The Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children

With the improvement of visual technology over the past ten years has made playing video games almost life like. Children and adults alike spend a vast majority of time playing these games. The more they play, the more addicted they become. According to a study done by addictionrecov.org: “nearly one in 10 youth

After playing video games, children often decide to re-enact and even imitate some of the actions that took place in the game. If the game is not violent and promotes good behaviour parents then this is not a problem, but if the game is violent this can sometimes end in catastrophic events that all parents are secretly are praying to prevent.

Excessive video game playing has been a problem with today’s youth they have had more influences over the youth than ever before. That brings to my attention a question, how do video games affect the youth of our society? Excessive video game playing, especially violent video games, can lead to youth violence, a decrease in academic success and many other negative things. I realize that some parents believe that they can be good for children, I agree but I also disagree in some cases. Some parents allow their children to play video games to keep a social life and to learn how to use strategies. This is true in some cases but not in all cases. For instance, other children that play video games alone and are in their rooms constantly can

“Head shot! That guy was destroyed!” These are just some examples of the dialogue spoken between children who play video games like “Call of Duty” or “Halo.” Children brag about the number of people they have killed in these games. Playing violent video games may cause children to act violently. First, violent video games train players to act aggressively by repeatedly killing an enemy over and over. Second, children mimic what they see, whether it’s in real life or on a video screen. Third, being exposed to the violent behaviors of the game, dead bodies, and blood, make the players insensitive to violence. Because the violence from video games affects the behavior of children, violent video games should not be available for purchase by anyone under age eighteen.

Excessive exposure to violent video games can desensitize a person emotion and empathy. Desensitize is to diminish emotional responsiveness to a negative or positive activity after repeated exposure. “...continued exposure to violence will lessen a person’s normal negative emotional reaction to further violence exposure (Barlett 390).” When a child or adolescent play a violent game, they become desensitize to any violence around them. This is because their brain will think this is normal since it is all they see. “Decreases a person’s levels of empathy in relation to realizing the serious consequences of violence toward victims in real life (Zheng and Zhang 1748).” Playing violent video games have been linked to

Even federal government research has failed to find a statistically significant correlation between increased aggression and violence in video games.

Video games have been around for years and have become increasingly more popular with today’s youth however, most people may think that video games are just games that children all over the world engage in but, what about violent video games? The amount of video games, especially violent games that children and teens are investing most of their free time has grown exponentially. This fact has led to many psychologists wondering whether or not violent video games are on the same wavelength as aggressive behavior. Furthermore, in 2010 a California law was calling for restrictions on video game sales to minors and psychologists Steven Gruel and Patricia Millett debated if violent video games had a correlation with aggression before the Supreme Court. In order to back up their evidence, their argument they used psychological and neuroscience research, both of which are prevalent in their field of psychology.

“We cannot and will not ban the creation of violent video games. But, we can prevent the distribution of these disturbing games to children, where their effects can be negative.” (Kohl, Herb). Nowadays most trending entertainments are revolving around electronics technologies such as virtual reality, video games, and media. As the technology becomes more sophisticated and advanced, most violent video games are becoming more realistic and make the player feel part of the battle and killing the enemies. It is undeniable video games have their own positive side for adults who play responsibly, but they have several disadvantages, which can hurt children's behavior, mental development, and school performance.

There have been multiple studies and research cases, in recent years, that point the finger at violent video games as the cause of increased aggressive behavior in children. These studies claim to provide irrefutable evidence of the influence violent video games have on impressionable young people, such as increasing aggressive behavior and violent tendencies. But in all the research and studies done on the effects violent video games, there have been two recurring factors, a predetermined outcome of negativity, and a lack of long term, solid evidence to support their results. Violent video games do no increase aggressive behavior in children, as these studies would like to lead you to believe. These studies are asking the wrong question in the pursuit of a desired outcome. Aggressive children are simply more likely to play violent video games. Video games are not the first medium of entertainment to be put to this test either. With “a traditional game console in 51 percent of U.S. households” we would be experiencing bedlam nationwide if the findings from these studies were in fact true (North). In addition, for every “reputable” study that concludes violent video games cause increased aggression, there is a study against it showing the flaws in the research, or proof of bias on the part of the researchers, proving that a predetermined outcome was expected. Some of the studies even had researchers on the teams voice their disapproval of the outcome because of a perceived

