Video games 'increase aggression'

[ficksucker]

Here's a great political cartoon somone posted on image shack.

Although I believe that video games have a small effect on aggression, I don't think it causes anyone to go as far as shooting somone. The effect is just too weak.

[DCRich]

ok, sorry to say this ficksucker, but seriously. all these so-called studies are bull$#@!. most psychological $#@! going on out there is bull$#@!. it never takes place in real situations, only simulated. for instance,

if I get in an argument with my best friend, so much to the point where he pisses me off so much, that I would punch him out....I won't. I would never punch anybody. but give me a fluffy soft nerf bat, or a loud noise, and look out baby, I would have fun with it. nothing to do with aggression, but basic human behavior. comedy is almost always at the expense of someone else, and I would die of laughter if I could force a loud noise on my buddy, even if I wasn't mad. oh, and by the way, I am not a violent person in any way. I am in fact, very calm. and play violent video games all the time.

untill they are able to do a study in real situations, it means nothing. go on and spout about your psycho-knowledge, give me facts, not some BS simulated study that doesn't really show how people act. "punishing" someone with a loud noise is nowhere on the same level as beating the $#@! out of someone. and as far as video games not being able to help vent your anger, go tell that to my sister, and she will tell you where to go. She uses video games as a means of releasing anger. Grand Theft Auto does wonders.

These studies are only around so some doctors have an excuse for being payed with government money while doing nothing.

[Poor-Kingz]

I wonder why adults who have NEVER played videogames try so hard to bring them down. Why just games? Why not movies, music, or sports? Why is it okay for hockey players to knock each others teeth out but when someone fights in a VIDEO GAME its a considered horrible act of aggression?

[Sp3ct0r]

im tired of this research BS. im pretty sure no1 cares.

[ficksucker]

ok, sorry to say this ficksucker, but seriously. all these so-called studies are bull$#@!. most psychological $#@! going on out there is bull$#@!. it never takes place in real situations, only simulated. for instance,

if I get in an argument with my best friend, so much to the point where he pisses me off so much, that I would punch him out....I won't. I would never punch anybody. but give me a fluffy soft nerf bat, or a loud noise, and look out baby, I would have fun with it. nothing to do with aggression, but basic human behavior. comedy is almost always at the expense of someone else, and I would die of laughter if I could force a loud noise on my buddy, even if I wasn't mad. oh, and by the way, I am not a violent person in any way. I am in fact, very calm. and play violent video games all the time.

untill they are able to do a study in real situations, it means nothing. go on and spout about your psycho-knowledge, give me facts, not some BS simulated study that doesn't really show how people act. "punishing" someone with a loud noise is nowhere on the same level as beating the $#@! out of someone. and as far as video games not being able to help vent your anger, go tell that to my sister, and she will tell you where to go. She uses video games as a means of releasing anger. Grand Theft Auto does wonders.

These studies are only around so some doctors have an excuse for being payed with government money while doing nothing.

Sure, sometimes situations are artificial, but we can't exactly hand them a bat and say "now you get the chance to beat your pal to death."

Animal research has the same problems and yet it's helped develop dozens of crucial biological cures as well as therapies for things like drug abuse. But hey if you refuse to use methadone or insulin or pennicilin or liver transplants because it's based on artificial studies then it's no skin off my back.

I always said there are a bunch of studies out there, here's just one. When you have a bunch of studies that all point in the same direction, then you can be pretty sure you're right.

Let's take TV watching for example. We have numerous "artificial" studies like that noise study, where people got to be aggressive in artificial ways like with noise or electric shocks or what have you. But NOW combine that with studies of people reporting more violent thought and real life studies that show that violent tv watching predicts violent behaviour but not the reverse, and then you've got a case.

So say what you will about your sister, but the point is venting doesn't work for most people. It may offer short term relief but it has bad long term consequences. The problem is people are quite happy to use it as an excuse for justifying acting like an ass. Isn't it curious how the most nasty people tend to "vent" all the time? You'd think it would help them.

Everything you do has an effect on the person that you are. Why should video games be any different, especially when the relationship of violence with TV is well established. It's weak, but it's there. There's a growing body of evidence that the same is true for video games, but we still need more studies to be sure, especially long term studies like we have with TV.

[markymark1]

...No games and games make mark go something, something...

i mean come on, "teenagers" now-a-days are a tad more aggressive but that i think is cos there is not as much direction for them, but id say generally were not any more aggressive or abusive than we were, people just werent as open about it before.

[Warhamster]

There's a couple of things that are being overlooked here as we get into the typical situation of, "News article attacks gamers, gamers ignore article shouting claims of not being socially maladjusted."

One of the most used defenses against the claims that violent TV and constantly playing violent video games makes us all potential psychoes was Japan. A culture that is virtually uncensored but still very calm and conservative. Then there was a rash of young school kids who played violent games 24-7 who started commiting random acts of violence.

In response to the, "Well hockey is violent and that's okay, why aren't computer games". You've got to remember that contact sports are:

i) Rigerously regulated
ii) Involve Exercise
iii) Are generally social activities
iv) Actively teach people self discipline and control
v) Excessive violence in sports is punished in games it's rewarded
iv) Frustration in sport is dealt with by getting tired and a rush of endorphins. In gaming when players get stuck or feel someone is cheating they react with violent language or in some cases by acting out violently (throwing joypads etc)

Gaming still has a reputation of being solely for socially inept, single, white, middle class, nerds between the ages of 15-35. The press maintains the view of the college stoner sat alone in his room playing Quake no stop for a month. This also happens to be the prime breeding group for serial killers. Now this is not the face of modern gaming.
Gamers these days are incredibly social and often embrace the best of human nature as opposed to the worst.

The nature of gamers generally has meant that as a social group there has been no effort to dispell this image. We'd rather call heavily funded researchers and respected research institutions "Dr. Dumbass". Until we can react sensibly the articles will continue.

[shrimpidy]

I get my violence from movies like jacki chan. Its not like one could blow off one's head with a pistol like in resident evil, which is probably the most violent game i own. Anyways, I agree with the fact that all of those games are old and are no longer played by the general population.

[iniquitous_beast]

Seriously, people, there are always multiple factors. People need to be prodded many different ways before they cross the line of murder.
Bullying plays a part.
Physical, verbal, and emotional abuse from home or school can play a part.
A person's mental stability can play a part.
A person's upbringing and stance toward violence can play a part.

There are surely more motivators behind these killings, and the key flaw with all of these tests is that there are many factors within a video game which might lead to a temporary increase in violence. Doom, for instance, had some kickin' MIDI tracks that could get anyone revved up. That stuff rocked, and I would not be surprised if the music alone could result in one of these short-term increases in aggression.

Besides, what is wrong with these short-term increases anyway? They usually result from being in a good mood. The tests also do not differentiate between playful violence and true aggression. When a young cat pounces on another cat, and the two start wrestling, they are often play-fighting. It is the same as wrestling on the lawn with your brother. It is aggressive, it is violent, but there is absolutely no harm intended. Testing methods which use harmless measures of aggression, such as loud noises, cannot accurately differentiate between true aggression and playful aggression.

[darkspectorXP]

This proves a lot. Plus, some people speak without having the evidence to back up their words. Thank God that some people don't have to go into Judge Judy's (http://www.judgejudy.com/) courtroom. She strikes down anybody, male or female, if they don't bring evidence supporting their claim to her courtroom.
Ben