Video games' effects on Violent and Anti-social behaviors in children

**El Capitano Gatisto** · 05-03-2009, 03:12 PM

Asking people about their own experiences is problematic. Very few people are going to admit that doing something they enjoy has a negative effect on them, nor may they even realise any negative effects. You should be looking at behavioural studies on larger numbers of people in proper journals.

Though I am ready to admit that when I get absorbed into a game I spend alot more time sitting on my arse in front of the TV than I normally would and my patience can shorten. I don't know about violence, but you could extrapolate that if an essentially laid-back person such as myself can see their patience shorten when absorbed into a game, perhaps the effects would be greater on others with more quick tempered personalities.

**#BROKEN Hasney** · 05-03-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Capitano Gatisto

I don't know about violence, but you could extrapolate that if an essentially laid-back person such as myself can see their patience shorten when absorbed into a game, perhaps the effects would be greater on others with more quick tempered personalities.

100% agree with that point. I'm laid back to to the point where when my g/f of the time slept with someone else, I cooly and quitley just ended it and carried on with my life. But when some AI or XBox live player is cheap as fuck, stuff gets slammed and it is honestly the only time I am aggresive.

I used to think this was because I was concerned with self-image because when I played local multiplayer more predomanatly back in the SNES/Saturn days, I was cool with it. Then I got into online games and my patience with cheap players was shorter, but I think a lot has to do with the realism of the game, as since I got back into some local multiplayer recently on the 360, my temper has been a lot shorter with them.

**Mr. Nerfect** · 05-06-2009, 02:39 AM

As people have said, there is no proven cause and effect. If you were asking me, though, I would say that violent behaviours and anti-social tendencies might be attracted more to violent video games, but that they know the difference between reality and a video game. They're just time-bombs, and if anything, violent video games might give them more of an outlet for their aggression.

I don't think video games have a more negative effect than other media, though. Books leave a lot up to the imagination, for example. A violent book would really stretch the visceral imagination of a sociopath, and give them "ideas." Books don't get the same kind of criticism, though.

In society, books are seen as being a "smart" and "responsible" thing, and very rarely target huge amounts of criticism, unless they contain material for children that religious groups find inappropriate. You know, kids should be readying The Bible, and not Harry Potter? Despite the legitimate craftmanship that goes into constructing them, video games are not yet seen as a legitimate art form. That makes them a far more easier scapegoat than books, and even movies or music. A lot of that might be because of the interactive properties of video games. You actually press a button to shoot a character in a video game, whereas in a book it is all part of the "storytelling" without input or encouragement from a viewer.

All these forms can attract people with violent or anti-social attributes, but I don't think they cause them.

05-03-2009, 03:12 PM	#1
El Capitano Gatisto World Class Raconteur Posts: 29,478	Asking people about their own experiences is problematic. Very few people are going to admit that doing something they enjoy has a negative effect on them, nor may they even realise any negative effects. You should be looking at behavioural studies on larger numbers of people in proper journals. Though I am ready to admit that when I get absorbed into a game I spend alot more time sitting on my arse in front of the TV than I normally would and my patience can shorten. I don't know about violence, but you could extrapolate that if an essentially laid-back person such as myself can see their patience shorten when absorbed into a game, perhaps the effects would be greater on others with more quick tempered personalities.

05-06-2009, 02:39 AM	#3
Mr. Nerfect Posts: 61,510	As people have said, there is no proven cause and effect. If you were asking me, though, I would say that violent behaviours and anti-social tendencies might be attracted more to violent video games, but that they know the difference between reality and a video game. They're just time-bombs, and if anything, violent video games might give them more of an outlet for their aggression. I don't think video games have a more negative effect than other media, though. Books leave a lot up to the imagination, for example. A violent book would really stretch the visceral imagination of a sociopath, and give them "ideas." Books don't get the same kind of criticism, though. In society, books are seen as being a "smart" and "responsible" thing, and very rarely target huge amounts of criticism, unless they contain material for children that religious groups find inappropriate. You know, kids should be readying The Bible, and not Harry Potter? Despite the legitimate craftmanship that goes into constructing them, video games are not yet seen as a legitimate art form. That makes them a far more easier scapegoat than books, and even movies or music. A lot of that might be because of the interactive properties of video games. You actually press a button to shoot a character in a video game, whereas in a book it is all part of the "storytelling" without input or encouragement from a viewer. All these forms can attract people with violent or anti-social attributes, but I don't think they cause them.