Video Game : The Effects Of Violent Video Games

Video game effects are relatively new in modern society. Even though these games are often entertaining, the content of the game has been increasingly more and more violent as technology becomes more prevalent. The popularity of violent video games has caused an increase in controversy. Parents and experts feel that some games are just too violent and they demand the government to regulate the sales of these games. However, violent video games do not cause an increase in aggression, in adolescents. The forceful plan by the government is caused by an exaggeration of the effects of violent video games and this plan are indeed pointless.

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

In recent years there has been a significant increase of shooting incidents, specifically in America. When there is a shooting event the media is quick to question if the suspect had a history of playing violent video games. There is already the initial connection between video game violence and aggression; but is this connection scientifically correct? This topic interests me because of the increase in school shootings and violence. I have personally heard many times that video game violence has led to many adolescents to extreme forms of violence. Through what has been said in the media I decided to research the topic myself. This is a current event issue that is a present reality for many college students. Does video game violence directly relate to human violence?

According to the article “Shooting in the Dark” author, Benedict Carey, states that studies today on violent video games show no concrete evidence on actually long term negative effects on gamers. Mr. Carey is not a researcher or scientist but is a veteran writer of neuroscience, neurology, and psychology. Throughout this article he gives factual evidence and quotes from scholarly sources such as doctors and researchers in the fields of behavior and psychology. The author gives ample explanation on evidence used from his sources to give the optimal understanding to the reader of the results and/or findings given by the sources. The article connects to the modern age of gamers with examples from big name video

In recent years our society has experienced many tragic school shootings in which teens have committed heinous crimes for no apparent reason. The question has become who is to blame or what inspired these attacks on these innocent victims? This question has become an epidemic in our country. We live in a violent world and young people have easy access to it whether it's on television, in music or on the Internet. But with the explosion of media entertainment in recent years, video games have come under scrutiny as to whether or not violence in video games numbs children and teens to the consequences of real-life violence. The answer to this question is yes. Young children and teens are very easily influenced, especially in a society in

Video gaming is mostly associated with consoles such as the Xbox and Playstation, however, wireless technology and handheld devices are producing more and more gaming applications making such an activity further accessible to those who may not perceive themselves as an ‘avid gamer’. Much research into video gaming has focused on aggression and violence; see (Bandura, 1977; Graybill, Strawniak, Hunter & O’Leary, 1987; Scott, 1995; Silvern & Williamson, 1987; Zillmann, 1983). Research into the effects of violence in video gaming and aggressive behaviour has suggested physiological arousal causes an ‘excitement transfer’, consequently seeing and experiencing violence causes violent and aggressive behaviour (Zillmann, 1983). Additionally, Bandura (1977) suggested that adolescents who play violent video games are mirroring the behaviour experienced through game play, therefore resulting in aggressive behaviour. Hence it is imperative to research the sway anti social content in video games has on pro-social behaviour. Aside from aggression and violence there are other negative factors that need to be fully investigated, such as sexism and violence towards women in video games.

Today our world is surrounded by technology and new inventions that make our lives better. Some of the most popular of hobbies among children and teenagers are video games, but what many people don’t know is that they are bad for them. Violent video games in particular have been proven to not be appropriate for the age groups that play them and to have a negative effect on school, social behavior, and increase aggression.

Video games are a part of mostly everybody’s life, whether it be on their phone, a handheld gaming device, or on a console and tv setup. Not all of the games are made for toddlers or children under 13, so it’s safe to say that there are some that can be on the heavier side with the gore and explicit content. These games can get brutal and “Grand Theft Auto” is definitely one of those games that can get to be too much for some people. “Grand Theft Auto” has negative effects on the society because of the foul language, sexual content, exposure to violence, and drugs involved throughout the game.

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.

Throughout recent years there has been many stories, well, more like excuses that adolescents have blamed violent video games for their violent behaviors. Can children truly use this as their excuse anymore? Many studies on this subject have recently been in the spotlight over the concern of young violent offenders, with numerous governing leaders and child developmental specialist concerned whether violent video games are the true cause of violence in children. With the growing number of school shootings and violent acts that children are displaying throughout the nation, it makes you wonder if the main cause can be just as simple as a violent video game. If so, cannot playing violent video games prevent such violence? The use of violent video games is not an excuse for children that have aggressive or violent behavior because other factors are involved in children with violent behaviors.

Originally, the purpose of violent video games is to entertain. However, its content encourages violence and invites to enjoy cruelty. When playing video games, kids are required to kill a human being to get a perfect score. If kids are left to spend plenty of time playing violent video games, they will be obsessed with brutality. As a result they will have difficulty to tell apart fantasy from reality and start dreaming about killing and scoring in real life. As it can be addictive, it also isolates them from human contact, which leads to lack of sympathy. That’s why most school shooters are great video gamers. I will support my thesis with evidences and quotes from expertise.

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:

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

Herb Kohl, who is an American businessman and politician and is a former state senator of Wisconsin had once said “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.” It is true that violent video games are causing aggression in children, but the responsibility to protect them is their parents. Research on the connection between violence in games and violence in real life is still in its infancy (Peckham). The negative thoughts on games are actually caused from a “moral panic” but in truth, video games are having positive effects on the population such as reducing crime rates and shootings.