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Correlations between video games and violence
Violent video games do promote violence
Do violent video games encourage players to become violent in real life
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Introduction Within the last few decades as video games have become massively popular, an abundance of slander has been attacking the video game industry. One of the accusations is that violent video games make gamers violent. This obscure claim would be like saying sports games cause gamers to exercise. Much of this misleading information comes from people trying to find an easy answer to some of society’s most horrific acts of violence. A fairly recent example would be the Sandy Hook tragedy. An unnamed veteran law enforcement officer said that the killers’ motive was to rack up ‘points’ and “they feed on it until they go out and say, enough of the video screen. Now I’m actually going to be a hunter" (Lupica, 2013). The misconception that violent videogames causes gamers to act violently forces a great deal of negative media attention surrounding violent video games. Results of this negative attention can be detrimental to the video games industry in many ways. Game classification may be stricter which would decrease the demographic range. In conjunction with these effects, (bad for marketing etc) This essay aims to elucidate that violent video games do not cause violence by providing evidence that video games reduce stress, gamers are able to distinguish between reality and fantasy, aggression in video games are derived from difficulty rather than violence and that high risk youth (those with symptoms of depression or Attention Deficit Disorder) are less likely to become aggressive bullies or delinquents. Cause of Aggression in Video Games A study by Przybylski and colleagues (2014) has shown that aggression from video games is derived from the level of difficulty and frustration rather than violence. This is a major argument... ... middle of paper ... ... get my anger out” (Olson and colleagues (2012). These findings demonstrate that a majority of gamers play games to manage their emotions and to supress and dissolve any aggression they have. Bored linked to aggression The most popular video game for the boys was Grand Theft Auto at 44% popularity and second to most popular for the girls. Grand Theft Auto being a game that features blood and gore, intense violence, strong sexual content and use of drugs, disproves the idea that violent video games cause violence because the game is being played to have the opposite effect. Distinguishing Between Reality and Fantasy Like all good literature, it should make the readers/gamers/viewers to Gamers are able to distinguish between reality and fantasy. A perception of being in control has been proven to reduce emotional and stressful responses to events (Goldstein 1998).
At this day in age we bask in the luxury of having easy access to advanced technology at our disposal. From the World Wide Web, to cell phones, music, movies and video games the human race has thought of any and everything to keep us entertained. Over the years studies have shown reasonable concerns regarding the long-term effects of video games. These games can desensitize gamers to real life violence, which is usually seen in the younger crowd. The studies especially hit on the games containing player-on-player violence. Though these games are extremely entertaining and can get kids to settle down for a while, if not properly supervised, they can produce adverse effects. Other studies have shown that video games can be used as way to yield positive outcomes such as, good problem solving skills, cooperation in a group and the ability to flow. Although there has been psychological research on children learning through the actions of others some believe that children are automatically able to distinguish between what is just a game and what is reality. The longer they are allowed on their game system the more they become convinced that their games are real. Some researchers believe violent video games can channel the aggression of the child but the parents are to blame for what happens to the child after playing an excessive amount over a period of time. Children can become preoccupied with these violent video games which have been proven to be the cause of poor social skills, uncontrollable aggression and a false reality.
Gaming supporters have made claims about the benefits of video games. It has been said that video games are used for therapeutic and educational purposes (Nakaya). It has been suggested that video games require discipline, problem solving and decision making skills (Sullenthrop). These things can be achieved, yet when people play videogames they use it therapeutically to relieve stress in their lives and learn to apply violence on things that give them stress, thus, solving their problems. When a person plays a violent video game, they continue to repeat acts of violence in order to reach the goal of the game. According to psychiatrist Adolph Casal, “gamers are not only releasing aggression while playing the game, they are practicing aggression and when we practice something, we become skilled at it" (Nakaya). Gaming supporters perhaps do not realize the dangers of violent video games shown from studies by relating violent video games to aggressiveness and shootings.
Works Cited Kulling, Matthew. The. “GTA:Link between violence and video games lacks a smoking gun”. marquettetribune.org -. 15 Nov 2013. Nauret, Rick. “In new study, video games are not tied to violence in youth”.
Scott, D. The Effect of Video Games on Feelings of Aggression. The Journal of Psychology. March 1995 v129 n2 p121-132.
