THE MYTH OF VIDEO GAMING AND VIOLENCE
Video games are played by children all over the world. Some of these games can be viewed as being over violent and are blamed for the rising aggression levels in young people. There are numerous studies which will appear to show this link but as a society are we always looking for someone or something to blame? Does blaming video games get parents off the hook?
The positive effects of video games can be overlooked. Arguments that support video gaming involve what the games do to encourage developmental growth. Video games can teach problem solving as players persevere and try to find alternative ways to succeed in the game. Gamers are motivated to continue to improve their skills and are constantly striving to perfect techniques. Gamers make rational choices and must accept the consequences of their actions. With the introduction of on-line multi player by Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s Playstation teamwork and cooperation are skills that can be developed. This can help young people to interact with people in everyday situations. It doesn’t mean that they are planning to gun everyone down if they don’t get what they want! Another common argument is that gaming encourages eye-hand coordination. This could also been seen as being a positive thing. The gamer would have quicker reactions in certain situations, driving for example. It could also be helpful in certain jobs.
Video games are closely monitored by the Government and have PEGI ratings. These are much the same as film ratings. Not everyone who watches 18 rated violent films will feel the urge to copy the film. If you play a golfing game it doesn’t mean that you are going to become a golfer. I feel that some people may have aggressive personalities and that the game could maybe trigger that. I can understand why some parents would be concerned over certain games such as Hitman, Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. But, are these any more shocking than Tom and Jerry blowing each other up, or Homer Simpson strangling Bart? A young person should already have been taught right from wrong by their parents.
There have been recent studies using MRI scan to show the arousal levels in players’ brains. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine (2006) say that brain scans of kids who played a violent video game showed an increase in emotional arousal – and a corresponding decrease of activity in brain areas involved in self-control, inhibition and attention. This was a small study and should it be generalised to the whole population of gamers? There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the research and maybe some long term studies have to be carried out. The gaming companies could fund this research with the vast profits they make!
In my opinion after gaming for almost 7 years I have to disagree that games bring out violence in people due to the fact that I am not a violent person or are any of the other gamers that I know. I believe that people who play contact sports such as football and rugby are more violent that gamers. I admit that losing a game can lead to frustration towards the game but not towards other people. This frustration can be relieved by analysing where I went wrong in the game.
Until more reliable and long term studies are carried out I have to disagree that video games encourage violence and aggression. Jonathan Freedman of the University of Toronto maintains that “the scientific evidence simply does not show that watching violence either produces violence in people, or desensitizes them to it.” Furthermore, Huesmann and Bacharach conclude, “Family attitudes and social class are stronger determinants of attitudes toward aggression”
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References
Websites:
Violence in Video Games: The Pros and Cons of Video Gaming http://internationalaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/violence-in-video-games#ixzz0nqhn2GTd
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/violence/effects_media_violence.cfm
http://www.medicine.indiana.edu/news_releases/viewRelease.php4?art=593
Completely agree with everything you said
(y)
Same. Its a great article! Well done dude.
Thanks lads gla you guys liked it. Will be doing a review soon so keep ur eyes peeled on the dashboared for it
I love you, wait what? I mean I love your article
Great article, after 16 years of gaming (and I’m only 20 now) I cant say that my mind has been warped in any way by the stimulus, I’m actually quite a peaceful and content person who avoids conflict and violent situations. In my opinion the only issue with violent videogames is that the parents aren’t educated on the issue enough and instead of taking the blame themselves they want to throw it unto something else.
I wrote something very similar on the topic for my uni newspaper a month or so ago, spurred on somewhat by that outrageous numpty Alan Titchmarsh and his stupid show. Completely agree with everything you say here.
Lol thanks soul lol and am glad you like the articlee. I am very passionite about this and how parents don’t understand how video games are a release for aggression taking out on the game and not really people. Hope I can write another article like this which you all like.
I liked your article. I have read numerous studies both pro and anti video games. There is definately no clear answer into the correlation of violent video games and the acting out on such games. I am very pro gaming and support it in a workplace that is difficult to prove the positive things kids can get from games. I work at a childrens psychiatric hospital (mental hospital for those that like the sound of that better). I have seen first hand several times, kids getting extremely upset or violent after playing video games. But they have had thier problems after any type of game such as racing, sports, puzzle, ect… (shooting games are not allowed on our campus) The thing is that our population in the hospital are those prone to many problems and to be honest I think their are more food related problems on campus but I don’t see them trying to ban food. Definately some of our kids may be easily triggered but many are not. I see so many positive things with our kids during video games. Remember, our kids are psych patients meaning some would blend into the crowd and you might never know they were admitted and some, well yes stick out like sore thumbs and may have physical problems also. I see our kids helping each other on levels or bosses all the time. Even bigger, it is a common ground for many kids. Our smallest nerdiest most disavantaged kid may be playing right beside the cool kid or jock. For you that are still under 17 in school, look around during lunch. How often are the special ed. kids sitting at the football players lunch table? Gaming has brought a melting pot of people together that may have never found common ground. To me that’s huge. Until there is proof that gaming leads to too much violence I’m doing my part to show the positive things about gaming.
Now go to your friends list and facebook 5 random gamers you’ve never met. I’m pretty sure there will be quite a bit of different backgrounds and upbringings.