Critique on Do Video Games Kill? This article “Do Video Games Kill” by Karen Sternheimer addresses the wide spread idea; video games are the cause for “young killers” (210). Sternheimer believes concern for the influence video games may have on youth is spiraling out of control. She put most of the blame for this out of control concern on the media. She also writes some about politicians and the Juvenile Justice system.
Repetitive killing can train them to act aggressively. Most video games are just killing, which means that if the player does these actions to repeatedly he can subconsciously learn those actions and be violent himself. In a study two groups of kids were asked to play violent video games
The gaming industry evolves and becomes an aspect of what the world represents. Today, gaming is not only for entertainment purposes, but also a stimulator, an educational tool, a messenger. Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the games that most critics criticized because of many representations in some aspects – violence, racism, crime, poverty, etc. The game becomes a tool to give people an idea that materialism sometimes affects a person’s life. Lots of problems occur in the society which is closely related to the game itself, and the game emphasized these issues.
In many games, kids are rewarded for being more violent. The act of violence is done repeatedly. The child is in control of the violence and experiences the violence in his own eyes including killings, kicking, stabbing and shooting. This active participation, repetition and reward are effective tools for learning behavior. Indeed, many studies seem to indicate that violent video games may be related to aggressive behavior (Main #2) Too much video game playing makes your kid socially isolated.
As the gaming industry is continually evolving and expanding, there is a question that is equally evolving and expanding. Parents are constantly asking if video games cause violence in children. As readers continue on there will be examples that support this theory, examples that dispute this theory, and at the end of it all a personal opinion. According to Anita Hamilton the author of Video Vigilantes “about 10% of all video games on the market, Grand Theft Auto is rated M for mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, a self-regulated group created by the gaming industry, and is recommended only for players ages 17 or older. Yet there is no law preventing retailers from selling M rated games--including other hot titles like Halo 2, Half-Life 2 and Doom 3--to kids”(Hamilton 61).
She also admits that one of the problems with video games is that there is no standard for rating video games, so any content that is profitable is acceptable. One thing that she states is that the violence in video games has been linked to violence in the lives of the viewers, and that people who play video games naturally have a more aggressive personality. Though TV has also been known to show violence, Wrights says that video games are worse because they’re interactive. She also asserts that though people may like to deny the negative effects of video games, they cannot deny that the media is a manipulative tool that is used to trigger emotions. Wright’s closing statement is a warning to parents; she says that they need to educate themselves to keep their children safe.
Violent video games have the most negative psychological effects including: decreased socialization, increased aggressive thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The effect of video game violence in children is worsened by the games’ interactive nature. In many games, children are rewarded for being more violent. The act of violence is done repeatedly.
Courtney Kemp Mrs. Cooley Eng 3133-06 15 February 2012 Video Games Cause Violence: Fact or Fiction “Do Video Games Kill?” by Karen Stenheimer was a very interesting article. The main goal of the entire article was to inform the reader that congress has blamed the video game companies for violence that happens on a school campus. The article gives many examples to why video games are a threat to the younger generation. It also shows why the games lead to violence in the school setting. I personally do not agree with the article.
The aggression can pass on to their real world lives (Douglas, 2011). Moreover, there is the aspect of gambling where those involved place a cash stake as the prize. Similarly, this can lead to anger and aggression by the losers since they lose both their money and the game. Contrastingly, juvenile delinquency has been an issue that existed years ago for the whole of human history. It is, therefore, unfair, and biased claiming video games; a recent addition to society lead to juvenile crime (Ferguson, 2007).
We hold on to stress and anxiety instead of getting rid of it with enjoyment. Seven out of ten adults in the United States say they experience stress or anxiety daily, and most say it interferes with their lives as reported by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Video games can provide that fun for us all. Or can be an escape from reality. When it was eight years old my parents went through many custody battles over my brother and me.