Not every video game causes post game aggression, but documented in his article, “Players who enacted in-game violence through a heroic character exhibited less postgame aggression than players who enacted comparable levels of in-game violence through an antiheroic character” (Sauer 205). As a graduate of Radboud University, Isabela Granic brings to light the reasons why the youth actually benefit from playing violent video games. For example, in her article, “The Benefits of Playing Video Games,” Granic illustrates the fact that children gain social skills, highly efficient motor skills, and the understanding of the human body as a whole. Noted by the author, “Whereas adolescents and adults often use self-disclosure and direct discussion with close friends to resolve emotional issues, children use play to work them out through pretend-based narratives enacted either alone or with others” (Granic 67).
Since the 1970 video games have become more popular than ever before. Generating 11.7 billions of dollars of sells every year or more, the video game industry is considered one of the largest industries in this century. However, video games have been a topic of controversy. With the sales of violent video games going up and the increased violence in schools and teenagers, video games are always to blame. Many people speculate that video games are the cause on why many teenagers have developed aggressive and violent behavior, are desensitize to violence, and the increase violence in schools and public places. In contradiction, video games have little or no fault in teenagers’ violent behavior and shouldn’t always be blamed.
Research has found that linking violent video games to violent or aggressive behavior is unwarranted and unnecessary. It has been shown that there is yet to be any proof of this revelation being true, and even more proving it to be false. Statistics show that “sales of video games from 1995-2008 have more than quadrupled, while the arrest rate for juvenile murders fell 71.9% and the arrest rate for all juvenile violent crimes declined 49.3% in this same period.”(Akhaven) Another study done in 2005 states that “the US had 2,279 murders committed by teenagers compared to 73 in Japan while per capita video game sales were $5.20 in the US compared to $47 in Japan.”(Goldfein) A few people have went far enough to be able to say through their research that a lot of things said about violence in video games are linked to aggressive behavior is completely false. A duo of people have even stated that “a casual link
Although violent video games are thought to encourage real world violence, they actually help to prevent it. I am focusing on violent video games and how they affect juveniles because I feel that this issue needs to be looked at in the criminal justice community. It is an unnecessary distraction to blame the actions of a disturbed youth on a form of entertainment that has been used by millions of people without incident. A review article published in The Psychiatric Quarterly found that many studies which claim to indicate an increase in aggression due to video games are, in fact, biased! Once the bias is taken into account, the studies no longer find any correlation between youths who play violent video games and youths who demonstrate aggression and violent behavior.
By far the largest concern of technology today is video games. There have been so many experiments and studies to try and figure out if video games have a negative or positive effect on our children. A growing body of research is linking violent video game play to aggressive cognitive, attitudes and behaviors (D.A. Gentile, 2004). Video games can obviously be dangerous for our children causing aggression, bad performances in school and obesity. Although we cant blame all of these problems on the use of video game...
Scott, Derek. “The Effect of Video Games on Feelings of Aggression.” The Journal of Psychology 129.2
One article points out that video games have a big impact on children’s lives and that many of the games played are violent. Researchers have found that “nearly all children spend time playing video games” and studies have found that “8th graders spent an average of 17 hours per week playing video games” (Tamborini 336). Moreover, 68% of the most popular video games contain violence (Tamborini 336). So it is clear that many children have access to violent video games and they have a big impact on their lives simply because of the amount of time spent playing them.
It has been proven that violent video games and aggression do have a direct correlation in the short term. (Decamp, 2015) so if you feel angry after playing a video game take some time to decompress to lose that aggravated feeling.
Some students have played violent video games to have fun with their friends or siblings while they are online and offline. Plus they play to try to release their stress, frustration, and pressure after having a hard time doing their homework or in class. Video game developers goal is to make fans happy when they are playing their games. Video games are meant to have feeling of adventure, enjoyment, and excitement. It is helping the player to play video games without harm. Video games also help players to...
Violent video games are special games, which negatively influences to the attitude and behavior. These video games are popular between children and teenagers. Since 1980-s years violent games are in political discussion. Because when teenagers usually play violent video games, they are becoming aggressive and then they face with psychological problems. For this, some people claim that violent games are harmful for society and they affect to behavior and health.
The question is, “Do violent video games influence children to act aggressively?” and “Can repetitive killing train a person to be violent himself?” Although the violence in these video games is fictional, research has proven the violence to lead to more aggressive behavior in children. Violent acts depicted in these games allow young children to believe that killing and fighting is acceptable and fun.