A small but causal link between gaming and violence

Skybird · 03-02-10, 04:37 AM

I found a German essay today, linking me to this story.

A metastudy (that are studies that analyse methodologic reliability and validity of existing studies and combine their results in one) including 130 studies and 130,000 subjects in Western countries and Japan, concludes that violent computer games increase the probability for long- and shorttermed increases in aggressive behaviour. The study, "Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and prosocial behavior in Eastern and Western countries", was done by the Centre of the Study of Violence at the Iowa State University, and published in the March issue of the Psychological Bulletin, a publication of the American Psychological Association.

The authors feel so confident about their findings that they even claim that gaming is a causal factor for the increase of aggression, and they also claim that their study also shows that only a highly selective focussing on a incredible small share of existing studies which includes some of the methodologically weakest there are, could lead to conclusions ignoring the causal link between games and violence.

Among some of the findings is that studies cannot show a difference in reaction between western and Japanese players. The authors also say that there are indications that the causal effect of violent games is stronger for younger kids, than for older teenagers.

However, the authors also say the risk that comes from violent games is not enormous and much smaller than in case of becoming a member in a gang, also, the risk from gaming could be easier controlled and tamed by parents.

The authors call for research now being done on the effects of prosocial games that would be expected to raise social behaviour and empathy.

http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/mar/vvgeffects

That gamers will not like to hear this, is clear.

03-02-10, 04:37 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,613 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	A small but causal link between gaming and violence I found a German essay today, linking me to this story. A metastudy (that are studies that analyse methodologic reliability and validity of existing studies and combine their results in one) including 130 studies and 130,000 subjects in Western countries and Japan, concludes that violent computer games increase the probability for long- and shorttermed increases in aggressive behaviour. The study, "Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and prosocial behavior in Eastern and Western countries", was done by the Centre of the Study of Violence at the Iowa State University, and published in the March issue of the Psychological Bulletin, a publication of the American Psychological Association. The authors feel so confident about their findings that they even claim that gaming is a causal factor for the increase of aggression, and they also claim that their study also shows that only a highly selective focussing on a incredible small share of existing studies which includes some of the methodologically weakest there are, could lead to conclusions ignoring the causal link between games and violence. Among some of the findings is that studies cannot show a difference in reaction between western and Japanese players. The authors also say that there are indications that the causal effect of violent games is stronger for younger kids, than for older teenagers. However, the authors also say the risk that comes from violent games is not enormous and much smaller than in case of becoming a member in a gang, also, the risk from gaming could be easier controlled and tamed by parents. The authors call for research now being done on the effects of prosocial games that would be expected to raise social behaviour and empathy. http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/mar/vvgeffects That gamers will not like to hear this, is clear. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.