Do video games cause violence?

[Krauter]

In Soviet Russia, Game shoots YOU

(sorry had to throw that out there )

But seriously, when i was growing up, and even now, playing violent video games never really gave me the message "Hey I can go out and do this stuff too..." I realized, as a person, that I was capable of doing things in a "game-world" or "virtual-world" that I was not permitted to do. I, as a kid drew the line between video gaming and the real world.

Therein, in my opinion lies the problem. Some kids these days are either disturbed, mentally, emotionally, whatever else might be bothering them, that they cannot or will not draw the line between reality and virtual gaming. These people delude themselves to the point where they cannot perceive the distinct differences between the two.

Who is to blame? The kid who was seeking distraction and found someplace he could do whatever he wanted with impunity? The video game developers who created and distributed it? The parents who should know their child enough that they can tell if they are disturbed (not knowing exactly what's wrong with them, but having the feeling that something is off)? Or is it we, the masses, who support these games by buying them and supporting their development?

Just food for thought and my two cents.

Cheers,

Krauter

Edit: Also, where does 'violent' music come into play? Things like Death Metal, "Emo" music, Country (God that stuff can drive a person crazy ), etc? Is it just video games that are a central issue driving our youth to violence? Or is it a combination of many different factors in our society today? (Music, Entertainment, Movies, etc?).

[yubba]

For me they are a great release, have a bad day, jump into the cockpit shoot down a few zeros, take the sub out sink afew ships , then it's Miller Time. Get the government out of our play time.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

Playing Pac Man makes me want to eat ghosts.

That explains a lot!


I definatly (i'm using steamwake's spellcheck at the moment) see it in some kids when they play a lot.

[nikimcbee]

But seriously, when i was growing up, and even now, playing violent video games never really gave me the message "Hey I can go out and do this stuff too..." I realized, as a person, that I was capable of doing things in a "game-world" or "virtual-world" that I was not permitted to do. I, as a kid drew the line between video gaming and the real world.

Although, when I was playing Red Baron a lot, I did want to paint a giant iron cross on the side of my red car. But I do have a laughing sawfish on my hood though.

[Sledgehammer427]

I woulda liked to see that on the minivan you rented for the SS meet

as for the OT, I remember taking a psychology class, where we talked about how our minds react to things. like, if you scream into a pillow, or, lets say you hit a pillow every time you get really angry, then hitting something else, like a wall or your spouse, will be okay for your moral midset when it gets worse. now, I may be forgetting things but I have a nasty headache.
but in the context of video games, I can see how it would keep us from doing these things (I'm 19, so I'm part of the market)
but I can see how it could bolster our confidence in doing these things.

violence aside, I was a so-so guitar player, one might my friend brought over Guitar Hero and we played it until like 6 in the morning. the next day I was a halfway decent guitar player!
that being said, it takes a certain concoction of psychological assets and certain events to translate video games into violence.

that's my thoughts anyways

[Task Force]

Hmm, the vediogame violence thing again. No, though in theory might do something to a person who is already crazy and would do it anyway. But not a normal person.

Then if they do something, they cant honesetly think the same thing will happen, Real life has no health bar.

[NeonSamurai]

Well this is more or less in my general field, and I have done research into the literature (published research) on this specific topic.

So far this is what we have. Research indicates that children are more likely to behave more violently after playing a violent video game (GTA or Doom or similar), which can be explained as modeled behavior. They also show fairly clear signs of desensitization towards violence (not surprising, strong exposure to anything always causes desensitization). Furthermore research shows that there is generally no catharsis or cathartic release (lowering of stress, or release of negative emotion) when playing these sorts of games, actually just the opposite as they tend to increase stress and arousal levels.

Now this applies to specific types of games, like FPS and similar, that feature high amounts of action and involvement, and high levels of graphical violence. Also the point is that this stuff increases violent behavior, not causes it. Many of these studies are correlational studies which cannot show causation or directionality. This means for example that we don't know if playing violent video games makes kids more violent, or if violent kids prefer to play violent video games, or if there is a third factor influencing them both.

[yubba]

I got a book that you must read before you do something stupid after playin your favorite violent video game, frist page goes like this, Good Idea . Second page Bad Idea. Sorta like that sex manual, first page In, second page Out , and repeat.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I've only played a few in my life, but it seems zombies are really in today.

Do you think the violence of video games actually have effect on real life among teens? Should there be a limit. It doe's appear to me that kids today are growing up with less respect for life. Do you think all the violence in games has desensitized the young mindset.

My 13 year old was playing some game a friend brought over, car running over people, cops, shooting anything, character calling women itches and ho's and I told the kid not to bring it back....course I'm sure he plays games like this at his friends house, but least want to set an example. Do you set limits with your kids?

I want to make two points and post one link:

Point 1:
Violence in general is prevalent in american society. On any given night watching TV, you can see shootings, stabbings, assaults, autopsy's, etc. Sexual content remains taboo, but you can get the whole gamut of "action".

Point 2:
Some parents don't realize it, but there are games intended for adults. I think of it like this..... All the Gen X'ers grew up with video games. Before Gen X, there really wasn't video games. Now that game playing Gen X'ers are grown up, video game makers create games targeted at the adult audience. Just like movie makers create movies targeted at an adult audience. And just like the game designed for an adult audience, i highly doubt parents would let their kid watch an R or X rated movie. If you , the parent, let your kid play a game that is targeted for an adult, YOU are at fault, not the game makers.

Link:
The 4 Most Important Things to Know as a Gamer Parent (its sarchastic, but it makes a good point)

[NeonSamurai]

I have to say I have always found it deeply ironic that violence is far more acceptable in the United States then sex.

Anyhow, Ducimus there is a big difference between watching violence and causing violence (simulated or otherwise). There has been research on that, and they found that kids are more likely to act aggressively after playing a violent game, compared to either watching another kid play a violent game, or watching a violent tv program or movie.

Even still though the rate of aggressive behavior doesn't go up a whole lot between playing a violent vs a non violent game.

Last there are several games that are quite violent, but don't have the 17+ Mature or 18+ Adults Only rating. It is actually sexual content that tends to push games into those categories (or extreme amounts of gore)...

[Skybird]

Do video games cause violence?

It depends.

[TarJak]

In a word; No. People cause violence.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by TarJak

In a word; No. People cause violence.

But not without an according motivation - or a mental blackout.

[Sailor Steve]

Yes, we are coerced into doing what we see. We are stupid and can't help ourselves. Therefore, I contend that if we ban the Illiad we will stop all war. If we ban porn we will stop all sex. If we ban the Bible we will stop both.

Wait, what?

Originally Posted by TarJak

In a word; No. People cause violence.

I agree. We should ban people, and the problem will be fixed. I think I'll go out and start shooting everyone I see, in the name of saving us from ourselves.

When I go to trial, I'll blame TarJak.

Does violence cause video games?