Violent video games and child aggression

Survey finds 75 percent of parents think violent video games contribute to actual violence.

By Charyn Pfeuffer - MSN Living Editor Jan 16, 2013 9:40PM

Little more than one month has passed since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and the world still grieves for the 26 lives lost.

As the community of Newtown and the nation struggle to make sense of the devastation, gun control, mental health issues and violent video games have all been called into question. Groups like Sandy Hook Promise call for a ‘national conversation’ and President Obama is rolling out plans to curb gun violence, but the search for solutions on how to avoid a repeat incident remains.

In the days following the shooting, details unfolded surrounding Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old Newtown shooter, his “strange” behavior and “obsession” with violent video games kept surfacing. Lanza lived at his mother's colonial-style mansion, where he had two of the house's four bedrooms – one for himself and the other for the computer where he played violent video games, reports the The Telegraph.
According to express.co.uk, Lanza's favorite video game was said to be a shockingly violent fantasy war game called Dynasty Warriors. Was it a game or easy access to a deadly arsenal of guns – he reportedly learned how to shoot after his mother took him to local ranges - that inspired Lanza to carry out the deadly massacre?

The topic of virtual violence resulting in real life aggression has long been controversial. Are these games simply a fun hobby, or for children who may already be mentally or emotionally unstable, do these games have the ability to push someone over the edge?

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A new survey from Common Sense Media found that 75 percent of parents think violent video games contribute to actual violence. 1,050 people were surveyed, and 89 percent of them say violence in video games is a problem. (45 percent say it's a major problem; 44 percent say it's a minor problem.)

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"There is a real harm in children having exposure to violence, such as playing violent video games," says Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Debra Kissen, Ph.D., M.H.S.A. of Chicago, IL. "By playing violent video games, children (and adults) become desensitized to this content and therefore experience less of an emotional reaction to violence," says Kissen. "Therefore, violent behavior becomes normalized and becomes a more reasonable alternative when experiencing a conflict."

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Jason Schreier, Editor of Kotaku, the Gamer's Guide challenges the Common Sense Media survey findings and the association between violent video game use and violence.

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“There have been no scientific studies that connect violent video games to violence,” he wrote on the site. “There have been studies that connect violent video games to aggression (more on that in the near future), but there is absolutely zero evidence, according to leading researchers in this field, that links violent video games to violent crime in any way.”

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803Comments

Newest

Jan 17, 2013 6:48PM

In this comment, I'd like to address violent video games first. Most of us know the difference between fantasy and reality and can cope with these games (including young impressionable minds). When I was growing up, there were no video games but we could turn on the TV and watch the Three Stooges any day of the week. When bad things happened did the Three Stooges get blamed or did congress want to tax them a little extra? My advice to Congress is to stop being emo and use the brain God gave you.

As far as bad parents, yes there are bad parents. In their defense I'd like to ask anyone that has kids, did you take a course in High School or College on how to be a parent? Is there a manual somewhere that is handed out on how to be a good parent?...... I didn't think so.

The true answer to the violence problem is morals. I don't care if you're Liberal or Conservative, if you were brought by parents that stressed morals then it is likely that you stayed out of trouble and have perpetuated the same in your family.

Just something to chew on.

Previous replies

Nickname99

Jan 17, 2013 6:47PM

This is a weak analogy comparing two things that are not relevant. the article even says "but there is absolutely zero evidence, according to leading researchers in this field, that links violent video games to violent crime..." and the only statistic that was shown was opinion based by parents which are not necessarily experts on psychology. Overall the only thing in this article is bad arguments that have no solid ground.

Previous replies

Someone

Jan 17, 2013 6:47PM

Everyone blames parenting. While I agree that parenting is the biggest influence on a child's life, and that parents do need to be held responsible -- Parents cannot raise children in a bubble. The society at large will have an influence on their children, and their children's peers. So, acting as though parents can "fix" anything is false. There have been parents who are devoted and create healthy homes who have children suffering from anorexia and depression from social pressures- etc. While good parents should keep violent games away from their children, it is not easy to be so militant all the time. Kids may find these games at their friends houses or become more determined to play them if they are forbidden. Why on earth do these games need to exist in the first place? Why do we need to celebrate unhealthy bodies in the first place? Why do we need celebrities coming out with sex tapes and whoring themselves out for fame?

I mean....a lot of things would be a hell of a lot easier for parents if the world wasn't so overly focused on looks, money, sex, and violence.

Previous replies

Frank Obrien

Jan 17, 2013 6:46PM

Video games cannot be blamed for someone commiting a crime or violent act. The person playing the game must realize that it is just that, a video game. People have been trying to blame games for violent crimes for years now, but have they ever questioned the fact that the person who commited the crime had a mental issue? Start looking at the parents who are not doing their job and stop pushing the blame people.

Previous replies

shakyjake292

Jan 17, 2013 6:46PM

Nice job just phoning this one in MSN. This seriously has got to be some of the laziest journalism that I have seen. I bet an intern busted this piece out in 15 min and then it got slapped on the home page just so you could have your name entered into the discussion of violent games. If you wanted to actually have an intelligent conversation in regards to violent video games and children, then maybe you should look into the ESRB and the rating system that is in place to keep violent games out of the hands of children that shouldn't be playing them. Then instead of having a survey asking parents their personal opinion whether or not violence in games inspires violence in real life, instead you can ask those same parents how many of them have purchased a game for their adolescent child without looking at the rating or investigating the content of the game. Those results would speak much louder than this trivial article.

Previous replies

fritz vonsnickle

Jan 17, 2013 6:45PM

I grew up in an ancient generation years removed from these games. What we had were cowboys and indians, guns and rifles that shot caps and plastic bullets. I was playing with my brother and he was the bad guy. I caught him and strung him up by the neck. I had the good sense to stop when I saw I was hurting him and my dad reinforced my bad judgement when he got home, The fact that there was a parental intervention may be the difference between the violence I learned as a child and the violence learned from video games and the reaction todays children have. I see to many children fighting and being overlooked by parents. The idea of spare the rod and spoil the child seems to be todays mantra. If the parent has super psychological skills to handle the situation fine but too many don't and even those that do know that little Johnny in many cases is not being taught right from wrong, ethics and morals, logic and reasoning skills are very rare. Until those values are once again at the top of parenting lists we are going to have an increasingly violent society. We are reaping what we have sown.

Previous replies

ScoopnDizy

Jan 17, 2013 6:45PM

I say for freaking sure it does. I detest these games and don't let my 8 year old near them.

Previous replies

the blamee

Jan 17, 2013 6:44PM

Do video games encourage violence? Give me a break.

Do the endless wars carried on by our Military Industrial Complex encourage suicides in our soldiers. You bet they do.

Does the behavior of our feckless and irresponsible politicians and our too big to govern government encourage violence. You bet it does.

Does the wanton greed and avarice of our TBTF and TBTJ criminal banksters encourage violence? You bet they do.

Will our "fearless leaders" ever address these facts? You bet they won't.

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Violent video games and child aggression

Survey finds 75 percent of parents think violent video games contribute to actual violence.

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