A Generalization of a Generation

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Recommended: Effects of violent video games on adolescents' behavior

When it comes to the topic of school shootings, most of us readily agree that every time you hear about one, it is almost not even shocking anymore. It is definitely tragic and we seem not to understand why it happens, but it is nothing out of the ordinary because it happens so often. What is causing all these frequent shootings? That is the question we must answer to reduce shootings, or even terminate them completely. Although, there are some strong theories and opinions to why these shooting occur; violent video games. In the articles "Frag Him" by Mike Jaccarino and "Shooting in The Dark" by Benedict Carey, these authors express their feelings on how violent video games correlate with these aggression that could eventually lead to horrific tragedies. Each author have similar and different thoughts regarding this serious matter.
In Mike Jaccarino's article "Frag Him", he advocates that video games and aggression are most definitely linked. Violence in video games already heighten one's aggression after playing; but due to the technology we have today, the realism of it all is just making it worse. Jaccarino quotes Dr. Michael Brody, "As the video game action get more realistic and more violent, evidence that is does indeed affect the behavior [aggression] of players is increasing". He even spoke to a military officer who went to Iraq and voluntarily suggest that his stay there was just like a video game and that the military will use video games for training because it is so realistic. Jaccarino pleads that not only the "cinematics" of the games nowadays increases violence and aggression in kids, but also the objective of the game. From Dr. Michael Brody's point of view, "Most successful video games have to do with how m...

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... a mental disorder. I am not trying to generalize all autistic kids with anger issues at all. It is just an experience I have had that relate to my argument. There has also been kids who I worked with who have short tempers and lash out for meaningless reasons, but have a different mental diagnoses.
Therefore, parents today have more to be concerned with than most, because they are the ones buying their children these realistic, violent games. Ultimately, what is at stake here is which type of kids are playing these video games. Although some may believe it's the aggression linked long-term wise with video games, while others disagree that it is aggressiveness is only a short-term effect with violent video games. I believe the main cause is mental illnesses, and violent video games is just a factor that can influence someone to commit such acts. What do you believe?

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