Negative Effects Of Violent Video Games

Studies have shown that repeated exposure to violent video games over time does affect the structure and functioning of the adolescent brain. The brain is a malleable and ‘plastic’ structure that can change and evolve with every stimulus we give it. Whether this stimulus comes from studying Spanish, training in basketball or playing a video game, every single input can affect the structure and functions of the brain if the conditions are right. While some video games enhance multitasking, visual perception and the brain’s ability to process information, research has suggested that violent video games can influence aggressive behaviour, aggressive cognition and physiological arousal. A study conducted by Doctor Vincent Matthews and his colleagues at Indiana University School of Medicine have found that there were sustained changes in the regions of the brain associated with cognitive function and emotional control after a group of young adult men were playing violent video games for a week. Similarly, in laboratory studies, some researchers have found an increase of about four percent in gamers’ levels of aggression after playing violent video games. However, other research groups have concluded that factors such as family background, mental health and

Playing violent video games causes aggression desensitization (Gentile, Swing, Anderson, Rinker, & Thomas, 2016). Gentile et al. (2016) provided neurological evidence that revealed that violent video game play was significantly associated with aggression desensitization, physiological arousal, aggressive cognition, and aggressive behavior. They conducted a study that examined neural recruitment during violent videogame play among 13 late adolescent gamers, half of the gamers played violent games and half of the gamers played nonviolent games. The participants played a video game in violent and nonviolent modes while undergoing functional MRI scanning. The functional MRI scans of the nonviolent gamers showed an increase in emotional response regions when playing the violent game. In contrast, the functional MRI scans of the violent gamers demonstrated an active suppression of these same regions. In addition, nonviolent gamers showed increases in spatial attention, navigation, and cognitive

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.

The paper discusses how violent video games affect a person's behavior and if they manifest violence and show aggression in the real world after playing such video games. I learned that not all people who are exposed to video game or media violence turn violent. I think it depends on the person if he wants to get influenced from the game, to mimic what the game shows. This is just like the next source, discussing about what kind of behavioural problems violent gaming brings about.

Steven F. Gruel, a former federal prosecutor, argues that the increasing advancements in technology are resulting in more realistic and graphic video games. With the increase in violent video games, researchers noted that the average time children and adolescents played video games also increased. Gruel emphasizes his concern that violent video games causes an increase in physically aggressive behavior, physiological arousal, desensitization, low empathy, and aggressive thinking. Compared to passively watching a violent movie, when engaged in playing a violent video game, the player is actively deciding to shoot and kill. Violent video games reduce the brain areas that are involved in higher thinking, thus resulting in low school performance. Gruel also noted his concern of violent video games justifying the violence. Players are rewarded for their violent actions. In the short run, violent video games stimulate aggression and in the long run it can increase the risk for aggressive behaviors later in life.

Violent video games are significantly associated with: increased aggressive behavior, thoughts and also cause increased physiological arousal and decreased pro-social behavior (Anderson). At the Indiana University School of Medicine, researchers say that brain scans of kids who played a violent video game showed an increase in emotional arousal and a corresponding decrease of activity in brain areas involved in self-control, inhibition, and attention. However what was not clear was what the MRI images indicate a lingering–or worse- permanent effect on the child’s brain, and what the effects longer playing times might have (Kalning). All of which are negative effects. Evidence form brain scans in another test seem to support a connection between playing video games and activation of regions of the brain associated

Hundreds of studies have been done to determine whether violent video games will really make juveniles more violent. Randomized experiments were used in several studies to examine the short-term effect of violent video games (Anderson and Berkowitz et al. 90). In these studies, children were randomly assigned to play violent or nonviolent video games and then were observed when given an opportunity to be aggressive. The result was that children who played violent video games usually behaved aggressively.

Risky behavior by children and young adults can include violence against others or lack of remorse for consequences. The type of faulty thinking creates stressors in children which can lead to the onset of many symptoms. Children who partake in video game violence are more likely to have increased feelings of hostility, decreased emotional response to the portrayal of violence, and injury that lead to violent behavior through imitation. A new study employing state-of-the-art brain-scanning technology says that violent video games can cause an individual to become violent. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine say that brain scans of kids who played a violent video game showed an increase in emotional arousal and a corresponding decrease of activity in brain areas involved in self-control, inhibition, and attention. In short, when playing a violent game, an individual’s brain processes the game playing as “fictional”, but later can project some of the unknown effects as violence or aggression.

Since violent video games, like Mortal Kombat, were created, adolescents who play these games become more aggressive than before. To me, playing violent video games is unsafe for these people since they have the negative influence on these people. I believe that researching on that topic would help us get the sense of what problems to avoid. I wish to know what are the possible effects of violent video games on adolescents’ aggression. The independent variable is violent video games, and the dependent variable is adolescents’ aggression. My hypothesis is that adolescents who play violent video games become very aggressive than those who don’t. For this essay, I would like to present the findings from each article that will answer

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

Ever since the spawn of video games people have been glued to the fun and challenges they present. Over the years, these fun and challenging games evolved into violence and shooting. As a result of this evolution, controversy has arisen about violent video games leading to behavior issues. Do they lead to aggressiveness and hostility? Does excessive video game violence change how the brain reacts to violence? These are just a few common questions doctors and researchers have been trying to answer. Through all of this debate, a common consensus has been established. The constant and repetitive violence in video games can lead to a wide variety of behavioral issues despite some debate.

Many studies have often correlated video games with aggression, and in a recent research study, German psychologists created a new experiment on the effects of video game violence on the brain. A recent report on a video game website interpreted the results of the experiment and attempted to convince readers that video games have no negative effects. However, due to lack of bias and inadequate additional research the report was ultimately ineffective and not creditable.

First, violent video games can cause many behavior changes. According to Issue 2836 of “US Today Magazine”, “... 67% of parents and 90% of pediatricians agree that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior among children.” Also the article states that from the opinions of researchers, 8 out of 10 agree that violent video games make children angrier or more aggressive. These results mean that more than half the people who debate this topic say it is true teens or children who play violent video games

The controversy of the effects of violent video games is a never ending battle between gamers and science. Hundreds of studies have been conducted on the issue all saying the same thing, violent video games have a correlation with increased risk of hostility in the people who play them. Although correlation does not equate to causation meaning that video games can not be condemned as the only source of aggressive behaviors. This isn’t the only effects that these games have on people. Violent video games are shown to have positive effects ranging from boosting learning in children, improvements in visuospatial cognition, and a decrease in violent crime.

Anderson to support his claim by showing that most blame of violent outbreaks in society are blamed on one single thing, like video games, but if you look at the studies there are some many different factors that affect the behavior of today’s society. The author then goes on to say “Most researchers in the field agree with Dr. Anderson evidence and findings,” which establishes an accepted respect of authority for his source. This gives the reader a feeling of comfort in knowing that these sources are scholarly and can be trusted. Another source used by the author explains a recent experiment by psychologists at Iowa State University have found that after a short usage of the fighting game “Mortal Kombat” that they indeed acted slightly more aggressive shortly following the experiment but ultimately couldn’t find any results in long term effects. Mr. Carey states “Many similar studies have found the same thing: A dose of violent gaming makes people act a little more rudely than they would otherwise, at least for a few minutes after playing, but little is found about what actually follows,” this gives more support to his claim by displaying that his claim is the generally accepted and agreed upon opinion of most scholars in this field of study. Throughout the article the author gives each of his source’s full detailed background to explain why they are creditable and trustworthy