You might be thinking, “Why not? These games aren’t doing any harm,” but as a matter of fact, violent games can completely change the way a person acts. These games have been investigated and proven that violent games will cause more aggressive behavior from a person. The New York Times, “Shooting in the Dark” article states, “Moreover, youngsters who develop a gaming habit can become slightly more aggressive- as measured by clashes with peers, for instance- at least over a period of a year or two.” I have also noticed this taking place in my household. My brother is a video game addict, and one of his favorite games is a violent game called, “Jurassic the Hunted.” As the years pass, my brother has become more short tempered and impulsive. For example, after cheer practice one day, my cheer team came to my house for a sleepover. So my brother thought it a good idea to sneak up behind us and shoot us with his nerf gun. When my brother was scolded about his violence with the gun, he just became angry. Violence can act a cloud to a child’s sun. Anger covers up their brightness, their kindness, and other optimal characteristics. This is just one example of the behavior that could come from

Violent video games are some of the most played highly rated and played games in the gaming industry. Violent video games are also some of the most controversial types of video games, many people blame these types of video games for aggressive behavior. There have been many studies about how violent video games affect people's mood and behavior, and many people from the president to many scientists who think that the games will make a young mind become much more aggressive than their mind was originally. However there have also been many studies that have gone to prove this theory wrong, which ever one might be right or wrong there are many benefits that these people should not deny. The effects of many of these game are mostly positive in

There are some studies to suggest that playing violent video games may be harmful to children and adolescents. These types of games may effect peoples’ sensitivity to violent situations. This could be due to the development of more realistic graphics in media, which leads to greater feelings of presence within the games (Lull and Bushman, 2016). In addition, children and adolescents learn primarily through observational learning. While playing violent video games, they are taking in a lot of aggressive information, which may affect them over time.

Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and Halo are all video games that most would consider being violent. Whether it is stealing cars or shooting down the enemy it can clearly be seen that the characters in these video games are not setting the best example for the people who play these games. This leads many to wonder if these violent video games can alter the way that people view things as right and wrong. Does playing more violent video games cause one to act more violently than someone who does not? Even though many of the violent video games out there say that they are for mature audiences that does not stop parents from buying these violent games for their children and adolescents. This leads to many people in the scientific community to look at whether violent games can lead to an increased amount of aggression in children and adolescents.

At a young age, the brain is only developing by learning and applying it to their everyday life. Life styles are reinforced by what is taught to a young child, therefore, the daily presence of violent video games may harm their young minds. Many studies show multiple experiments from young children, to older men on the topic of violent video games. Researches say that violent video games do affect the brain, physically and changes a person emotionally as well.

There have been incidents of people opening fire into a crowd and having violent outbursts. Many say the reason for this, is that these violent outbursts are associated with what they do on their own time.They play video games, and not just any type of mobile device, “Candy Crush” or Super Mario Kart game, but video games that require for you to harm others. A scientist has studied the effects of media violence on behavior since the 1950s and other video games since the 1980s. Research has shown that young people who play violent video games can become a little more hostile and aggressive. Now this may sound bizarre, “Violent video games being the cause of the madness in the world” but for sure it could probably stir some strong emotions in a person. It is unclear whether playing such a violent video game can cause the likelihood of a person committing a crime or etc. But we the people need to ask ourselves is violent video games the main cause, should it be banned or not. The main trait that’s being revealed here is aggression. To trigger this trait in a human mind can not only be by violent media it could also be triggered from how person’s lifestyle or how this individual acts in general. ,