Negative Effects Of Violent Video Games

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.

Over the past few centuries,video games have become a great leisure and hobby among kids of all ages and cultures. With the advancement of technology, video games have advanced highly in its realism and genres. This high type of advancement brought the video game industry to a multi-billion dollar industry. However, with realism, comes negative effects as well. Ever since the creation of violent or “mature” video games, there has been a constant debate on whether it will increase violence in the player. Although, not all video games are violent, and just increase skills in a player such as hand-eye coordination. Nevertheless, there is research going on for the link between violent video games and youth violence. The question is which event happens first in the sequence, do violent video games aggravate a person’s violent behavior, or does a person get rid of their anger through playing violent video games? Either way, violent video games are not beneficial to our society.

A video game is “an electronic game in which players control images on a television or computer screen” (Merriam-Webster). Video games have been entertaining and challenging gamers since the Game Boy to modern console games. Despite the simplicity of the definition of video games, a video game, especially ones containing violence can have a large effect on the gamer. Because of the realism and advancements in the video game industry, video games can influence the player, and can make the gamer more aggressive, even if the game is not a violent video game. Even though video games have grown in popularity over the past decade, some have not been too popular with parents, for the reason that they are too violent. Violent video games affect

A violent video game is defined as a video game where the range of options available to a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2010). For many years there has been increasing concern by the general public, policy makers and social scientists as to whether or not violent video games have a negative influence on the behaviour of youth. With the popularity of the gaming culture growing dramatically amongst children and adolescences; the marketing of violent video games to youth has become increasingly successful, allowing such games to become more easily obtainable regardless of age (Anderson et al 2007). Consequently, the increase has raised the question of exactly what impact exposure to these highly graphic games has on the younger generation; resulting in a range of research and studies to continue to take place on the subject. It has become the norm in most modern societies to associate violent video games as a considerable cause to the violent and aggressive outbursts of youth (Ferguson 2010). Some even go as far as connecting some crimes committed by young people as a result of their exposure to violent video games. While others claim there is no link between violent video games and negative youth behaviour; some suggesting that violent video games have a positive impact on the behaviour of youth.

The effect of violent video games has constantly been studied, especially in relation to video game play resulting in aggression and hostility. Many studies find that there is an apparent relation between violent video game play and levels of aggression as well as other negative feelings. Levels of aggression are dependent on many things unrelated to video games, such as divorced parents, environment in which one was raised, and morals. Combined, this evidence along with numerous other arguments suggest that violent video game play does not have a detrimental effect on levels of aggression.

Over the century, video games have become quite an attraction among people of all ages and culture. A statistic showed that the age bracket for video gaming ranges from eight to forty year olds (Baran, 2012). With the (moving ahead or up) of technology, video games also have (moving ahead or up) in its interest in what's lifelike and real and (types of writing or art). The technologies allowed video games to become very fancy (or smart) and realistic. This type of (moving ahead or up) had brought the Video gaming to a multi-billion dollar industry. However, with the level of interest in what's lifelike and real, there are also negative affects to society. Since the creation of violent video games or "mature" games, there have been constant arguments whether or not if these games will increase violence in the player. Although, not all video games are graphic and violent in nature, some video games may promote skills such as motor coordination, learning, and creativity. Anyway, there are researches on the effects between video games and violence.

The future of entertainment revolves around technology. Video games become more and more realistic. The main consumers of violent video games are teens. These games encourage killing and fighting enemies. More ways of playing violent video games are created each year, but most of us have this question in mind. Do violent video games influence young people to act aggressively? I play violent video games online and I am 16 years old. Overplaying video games can have many disastrous effects on teen limiting gameplay can have multiple positive effects.

