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Violent video game effects on children and adolescents
Effect of video games on youth violence
Do violent video games cause behavioral problems in children
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Video games, violent ones to be precise, have gained a bad reputation. They have come under fire for affecting the behaviour of today’s adolescents either by making our kids lazy, insubordinate, or supposably prone to violence. The attempt to link violent video games to aggressive behaviour has been ongoing for decades with the earliest recording of controversy occurring in 1982. However just because violent video games have been associated with real-life violence does that mean that the violent games have caused it? Are these violent video games moulding this generations young minds to a more problematic or even aggressive side? Research suggests that it does not and video game players are growing tired of defending their hobby from analysts. There are many factors to consider in this argument such as the accuracy of these studies, what reliable studies actually show and how video games and real life occurrences are not generally linked, these factors together show that violent video games do not cause behaviour problems in teens. Popularity and Study Flaws Video games are now one of the most popular forms of entertainment around the world. They provide a way for people to interact with one another, either through the internet or side by side and they provide a variety of genres ranging from board games, role – players, racing, strategy and first person shooters but most important of all their main purpose is to entertain. Due to the popularity, the studying of this link between video games and violence has cost governments well over $10 million and as quoted from researcher Chris Ferguson “There are over 100 studies at this point that in some way or another tap into video game violence and aggression. Most of them are horrible.... ... middle of paper ... ...D 03 DECEMBER 2013]. PLAYING HIGHLY COMPETITIVE VIDEO GAMES MAY LEAD TO AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR . 2013. PLAYING HIGHLY COMPETITIVE VIDEO GAMES MAY LEAD TO AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR . [ONLINE] AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://WWW.APA.ORG/NEWS/PRESS/RELEASES/2011/08/VIDEO-GAMES.ASPX. [ACCESSED 03 DECEMBER 2013]. FROM HALO TO HOT SAUCE: WHAT 25 YEARS OF VIOLENT VIDEO GAME RESEARCH LOOKS LIKE. 2013. FROM HALO TO HOT SAUCE: WHAT 25 YEARS OF VIOLENT VIDEO GAME RESEARCH LOOKS LIKE. [ONLINE] AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://KOTAKU.COM/5976733/DO-VIDEO-GAMES-MAKE-YOU-VIOLENT-AN-IN+DEPTH-LOOK-AT-EVERYTHING-WE-KNOW-TODAY. [ACCESSED 03 DECEMBER 2013]. 10 YEARS LATER, THE REAL STORY BEHIND COLUMBINE - USATODAY.COM. 2014. 10 YEARS LATER, THE REAL STORY BEHIND COLUMBINE - USATODAY.COM. [ONLINE] AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://USATODAY30.USATODAY.COM/NEWS/NATION/2009-04-13-COLUMBINE-MYTHS_N.HTM. [ACCESSED 04 FEBRUARY 2014].
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.
Toppo, Greg. "10 Years Later, the Real Story behind Columbine." USA Today. USA Today, 14 Apr. 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
"What Science Knows About Video Games and Violence." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.
In this day and age it seems as if America's youth is becoming more violent. Concern for those aspects in our society which influence violent acts has become an issue since the tragedy at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Many feel one aspect of today's society affecting our nation's youth in a negative manner is video games. Is this form of entertainment really a factor in teen violence? I think not. Video games are not to blame for increased teen violence.
Violence has been around for quite a long time. Fights and wars are the interest of today’s society of entertainment. People are more likely to see a movie, where protagonists kill bad guys, over a romantic movie, where a typical girl finds her “knight in shining armor.” This also applies to how teens feel when playing games. Teens have a sweet tooth for violent games, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, Kill zone, Infamous, and other violent rated games. These games are like vocabulary words in a teens’ language. A recent discussion has been brought up from the Industry of Coombes Class (ICC). A worker has noticed a few news reports stating that games have influenced shooting sprees or murders in the community. Not only that but also parents are being persuaded to ban their children from playing games. The question is “Are games really influencing teens’ bad behaviors?” Well, violent games have been said to be the cause of teens’ violent acts, but this is not true. Many times this has been proven wrong by scientists and psychologists.
Toppo, Greg. “10 Years Later, The Real Story Behind Columbine.” USA Today. Gannett Co. Inc. 13 April 2009. Web. 17 May 2014.
The allegation that videogames cause violent behavior in children has been present as long as videogames themselves. Some researchers said that the Sandy Hook shooter, Adam Lanza, was one intense gamer. “Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech Shooter was seen by his roomates as odd because he never joined them in video games.”(Beresin) This debate will continue to go on in this country as long as there are horrific crimes that occur. There is much written in the research regarding this issue, and many differing views. The research that is presented in the next few paragraphs supports the theory that it is not the graphic video games that produce aggressive behavior, but other factors in a child’s life that create violent actions.
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.
In recent years, technology has developed very rapidly. This has led to many arguably both positive and negative changes in our everyday lives. One such change was the increased accessibility of personal computers and gaming consoles as well as the introduction of numerous video games. Due to their entertainment value, these games gained popularity among children and teenagers. Although many concerns have been voiced related to playing video games, especially those that are violent, [e.g., increases in aggressive behavior in children (Anderson & Bushman, 2001)], this paper will argue that certain video games also have beneficial effects. They should thus be played by children, teenagers and adults alike albeit with caution.
Jaslow, Ryan. "Violent Video Games Make Kids Aggressive, Study Suggests." CBSNews.com. N.p., 1 June 2011. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.s."
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.
“As video games have become more violent and more sophisticated and the sales of video games has skyrocketed in the last few decades, youth violence has plummeted,” Ferguson says, citing evidence compiled by various federal agencies (Adams 3). Violence in video games is not a new issue. It has been debated and argued since the release of the first violent video game. As time has progressed, so has the evolution of violence and strong language within video games. Ratings have become more relaxed, and the lines between T (Teen) and M (Mature) rated games has gotten closer together. Violent games are becoming the normal and accepted of all games, and are being demanded by the gaming industry more heavily. Parents have always shied away from these games for their children, regardless of age. However, kids are getting these games whether they are the correct age (17+) or not. Young kids, less than ten years of age are playing horribly violent games and parents are fearing the repercussions. But video games are not to be blamed for child violence. Violence in video games does not cause children to become violent people later on in life.
“Contrary to the claims that violent video games are linked to aggressive assaults and homicides, no evidence was found to suggest that this medium was a major (or minor) contributing cause of violence in the United States.” (Markey, 290)
Violent video games do not cause behavior problems. It is possible that some people have weak health issues as they are on video games or technology too long instead of getting good enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and needing to get out more to have fun with family and friends. Plus, when players are feeling tired or anxious, they simply need to stop playing and take a break from video games for a while, at least until they feel better. Another possible solution is when a person needs to take a break from playing video games, they can spend their time outside with nature instead of on a video game.
“90% of pediatricians and 67% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior among children” ("Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence?”). Pediatrics and parents are aware that kids that play violent video games see a change in their behavior. Many cases they see the kids with anger problems and causing them to do violent acts. Violent video games have been around for many years where some older titles, such as ‘Mortal Kombat’ and 'Grand Theft Auto’ both are some of the most controversial ones. The video game industry has been growing and with the large amounts of violent video games being produced. “Total US sales of video game hardware and software increased 204% from 1994 to