Violence in Grand Theft Auto 5

Grand Theft Auto 5 is a game that was released in 2013 by Rockstar games. It was one of the most popular games released that year. While it is recognised in advertising that sex sells, in the world of video games it is violence that sells. The violent themes of Grand Theft Auto 5 include assaults, killings and torture and these are made realistic by the flawless graphics. Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the most controversial games to have ever been released because even though it has a rating classification of R18+ it makes its way into the hands of many younger players via parents, siblings or friends. There are serious concerns that exposure to these violent themes will have effects on developing brains. Grand Theft Auto 5 and games like it actually cause violent behaviour, desensitises users to acts of violence, it causes some users to view the world as a scary and violent place and possibly most concerning is the fact that exposure to violence in games gives users the appetite for viewing further violence.

Grand Theft Auto 5 encourages aggressive behaviour and in turn provokes violence. All too often the reports of a mass shooting weave their way through the sensationalized headlines. These reports often involve two key factors: Videogames and violence. It’s no wonder that this is the case, when in games like Grand Theft Auto 5 you are rewarded with cash for killing innocent pedestrians and law enforcers. Some game players come to view the world as a scary dangerous place and become fearful and anxious and this is called the ‘victim effect’. While only few players’ progress to commit murder, research has shown that exposure to violence makes players aggressive. In 2012 an experiment done by Ohio State University professor...

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...cerns regarding violent themes in their games, Rockstar has made attempts to have the game more resemble a film structure. The makers have clearly given the game a plot and narrative structure. They have also hired script writers and voice actors. Rockstar have included pre-rendered cut-scenes to enhance the gaming experience by giving context to its violent action. These scenes are a feeble attempt to justify the mindless violence that pervades the entire game.

Rockstar have attempted to give context to the violence in Grand Theft Auto 5 and make it play more like a film however Grand Theft Auto 5 It is not a film. It is an opportunity for people to take on the role of criminals and in turn commit criminal acts. It not only desensitises players to violence but has also been shown to make them more aggressive in their actions thought and behaviors.