Violent Video Games
June 23, 2008
While, video and computer games are credited with eroding the state of contemporary literature and turning teenagers into teenage criminals, video game addicts have found a new ally in the pages of a new book: Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do. The book refutes common conceptions about the causal relationship and psychology between violent video games and criminal behaviour. In other words, a few hours of playing one of those violent video games will not result in your kid stealing a car, careening through traffic and gunning down civilians.
There is no data to support simple-minded concerns that video games cause violence. A two year study of over 1,200 middle-school students showed no reason to link mature-rated titles and aggressive behaviour. Neither do violent video games turn children into killers, thus dispelling the common myths floated about violent games. The study found no data to support any causation between games and real-life violence.
Instead, of studying the children in a laboratory, this study actually saw the researchers sit down and talk to children after they had had a long bout of game playing. Sometimes, in excess of 15-hours a week, games such as the very non-violent The Sims to grandma shooting, pedestrian bashing Grand Theft Auto.
They discovered that children who played violent video games rated Mature or above, were simply relieving stress. There were some children who did exhibit some playful fighting after playing the games; however, this was similar to what children always did after watching action or Karate-type movies.
Perhaps, the most startling finding is that boys who don’t play any video games are considered to be socially inept. Today, a danger sign for boys is not playing video games at all, because for this generation, it looks like video games are a measure of social competence. The research showed that boys who don’t play video games at all were the most likely to engage in bullying and other anti-social behaviours. That may be because video games are such an important part of socializing for that age.
However, despite much bandying of statistics and loud talking by critics on both sides of the argument, the real answer is that there is no real answer, at least not one that’s been proved scientifically. That will, of course, be of tremendous comfort to concerned parents who find calculating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin simplicity itself, compared with figuring out which video games, if any, to allow in their homes. But the fact is, the research can’t be boiled down to a simple headline, however much politicians, experts, and the media might wish otherwise.
That conclusion, say other experts, is what makes the study so valuable. “Looking at violent behaviour is not a simplistic thing. There is no one thing that is going to cause a child to become violent,” says Kathryn Seifert of Salisbury, MD., a forensic psychologist and an expert in assessing and treating children who are at risk of becoming violent.
A word of advice for those parents who simply won’t allow their children video games at home … “total denial doesn’t work.” There’s a good chance the child will just find somewhere else to play them.
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