The Benefits Of Violent Video Games

Bowen, Lisa. Video game play may provide learning, health, social benefits, review finds. American Psychological Association. February 2014. Vol 45, No. 2. Print version: page 10.

Over the past few decades, video games have been a source of entertainment around the globe. Many people have argued that video games are harmful to children and young adults, while others have argued otherwise. Research has shown that video games has many benefits. These include cognitive, social, and emotional benefits.

Some of the first video games ever made like Pac Man, Mario Bros.,Sonic the Hedgehog and Street Fighter never helped someone learn their ABC’s and 123’s which caused video games to develop a bad name like it’s “rotting kids’ brains” or distract them from more important studies but over time things change and become better and based off this website it says that “A number of recent studies have indicated that video games, even violent ones, can help kids develop essential emotional and intellectual skills that support academic achievement. These findings led many innovative teachers around the globe to recognize the benefits of gaming and include game-based learning in their curricula. However, it’s not just in-school gaming that reaps benefits. New research shows that all gaming can be positive.”

According to Jeff Grabmeier, "‘Broad Consensus’ that Violent Media Increase Child Aggression," news.osu.edu, Oct. 6, 2014, 90% of pediatricians and 67% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior among children.

In the article “Why We Need Violent Video Games” by Ethan Gilsdorf, we are introduced to an all-time controversial topic regarding the influence of violent video games on impactful national shootings in America. In the article, Gilsdorf goes on to support how violent video games help decrease such destructive behaviors and are not primary responsible for such shootings but instead leave such violent tasks as part of our imagination. Although, Gilsdorf holds his own opinion throughout the article, he does not fail to mention the beliefs of certain political leaders about the violent video game industry and the national gun control. Leaders such as Vice President Biden and President Obama were known to try and pass a specific program, proposals

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

Video games have been argued about for decades. Some people have argued that video games are linked to violence. However, new research shows that video games can be used for therapeutic purposes, exercise, stress relievers, positive interactive learning, hand eye coordination, and different types of patient treatment for people all around the world.

For example, World of Warcraft players was correlational making it impossible to discern whether playing the game improved problems solving or that people that have better skills were drawn to it in the first place. In conclusion, video games are more helpful than harmful. These type of games helps us make tough choices, experience scary situations and improve skills such as cognitive skill. Everything about video games that you’ve heard isn’t always true. Frustratingly, video games have always been viewed in a bad way. “Indeed, the vast majority of psychological research on the effects of “gaming” has been focused on its negative impact: the potential harm related to aggression, addiction, and depression (e.g., Anderson et al., 2010; Ferguson, 2013; Lemola et al., 2011). It has always been the negative view on video games, it's like they never bothered checking to see what good it caused. My view on violent video game remains permanent. Violent video games are not bad for

Video games are frowned upon by parents as time-wasters, and worse, some education experts think that these games corrupt the brain. Violent video games are easily blamed by the media and some experts as the reason why some young people become violent or commit extreme anti-social behavior. But many scientists and psychologists find that video games can actually have many benefits – the main one is making kids smart. Video games may actually teach kids high-level thinking skills that they will need in the future.

Violent video games in particular are extremely popular in the United States. Many of these games are designed for adults but wind up in the hands of children. We have to ask ourselves what impact violent video games have on the adolescent brain. Two lawyers debate in the Case of Brown vs. Entertainment Merchants Association, US Supreme Court (2010). Prosecutor Steven F. Gruel argues that there is a substantial amount of evidence to make the conclusion that violent video games cause adolescents to act in a violent manner (Gantt and Silfe).  Defense Attorney Patricia A. Millett argued that the evidence claimed by Gruel is inconclusive, and his claims are false.

Henry Jenkins states that “the worst thing a kid can say about homework is that it is too hard. The worst thing a kid can say about a video game is that it is too easy,” meaning the harder the game, the better the experience. The Psychological group reports that more than 90% of children in the U.S. play video games. Among the kids between the ages of 12 and 17, the number rises to 97%. Eighty-five percent or more of video games on the market contain violence. CBS says that within reviewing more than 150 research papers, the task force found a consistent relationship between the games and the increase in aggressive behavior.

Politicians and gamers have been arguing about violent video games for years now. There are many solutions to this controversy; however, there are two good solutions that are good for this argument. When they see a minor playing violent video games, they can solve this problem by enacting one, to follow the ESRB rating, or two, to allow the parents to make the final decision to decide whether they should allow their child to play a certain game or not. Parents should do more research and try out the games for themselves if they think that a game is not good for their child. If a parent isn’t doing any research on the game that he or she are buying for their children, how will they know if it’s right for them? Good parenting is what allows a child to grow up knowing that he or she are being allowed to play games that are right for them, so they don’t get traumatized. Many children grow up to play games that are to mature for their taste. Some kids can’t handle these games. Whether the ESRB rating is enacted, and a minor plays a game with an M rating that should be seventeen and up.

Not only does gaming take up a significant amount of time, but “research show[s] that playing violent video games can increase a person's aggressive thoughts, feelings and behavior both in laboratory settings and in daily life” (American Psychological Association). Aggressive behavior hurts relationships by making it hard to get along. Yet, often the question arises whether it is aggressive people or children who are drawn to video games rather than video games causing them to become aggressive. Studies have been done to answer this question. One study found that “compared with a group who had played a nonviolent video game, those who had been engaged in “Mortal Kombat” were more aggressive across the board. They gave their fellow students significantly bigger portions of the hot sauce” (Carey). Examples of increased aggressive behaviors climax when events such as real-life attacks and shootings happen and can be attributed to video games. Now I wouldn’t say video games are the only factor in events like these but it’s hard to imagine they play no significant role either. Take the following drastic event as an example:

Should people be able to play violent video games? Yes, they should be able to because in the article, Violent Video Game Relieve Stress, Depression by Tamiu, it shows an example of violent video games that supported people's’ lives by stating, “‘ In this study, 103 young adults were given frustration task and they randomized to play no game, a non-violent video game with a good versus evil theme, or a violent video game in which they played as the ‘bad guy.’ The results suggested that violent games reduce depression and the hostile feeling in the players through mood management,’ Dr. Fergulon explains. People also have played violent video games to relieve stress and there are other reasons. These violent video games can also improve military uses, relieve stress and depression, and teach history about the world or battles.

Video games that allow players to be “violent” have been around for a longer time period than these newer occurring incidences of mass gun shootings. Mass shootings have become more rampant in approximately the last 20 years, but Pac-Man (a video game that involves the main character killing and eating ghosts, otherwise the main character dies) has been around for almost 40 years. Most people need a scapegoat to help them rationalize why gun violence occurs. I believe all of the bad charges against violent video games are just an instance of a moral panic. The “Encyclopedia of Social Deviance” says, “These panics occur when the reaction of the media… and the general public are out of proportion to the real and present danger a given threat poses to society.” (448). Scott Shackford, author of “Imaginary Guns Don’t Kill People”, explains that when people see instances of gun violence, they tend to blame violent video games. Video games cannot force people to shoot people. Violent video games do not contribute to gun violence; they are shunned so that people can have something to blame.