel. There is harm associated with being a game addict also. Children who play four to five hours per day have no time for socializing (Addiction Expert Bakker) and that can affect them in their future. In older addicts, continuous gaming can ruin relationships and, also affect their social behavior as well. After being a video game addict for so long you can start showing signs of addiction which include, playing for an increasing amount of time, gaming to escape real-life problems, anxiety, or depression, and, also feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming (Addiction Expert Bakker). Being an addict can be a serious situation because, computer games have negative impacts on children’s health and behavior. The computer games that include violence can lead to the mental disorders, poor health, sleep, loss of awareness