Video games 'increase aggression'

[pibs]

Playing violent video games like Doom, Wolfenstein 3D or Mortal Combat can increase aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviour, say researchers.

They warn that violent video games may be more harmful than violent television or films because they are interactive, and require the player to identify with the aggressive character.

Psychologists Dr Craig Anderson, from Iowa State University of Science and Technology, and Dr Karen Dill, from Lenoir-Rhyne College, carried out two studies.



This medium is potentially more dangerous than exposure to violent television and movies

Dr Craig Anderson, Iowa State University of Science and Technology

The first showed that young men who are habitually aggressive may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of repeated exposure to violent games.

The second showed that everybody can become temporarily more aggressive after even a brief exposure to violent games.

In the first study 227 college students were asked to rate their level of aggression.

Dr Anderson said: "We found that students who reported playing more violent video games in junior and high school engaged in more aggressive behaviour.

"We also found that amount of time spent playing video games in the past was associated with lower academic grades in college."

In the second study, 210 college students played either a violent (Wolfenstein 3D) or non-violent video game (Myst).



You cannot simulate in a laboratory the complex social problems that people are concerned about

Dr Guy $#@!berbatch, chartered psychologist

A short time later, the students who played the violent video were found to be more aggressive than those who had played the non-violent game.

This was measured experimentally by recording the length of time the volunteers "punished" an opponent by blasting them with a loud noise.

Dr Anderson said: "Violent video games provide a forum for learning and practising aggressive solutions to conflict situations.

"In the short run, playing a violent video game appears to affect aggression by priming aggressive thoughts.

"Longer-term effects are likely to be longer lasting as well, as the player learns and practices new aggression-related scripts that can become more and more accessible for use when real-life conflict situations arise."

Active medium

Dr Anderson said a major concern was the fact that playing video games was more active than watching television or film.

He said: "This medium is potentially more dangerous than exposure to violent television and movies, which are known to have substantial effects on aggression and violence."

Dr Guy $#@!berbatch, a chartered psychologist and expert in media violence, said it was difficult to draw firm conclusions from research.

"You cannot simulate in a laboratory the complex social problems that people are concerned about, and overall the actual evidence supporting a link between media violence and real violence is very weak."

Dr $#@!berbatch said research showed that some people were stimulated simply by the fast pace of action films, rather than their violent content.

The research is published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/720707.stm

[Torgod13]

Hey Dr. Dumbass... How about relieving stress by playing a violent video game.. There fore I will be less likely to kick you in the face when I am pissid off at you for doing or saying something stupid. Games can be a way to channel anger and aggression if you have had a healthy upbringing. In the old days we used to play cowboys and Indians and kill each other.. now we can do it on the TV. Same thing… different media…. Just a tip for Dr. Dumbass…. LIFE MAKES ONE AGGRESSIVE!!!!!

[10shu]

Doom, Wolfenstein 3D or Mortal Combat...lol

the world is safe then...who play thoses game nowday.?!?!?..

[Basil Zero]

LOL @ 10shu's post

anyways,

kids, Movies and TV ALSO increase Aggression (WINK)

[hatebreeder]

well...i mean it kind of makes sense. That's not a reason to ban videogames (there is none) but i mean honestly, it could make you more likely to have agressive thoughts. The key thing they don't really state here is whether or not they act on them.

[Veskgar]

Doom, Wolfenstein 3D or Mortal Combat...lol

the world is safe then...who play thoses game nowday.?!?!?..

Man, you hit it right on the head. There is no greater point. This shows that the so called Dr. knows very little about Video Games and the "potential" for aggressive behavior.

I was like 12-15 when I was playing Mortal Kombat & DOOM. I had and still have my fair share of anger issues but they have absolutely nothing to do with those or any other violent games. Not on a conscious or unconscious level.

If anything, Video Games can be an outlet for stress and lessen the likelihood of real-world violence.

The only type of game I could see potentially harmful are incredibly real simulators. Like an assassin or espionage game that actually teaches real-world techniques and tricks of the trade. This could be used for already disturbed individuals to practice or learn how to better do what they would do with or without video games.

In a FREE society you cannot protect everybody all the time. There will be violent people regardless of what type of MEDIA or TECHNOLOGY is around.

Think of all the lunatics and madmen that lived decades ago, centuries ago, even a millennium ago.

The only type of media that I've seen influence a lot of people on a widespread scale is gangster rap or "hip hop". Then I see kids start walking funny, and talking like they are a gangster straight outta Compton..... Then I want to kick their teeth in.

So, a long story short.... I think Video Games are least likely to cause aggressive behavior compared to other media influences.

[wolfpack]

games dont make me angry. NOT playing games makes me angry

[ish420ism]

Monkey See, Monkey Feel, Monkey DO.
You figure it out

[ficksucker]

Hey Dr. Dumbass... How about relieving stress by playing a violent video game.. There fore I will be less likely to kick you in the face when I am pissid off at you for doing or saying something stupid. Games can be a way to channel anger and aggression if you have had a healthy upbringing. In the old days we used to play cowboys and Indians and kill each other.. now we can do it on the TV. Same thing… different media…. Just a tip for Dr. Dumbass…. LIFE MAKES ONE AGGRESSIVE!!!!!

Expressing anger actually leads to less anger... yeah... right... When you think about it, do you actually think you can become a less angry person by expressing anger more? It doesn't actually make much sense, and studies show that for most people "venting" just leads to more aggressive behaviour. It's a common misconception.

It is you who is the misinformed one, if you knew more about what you were talking about then you wouldn't be calling him a dumbass. His study is part of a growing number of studies that have pointed in the same direction.

I have nothing against games, I love games, but that doesn't mean I have to be in denial about them. Everything has its down sides, and besides, I don't play only aggressive games.

[SSaxdude]

I'm not a violent person... must kill...