Video Game Violence: Therapeutic Outlet or Perpetuating Violence?

Questia School. Web. 21 Jan. 2014. Wilson, Lee. "Part 2 Getting It Wrong: Slaying Myths about Video Games."

Authorities quickly used video games as a scapegoat to explain the mass killing. A police officer told the New York Daily news, “[This] was a score sheet. This was the work of a video gamer, and it was his intent to put his own name at the very top of that list.” (Lupica) While politics are blaming video games for the tragedies, video games help to remove aggression from the real world and letting it be released through a fictional experience. Dr. Kipling D. Williams PhD, a social psychological science teacher in Purdue University, mentioned that “children’s violent tendencies can be diverted towards violent video games rather than actually doing it in the real life.” (Wei) This shows one of the many benefits that people can get from games. When playing multiplayer video games, people can be helped socially and intellectually.

USA Today Magazine 134.2731 (2006): 13-14. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.

Keith Bakker, director of Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants, sees a growing problem among young men and boys. "The more we looked at it, the more we saw [gaming] was taking over the lives of kids," (Feature). This claim may be true, but an easy way to eliminate this problem is to set limits on gaming time. Before video game players sit down to play, it is important to designate a time to end the game. Once a time is set, it is impo... ... middle of paper ... ...he Negative Effects of Video Game Addiction."

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.

“There are plenty of skills I’ve learned from playing video games. It’s more interactive then watching TV, because there are problems to solve as you’re using your brain.” This quote was said by the famous US athlete Shaun White. (Quote 1) Video games started in the late sixties and early seventies. (History 1) Later down the road, companies such as Sony and Nintendo came out with bigger and better consoles. “Sixty-three percent of parents believe that games are a positive part of their children’s lives.” (GCP 1) While video games can promote violence and cause adolescents to be lazy, video games are beneficial to adolescents because they help reduce stress and anxiety, they provide a fun way to learn, and they make exercise more appealing.

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HealthDay Consumer News Service 19 Aug. 2005: Consumer Health Complete - EBSCOhost. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. Renee, Montagne. "It's A Duel: How Do Violent Video Games Affect Kids?"

Since the introduction of video games in the late 1900s, people of all ages have been captivated by virtual reality and experiences that can be shared by family and friends. Like many forms of media, video games have been the subject of continual controversy and censorship, due to the use of graphic violence, sexual themes, substance abuse, gambling, propaganda, profanity or any other sensitive subject matter in various games. The video game industry has dealt with several issues concerning their rating system in the past and people have wondered whether they need external help to address this problem. The video game industry is doing a sufficient job of regulating itself when involving mature content in violent games and the government should not interfere in this industry's ratings system. The early 1990s brought with it increases in technology and violent video games emerged with “person-on-person violence” which include games such as two graphic fighting games, Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter and a first-person-shooter zombie infestation game called Doom.

Nevertheless, with the level of practicality, there are also negative affects to humanity. Since the manufacture of violent video games, there has been a constant quarrel whether or not violent video games increase fierceness in the player. Studies display concerns about the effect of violent video games on young individuals who play videogames disproportionately. Although some individuals believe that violent video games have no effect on them, they can lead to violent behavior. Violent video games can cause people to not live completely an ordinary life.