Video Games and Youth Violence: Is There a Connection?

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Tuscon Arizona, Blacksburg Virginia, DC, Littleton Colorado and Paducah Kentucky just a few locations for some of the most tragic, memorable crimes in the modern age. What is the common denominator for all of these crimes? They were all committed by an adolescent or young adult. The influences were many and the reasons are still under debate. The main contributing factor for all of this violence was originally thought to be violent video games, and the vivid scenarios played out in them.( Grossman, DeGaetano 1999) After further investigation, that factor in itself has been proven to be untrue. Contrary to the popularly accepted belief, violent video games do not increase the tendencies for violence in healthy, normal adolescents and children. There have been many rumors circulating as to possible contributing factors for increased violent incidents at schools, work and public places by youth. There have been bills in Congress, political platforms and even bans on some games trying to prevent these tragedies. The increase in violence as a whole in our society, in everything from schools to sports and even in the home, can create environments that can affect even the mildest mental instability. (Grossman & DeGaetano, 1999) In the case of the school shooters, Harris, Klebold, Cho and Carneal all had various untreated and undiagnosed (at that time) mental illnesses ranging from schizophrenia to depression. All were time bombs waiting for the fuse to ignite. Loughner and Malvo the public shooters had both been involved in many violent altercations in prior years and in many unrelated crimes and acts prior to the initiation of the shootings. “There is no evidence to support the idea that violent video games teach youth how to ... ... middle of paper ... ...Supreme Court Takes the Case. Communique' (0164775X), 39 , pp. 11-13. Gonzalez, L. (2000, January). Game Spot. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from www.gamespot.com: www.gamespot.com/features/6090892/index.html Grossman, D. L., & DeGaetano, G. (1999). Stop Teaching Our Kids To Kill: A Call To Action Against TV, Movie & Video Game Violence. New York: Crown Publishers. Kirsh, S. J. (2006). Children Adolescents and Media Violence; A critical look at the Research. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Kutner, L. P., & Olsen, C. K. (2008). Grand Theft Childhood :The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games And What Parents Can Do. New York: Simon & Shuster. Olson, C. K., PhD, K. L., & MD, B. E. (2007). Children and Video Games: What do we know? Psychiatric Times Volume 24 Number 12 . Shecter, H. P. (2005). Savage Pastimes: A Cultural History of Violent Entertainment. St Martins Press.

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