Hamilton-Giachritsis (2005), Erwin and Morton (2008), Gentile and Stone (2005), and Jason et al. (2005) revealed a correlation between violent video games with immediate and later aggressive behavior. All of the research for the effects of violent videos games are conducted on older children and current research has not yet studied young children or preschoolers. It is important to note what research exclaims about the long-term effects violent video games can have on children later in life during adolescence (Anderson et al., 2008; Gentile & Stone, 2005; Kirkorian, Wartella, & Anderson, 2008). Anderson et al. (2008) and Gentile (2014) reported, 90% of American

Another negative impact of excessive violent gaming on adolescents stems from the fact that violent video games can inspire aggressive and violent tendencies among players (Milani et al, 2015). Many violent video games involve missions and objectives that are characterized with lots of killings and violence. Also, these games offer rewards for the

Enemies coming in from your left, a building collapses in front of you, but you plunge ahead. A bomb goes off behind you, taking thousands of innocent lives. You hear a bullet whiz past your head and out of the corner of your eye you see bright red blood seeping out of your ear. But you ignore it; you have to keep going if you want to win this battle.

When films were first created, they were not always treated as the art form that they're known as today. They were treated as inferior to classic art forms like paintings and music. However, with time films have began to be respected as art and with that, many people analyzre the various ways they effect people. In a mirror image, video games have only been around since the early 1980's having many people believe the same thing that they did when films were first created. What follows is an analysis of how video games affect the end-user i.e. Gamer physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and culturally.

The creation of video games that portray violent content have became a popular commodity for children looking for ways to spend countless hours of free time. Violent video games have been a part of American culture ever since the release of “Death Race” in 1976 (“Videogames and Violence”). This multiplayer arcade game involved driving a car over stick gremlins in order to score points. These types of games have evolved into something far greater with releases of Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, and Modern Warfare just to name a few. Violent video games are leading people to draw conclusions that children engaging in this type of violence for entertainment purposes may result in a negative impact on society. A prime example of how video games negatively influenced teenagers’ lives is the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado. Two teenagers opened fire on their school, in the middle of the day, and were inspired by the games Wolfenstein 3D and Doom (ProCon.org). So, is the ease of access and the thrill of violent activity creating a real life danger zone for these gamers and the innocent bystanders in their path? There is a direct correlation between video game violence and mass murders occurring in this country. Exposure to video gaming may desensitize children and encourage aggressive behaviors, lead to real life acts of violence, and should be monitored in order to keep our children and this nation safe.

Video Games are a form of media that continues to grow throughout society. As it grows and becomes fully adopted by adults and children alike, it seems as though a shroud of controversy follows suit. Many parents and those alike seem very afraid or reluctant to let their children play video games in today’s age. They fear for the long term affects such games might have on their children or even the short term effects. Many people see a correlation between aggressive behavior, violent moods, and bullying, when violent video games are in the equation. It seems as though it’s popular in today’s media to try and find a scapegoat or a specific target to point the finger and say, “it’s their fault!” video games have become that target. The following four literature reviews will explore research conducted on the effects of violent video games on human behavior, and try to reveal more light on the controversial topic.

As many as ninety-seven percent of US kids age 12-17 play video games, contributing to the billion-dollar video game industry. The unprecedented technological advancements to this entertaining culture have caused many gamers to acknowledge it as the ultimate fantasy. According to many studies, video games can increase aggressive behavior, cause emotional outbursts and decrease inhibitions in many people. Social scientists have been studying and debating the effects of video game violence since the 1980s and such issue is especially relevant today, because the games we see today are more realistic and bloodier than ever. Studies claiming a causal link between video game violence and real life violence are flawed with many studies failing to control the factors that contribute to children becoming violent. For example, family history, family care, mental health, social skills, etc.… Most studies do not follow children over long periods of time, as a result, video game experiments often have children playing a game for as little as ten

Studies performed by scientists, psychologists, and doctors worldwide to examine whether the violence in video games has a direct relationship to the outbreak of aggression in adolescents through young adulthood. Data was collected in Singapore over a three year period by interviewing the subjects of the study. Part of the study was asking questions to adolescents that played video games about how much time was spent on weekdays and weekends playing video games. More questions asked during the yearly interviews were about the gamer’s favorite game and was the game violent. The final questions each year where if they had feelings or thoughts about hitting someone and if it was