Violent Video Games: When a Game Becomes Reality

The main argument of this article is that video games have a direct link to short term and long term aggression. The author presents this argument by providing studies from peer reviewed articles that all conclude that video games do cause an increase of aggression. The main point of this article is to answer the question, “Do violent video games lead to aggression.” The article is about the effects of violent video games leading to aggression. The author uses recent examples, like the Sandy Hook and Washington Navy Yard shooting. In both of these examples, the author cites that both shooters had a history with playing violent video games. The author uses a study which selected individuals to play violent video games for a certain period of time. The study would then compare the results to a group who played non-violent video games. The study concluded that violent video games cause a direct link in aggression due to humans reenacting the actions the characters within the video games perform.

Children play. The manner in which children have played has frequently changed throughout the years. There was a time where sticks or index fingers were used to symbolize guns or bows in order for children to play “cowboys and Indians.” Later, the same mechanisms were used as children would play “cops and robbers.” Children mimic what they see in reality when it is time to play. However, children are not known to mimic what they play when functioning in real life. For example, children who played “cowboys and Indians” were not known to actually go out and try to harm others in the belief that they actually were cowboys or Indians. These examples are relevant in today’s society as critics of violent video games often attribute violence in reality to the violence in video games. However, videos games are a form of play and, as the previous examples have shown, what a child plays is not reflected in what that child actually does in their real life.

Video games are prevalent among impressionable children and teenagers. There has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the violent themes used in video games. Teenage shootings in schools have led society to question the relationship between video violence and criminal activity. After considerable research, expert opinions, and research findings, the American Psychological Association found that there is no link between gaming and criminal behavior (Casey). With this, the pursuit of video violent games continues to grow in our society. With games that show execution style murders, blood oozing from gunshot wounds, and victims moaning from wounds, it certainly is gratifying for the indulgent player. The ongoing concern about aggression and violence has once again been proven to be non-existent (Alert). My thoughts are that this cartoon like violence is appeals to the need for violence in an artificially designed environment. In this manner, violence is contained within the boundaries of fantasy. This is unlike “The Crucible” which occurs in with real people, events, and situations. Thus, directing violence in the realm of societal dysfunction that has endured with

An increase in violent outbreaks may be linked to violent video games. There has been an increasing amount of crime in the age groups involved violent video games in some way. In turn, watching and/or participating in violent video games can increase violent behavior.

In recent years, we have seen many video games criticized and bashed in the public eye for their disputable content. However, the game industry has been subjected to controversy since the creation of its first adult themed games such as Death Race 1976 or Custer 's Revenge 1982. These two graphics limited games have introduced video game violence to the public and since then debate about morals and ethics of video games evolved over the years together with the game experience thanks to modern technologies. Violence is one aspect of many that can cause great controversy that’s why it is important to create a suitable ethical, cultural and legal context as it can determine its failure or its success. In this paper, I will present an example

The focus of this essay will be on the controversy of violent video games and their effect on youth behaviours. The goal is to examine the two different arguments presented in the case of the video games and compare and contrast them to form a critical analysis. The two views being discussed in regards to violent video games are as follows: authors who have researched and found evidence to support the claim that violence in video games encourages violence in youth. In the opposing side are the authors who have researched and found evidence that opposes the idea of violent video games creating violent youths. The conclusion will focus on analysing the sources used and relating the research back to course material to create a detailed and critical

Video games shoulder the blame when discussing the delicate minds of children and what they are exposed to. The name of their game: Desensitization. A virtual reality which enables adolescents to relate to or live through a fictional character can undercut the violence some of these games let the player experience. “First person shooter (FPS), Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games and fighting games largely favor intense battles with temporary or no unfavorable consequences”(Philips 2009). Some games allow the user total freedom, including the ability to run over, shoot, and dismember pedestrians for points. The impact may vary between aggressive behavior and social ineptitude; either which still requiring a nominal amount of exposure to highly explicit depictions by this form of entertainment. In addition, not to be left out is the possibility that a lack of sufficient interaction from parental figures resulted in the reclusive or aggressive behavior of a child to begin with(Jones).

Over 85% of video games contain some type of violence; some video games showing stronger acts than others (Carnagey et al. 1). The exposure to such violent content affects the way humans perform regular actions in their daily life and their perspective on those violent actions. These video games are everywhere, thus being available to anyone who would like to enter a virtual reality where they have control. The more people are exposed to it, the more addicted they become, and the harmful effects become more noticeable. Video games with violent content are harmful to American society because they affect the mental health of the player.

From a young age some of us begin to play video games. Violent video games can share the bad and the good. Yet, their problems outweigh the benefits such as being influenced, having nightmares , and becoming addicting.

Many organizations, and colleges, have compiled many research papers and thesis striving to connect the dots between violent video games with violent tendencies, or crime. However, no studies have uncovered any definitive evidence correlating the two together. Not a single researcher has linked violent video games to criminal activity, even behavioural experiments between these games and increased violent behaviours have merely produced weak links: stating you get no more aggressive than watching, or participating, in a game of football, or even drinking a few cups of coffee (Peckham). Theoretically if football was the present issue because of the aggressive behaviours linked to their players instead of video games; what would we do? Would

One characteristic that distinguishes video games from other forms of media outlets is that it allows players to feel apart of the video game world. In other words, “active participation of videogames increase the likelihood that one will learn from the video game due to greater identification and immersion”(Morawitz).

Violent video games can desensitize children. Studies show that most video games in today’s society contain some type of

Playing video games does not cause violent behavior. Don’t get me wrong, some video games show horrific acts of violence. “A recent survey found that 92 percent of U.S. kids--ages 2 to 17--play video games, and their parents bought 225 million of them last year to the tune of $6.4 billion.” (Sider 79).What’s here to argue is that violent video games do not cause violence among children, but the blame for violence should be on the individual and people who should have taught the individual better. If kids are not able to see the difference between reality and fantasy, then they really can’t be blamed for committing acts they see in a game and then imitating, not fully understanding the consequences of doing it in the real world.

“Recent contents analyses of video games show that many as 89% of games contain some violent contents” (Gentile, Lynch, Linder, Walsh 3). More than half of video games being sold around the world contain some form of violence. All of the violence involved in the video games being played by children is a pattern leading to aggression. Aggression can be caused by many things; however, violent video games are the main cause of aggression in young adults. “If a child began playing violent video games at a young age, then he might think that violence in real life is the same as the game violence and that it doesn’t have a real impact on others” (Gilad, Alto 1). Thinking that violence in the virtual world is the same as in the real world is the first step to showing aggression. Aggression in children caused by video games is the biggest effect parents and researchers worry about. Violent video games teach children that shooting and killing people are

Controversy about video games continue to escalate between parents and gamers, regarding the psychological effect of simulated, realistic, and 3D violence on the minds of young children and growing teenagers. Yet, research shows that video games contribute very little to today’s everyday violence, despite complaints and concerns that games influence a child’s normal behavior. Technology is a way of life in today’s world, computers are used by toddlers, adolescents, and adults alike. No matter what career path a person chooses, the computer plays an essential role in the job. The more our technology progresses and as our industry grows stronger, computers and electronic entertainment will grow to be found everywhere around the world. This includes videogames.