Because of this possibility, parents should assume responsibility for evaluating video games and should prohibit young teenagers from purchasing those that are especially violent. Myself being a parent I do research the games my kids want to buy. To begin with, a number of authorities claim that playing a violent video game does present a threat to the user’s psychological health. As early as 1983, Geoffrey and Elizabeth Loftus, in their book Mind at Play: The Psychology of Video Games, warned about the dangers of violent video games: “Although we can never be sure in any individual case, a substantial body of evidence indicates that viewing excessive violence on the screen is associated with aggression and violent behavior among children and teenagers.” More recently, studies have measured changes in behavior and emotional responses to video
Every bad experience or violent act that has been seen in the public somehow will get linked to violent video games causing the violent acts of the people that do the crimes. In 1994, a system was put together to help rate video games to help keep underage children from being able to play these games that are rated inappropriate for their ages, this board is called the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) ("Esrb History", n.d.). However, even though this guideline was put into place some adults will purchase the games that are rated for mature audiences for their younger children. Some research will prove the opposite of the violent actions coming from playing a video game such as the video game will calm down a person or even kids that play video games that are on the honor roll in school. What is the meaning of violence?
Are video games causing violence amongst today’s children? Nowadays, video games have caught the attention of both the Media and parents. Increasingly, the media tends to remind people how much violence these games contain, thus blaming them for the violent behavior a child may be imitating. In addition, video games seem to be the scapegoat for a quick point of blame and is a much easier answer rather than finding what truly may lie behind the motives for violence in a child. With RPG (role playing games) becoming ever more so popular, so does the demand for realistic violence in them.
Parents should regulate the amount of video games their children play because if your child regularly plays games with plots based on violence and aggression, research shows children at risk for increased aggressive behavior, it inhibits social interaction, and it is not always intellectually stimulating. First, parents, not government, need to monitor video games. Laws don't go far enough to help parents, argues Craig Anderson, a professor at Iowa State University: "The results are really quite clear; regardless of gender... regardless of culture... we know that playing violent videogames increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior and aggressive thinking, decreases the likelihood of pro-social behavior, and increases what you might think of as desensitization... Probably the best solution is to educate parents... but we also need to give parents better tools and the current rating systems don't do that." "One study reveals that young men who are habitually aggressive may be especially vulnerable to the aggression-enhancing effects of repeated exposure to violent games," said psychologists Craig A. Anderson, Ph.D., and Karen E. Dill, Ph.D. "The other study reveals that even a brief exposure to violent video games can
The harm that video games cause can be evaluated by many different factors, and the most obvious among them is the negative effects they can have on physical health. Some experts in the video gaming industry can claim that the first-person shooters and real-time strategies sharpen reflexes, increase concentration and muscle coordination, in reality, youth who spend an ample amount of time playing video games experience effects which are not so beneficial at all. There is a possibility of the vision impairments. “Playing video games for extended amounts of time can cause children to experience many of the same symptoms seen in computer vision syndrome in adults. Extensive viewing of the game screen can lead to eye discomfort, fatigue, blurry vision and headaches.” (Bedinghaus, Troy) Vision impairments can cause many negative effects on a persons quality of life and can last a lifetime.
Excessive playing of video game can cause violence, addiction, and poor academic performance in children. During the past years, the playing of video games was investigated to observe and analyze its negative impact on children. Violence, addiction and poor academic performance were determined as some of the negative effect of video games on children. Video games over the last 30 years have made an impact on the way children spend their leisure time, by keeping them from being bored, but also have caused children to develop violent skills the use to hurts the society. Many of today's video games, especially the ones that are suitable for young boys, focus their attention on
Whether or not violent video games and films influence someone’s levels of violence is a much debated topic, some people believe that it does where as others believe that it doesn’t. There has been much research into the topic by psychologists such as Craig Anderson, who wanted to find out what effects violent video games and films have on children. From results of studies like his and many others we have been able to get a clearer view and opinion on whether or not it does affect these things. Craig Anderson, stated that “young men who are habitually aggressive may be especially vulnerable to the aggression-enhancing effects of repeated exposure to violent games," and also said “that even a brief exposure to violent video games can temporarily increase aggressive behaviour in all types of participants.” He completed a study which involved 227 college students who reported their aggressive behaviour in the past. They also gave information on their game playing habits in their past.
People are very quick to shoot down violent video games as a key factor in criminal behavior. When in fact, many studies have shown that there is indeed a connection between video games, criminal behavior, and youth addiction. For years violent video games have been affecting the behavior of young children. They have been proven to be a risk factor for criminal behavior and aggression amongst younger children. The youth will buy these games, play them and without realizing it take what they have seen on the games and remember it.
Everyone deals with stress and frustrations differently. However when action is taken upon the frustrations and stress, and the action is taken out in anger and aggression. The results may be very harmful to both the aggressor and the person being aggressed against, mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Young children are more likely to confuse fantasy violent with real world violence, and without a framework for ethical decision making, they may mimic the actions they see in violent video games. Playing violent video games increases aggressive behavior and arousal.
Violence in Mass Media: Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence? Tracy Brown January 18, 2013 English Composition III Dr. Kay South University Recent shooting tragedies have sparked the controversial topic of whether playing violent video games has contributed to the increasing youth violence in today’s society. Video games are a very popular form of entertainment for today’s youth, which in turn has raised the question whether playing violent video games causes negative effects on children; this will be the topic addressed. Most popular video games feature aggressiveness or violence as the primary theme in the game but most parents do not restrict the types of games they are allowed to play. Critics of violent video games argue that these games desensitize players to violence, reward players for simulating violence, and teach children that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict.