Effects of Video Games and Computers on Behaviour

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EFFECTS OF VIDEO GAMES AND COMPUTERS ON BEHAVIOUR It’s generally thought that exposure to violent video and computer games increases aggressive thoughts, behaviours, feelings and physiological arousal. Research has found that 85% of video and computer games contained some violence and around 50% of them contained some serious violent actions. Kirsch also found that during adolescence physical and biological changes lead to a general increase in aggression. Therefore, exposure to violent games will reinforce and increase aggressive thoughts, feelings and arousal. Hague and Gentile claims that physiological arousal experienced while playing violent games has an addictive effect on young people, particularly amongst males. This addiction was associated with adjustment problems such as school performance and aggressive attitudes and behaviours. Gentile found that playing violent games made children to be less caring and helpful towards their peers. The effects happen just as much for non-aggressive children as they do for children who already have aggressive tendencies. Ihori’s longitudinal study carried out on Japanese students has shown that the amount of violent video games played was related to later physical aggression. Anderson & Bushman have undertaken a laboratory experiment on both males and females college students to determine the effects of violent video games on their attitudes towards violence in real life. Participants were randomly allocated to play either a violent or non-violent game for 20 minutes and then watch a 10-minute violent videotape extracted from TV programmes and films. The results showed a reduction in physiological arousal in real life violent situations. In other words, violent game players showed a skin response and heart rate measurements that were lower than non-violent game players. On the other hand, some studies point out
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