Violent video games vs real life violence

[Bad Aim]

Two threads have been created about this very subject. A lot of post have made the arguement that just because someone played GTA or Mortal Kombat does not mean they are going to go out and kill someone. I will totally agree with that statement.

But I am not looking to make a comparison between violent video games and violent crimes. I have not seen nor read any reseach on the comparison between crimes and video games, but I would assume that there is little to zero correlation.

What I would like to point out is there does seem to be a correlation between emotional control in people and video games. Again, I am not looking for extreme's. If someone was to play GTA, Mortal Kombat, any of the Battlefield or Call of Duty games, would they be more susceptible to anger issues in thier daily life?

I have pointed out, time and time again, that I believe they would be. Children are far more susceptible to this. We have many examples of this happening in real life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHHdovKHDNU

I would also like to point out that the frontal lobe of children below the age of 8 is underdeveloped. This is the reason children believe in impossible things. (ie monsters under the bed, Santa is real, invisible (or pretend) friends). It can also lead to children not being able to distinguish dreams from reality.

I am not attempting to blame video games for the way people act. Hell, I play video games myself. If you look at what I play, you will see I do play some violent and graphic games. I am not going out and killing or hurting people because of the games I play. But, I would like to point out that I am perfectly willing to admit that the violence and language has affected me to a certain extent.

If you honestly believe the what games you play, what TV shows and movies you watch, and what books you read have no affect on you, you really need to take a closer look at yourself. Everything in your envirnment has some type of an affect on you.

Video games are going to affect differant people in very differant ways, depending on thier age, mental disabilities (if any), and emotional state.

I believe that the interactive part of video games does lead us to become more desensitized to violence. I have no evidance to back this up. I really wish I still had access to the PSU library where I could read peer reviewed articals and journals from some of the worlds best psychologist. But I am no longer a student at PSU, so I no longer have access. :(

If I find evidance either for or aginst people getting desensitized to violence due to video games, I would be more then happy to post it here. :)

[SpicyMiso]

People get desensitized to violence from a number of things. You could argue that the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ news helps with that these days. "Oh look, it's another shooting. Neat."

I don't think video games are anything special or of distinct note. If anything I'd argue they're good for giving violent people a safe outlet.

[Set-115689]

I think studies showed that playing video games can cause excitement/agitation which makes you more likely to be violent/agressive during that period because of your physical state. Same as if you put a person under stress there's more chance of violence, etc... On a side note people are probably victims of violence and death much more during sporting events than playing video games. You could probably claim playing cards invokes violence. As a percentage violence caused by video games is probably laughable.

[Fork_Q2]

Bobo experiment was worth reading about, thanks.

[Bad Aim]

Tiro Finale!님이 먼저 게시:

People get desensitized to violence from a number of things. You could argue that the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ news helps with that these days. "Oh look, it's another shooting. Neat."

I don't think video games are anything special or of distinct note. If anything I'd argue they're good for giving violent people a safe outlet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx3ISVBifM0

True, I have seen video's like this of people raging over a sports game. But I do not often see people raging like this over NCIS, CSI, Nightmare on Elm St, or other types of media.

[Bad Aim]

Fork_Q님이 먼저 게시:

Bobo experiment was worth reading about, thanks.

The Bobo doll experiemnt was interesting... And it does have some flaws. But this experiment does replicate wonderfully across all cultures.

[bronze age pervert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uwAo8lcAC4&feature=kp

[76561198119391273]

I find people get desensitized to violence a good thing.

[Zefar]

You think games make people violent? When was the last time you saw a group of gamers trash a city? I'd say about never.

Do you know what type of group have trashed a city? Football fans! Not only once, but repeatedly too. Even deaths have been part of those fights. Yet no one decides to voice their opinion on this. Probably because they might get targeted by those fans.

But gaming? Oh that is totally the cause of violence among youths today!

[Bad Aim]

Armin Armout님이 먼저 게시:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uwAo8lcAC4&feature=kp

You have posted this before as your "defence" of video games. I have watched it in the other thread. It is actually compairing violent crimes and violent games. In my post, I stated up front that I am not attempting to compair those two things. I agree with you that violent games do not make people commit violent crimes. Please read what I stated above.

I am argueing that violent games will have some type of an affect on us, be that a small one or a large one. And it will have a greater affect on children. Again, please read what I posted above.

[Fork_Q2]

Zefar님이 먼저 게시:

You think games make people violent? When was the last time you saw a group of gamers trash a city? I'd say about never.

Do you know what type of group have trashed a city? Football fans! Not only once, but repeatedly too. Even deaths have been part of those fights. Yet no one decides to voice their opinion on this. Probably because they might get targeted by those fans.

But gaming? Oh that is totally the cause of violence among youths today!

The OP has never said anything like that anywhere I could find.

[Bad Aim]

Zefar님이 먼저 게시:

You think games make people violent? When was the last time you saw a group of gamers trash a city? I'd say about never.

Do you know what type of group have trashed a city? Football fans! Not only once, but repeatedly too. Even deaths have been part of those fights. Yet no one decides to voice their opinion on this. Probably because they might get targeted by those fans.

But gaming? Oh that is totally the cause of violence among youths today!

I would ask that you carefully read what I posted above. I am not saying games "make people violent". I am making a reasonable arguement that they do affect us... And that affect can and will be very differant depending on who is playing them, thier age, their emotional stability, and their mental disability (if any).

I am also argueing that while other form of media (tv, radio, music) have an affect on how people act, games would probebly increase that chance of acting out due to the interactive nature of games.

[SpicyMiso]

Zefar님이 먼저 게시:

You think games make people violent? When was the last time you saw a group of gamers trash a city? I'd say about never.

Do you know what type of group have trashed a city? Football fans! Not only once, but repeatedly too. Even deaths have been part of those fights. Yet no one decides to voice their opinion on this. Probably because they might get targeted by those fans.

But gaming? Oh that is totally the cause of violence among youths today!

Well, not trashed a city, but if you remember columbine the shooters played a heavy amount of doom and made some very violence oriented maps. Not saying it was the cause entirely, but it may have contributed something.

[76561198119391273]

Violent movies, cartoons, comics can all have same afect. News about violence can do the same thing.

So, unless we are discussing about violence in general or violent content in media, nothing special about video games.

[Proper Slav]

Omg somebody saw my post,it was me who said about the No-it-wont-make-you-violent-its-mans-stupidity thing!

[Shasow]

Tiro Finale!님이 먼저 게시:

Zefar님이 먼저 게시:

You think games make people violent? When was the last time you saw a group of gamers trash a city? I'd say about never.

Do you know what type of group have trashed a city? Football fans! Not only once, but repeatedly too. Even deaths have been part of those fights. Yet no one decides to voice their opinion on this. Probably because they might get targeted by those fans.

But gaming? Oh that is totally the cause of violence among youths today!

Well, not trashed a city, but if you remember columbine the shooters played a heavy amount of doom and made some very violence oriented maps. Not saying it was the cause entirely, but it may have contributed something.

I'm sure he was messed up before that. Doom was probably just an outlet for him to get his shooting needs out. He would have probably lost his head earlier if Doom didn't let him take his anger out. (Sorry, I just had to)