Video games are becoming more
graphically refined but not, as people are claim, more violent.
Although video games emerged in the early 70s, it wasn't until the
90s when violent video games were more widespread. Violent video
games are just games! People who are blaming shootings and other
violent behavior on video games are overlooking the real problems
around the world. There are millions of people who play video games
and do not act violently. In this blog I will look at the rating
system in video games, the different kinds of studies that have shown
if video games really do affect people or not, and lastly, conclude
to whether violent video games are the true cause of violence.
To many people video games are an
interactive and engaging medium. Rating systems were introduced in
1993. The purpose of the rating system is to limit certain content to
children. Certain people such as parents merely believe video games
are meant to be for children. Even though parents and caregivers
should be more aware in these situations with the rating system. Even
if they do not understand and they give their children violent video
games, they are at fault and we should not be blaming the media.
Video games go through a rating system for a reason. Parents shouldn't
be going and buying a rated M games for their 12 year old then blame
the game when the child starts to argue with them.
There are people who play video games
regularly, where most people call it as a hobby and a significant
number of these games contain increasingly realistic representations
of violence. Several findings do exist, but theories that suggest,
and experimental evidence that demonstrates a positive connection
between playing violent video games and aggressive tendencies
dominate the scientific side to it. Though, the effect sizes are
rather small, and the question of connection has not yet been
responded to adequately. People also need to realize that media
content does not determine an individuals' behavior, and if more
people were aware of the range of effects research over the last 70
years that clearly shows this, we might finally see the end of the
influence of ethical conservatives determined to censor the media.
Studies have consistently shown that
although these games may seem offensive to many of us, they do not
harm the human brain or increase the likelihood of violent acts
(Perry, 2013). Fast-moving action video games are linked with
positive intellectual outcomes. Playing action computer games, as
opposed to puzzle or strategy, leads to a development in how well we
pay attention, how quickly we can react, how sensitive we are to
images and how accurately we can sort out information. It doesn't
mean that all types of games can be helpful but it can provide with
improving some key skills. Although, research has found that violent
video games cause a reliable short-term rise in aggression during
lab-based tests. However, this seems not to be something specific to
video games. The longer-term effects of aggressive gaming are still
not well studied, but we would expect similar results from long-term
studies of other violent media again and a small increase in
aggressive thoughts and behavior in the lab. Perry (2013) stated
that from the now considerable form of scientific study is not that
violent video games are a threat to society but that anything in
excess will cause us problems but problems still remain.
Fears about the
possible influence of violent video games on serious acts of youth
violence are still being debated in the general public. As it still
remains a big issue of concern. Studies of video game violence
effects have been conducted; none have employed well justified
measures of youth violence, nor considered video game violence
effects in situation with other influences on youth violence.
Neither video game violence exposure, are potential predictors of
serious acts of youth aggression and violence (Ferguson, 2011). No
matter how realistic video games are, we still have to realize that
television shows could be blamed just as much for being realistic
because its actual people playing a role.
In conclusion, it is unavoidable, there
will always be fingers pointing towards video games continuously for
being the cause of violent behavior that occurs around the world
without knowing the full story behind it. We as people have to decide
what is correct and what is not. The bigger causes behind school
shootings and violent acts are bullying, lack of love, affection, and
or attention. Those are the real reasons, not video games. People
have to stop using video games as a scapegoat. If violence really
caused the violence we would have a lot of people to be concerned
with. Parents themselves have to stop their children from playing
these games, as they have not yet learned the social rights and
wrongs yet.
Reference List
Butchman,
D., & Flores, G., & Funk, J., & Germann, J. (2013).
Rating Electronic Games Violence is in the eye of the beholder.
Youth
and Society, 30(3),
283-312.
Can
video games make you violent: Yes or no? (2000, Dec 11). Scholastic
Action, 24,
17. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/loginurl=http://search.proquest.com/docview/210992813? accountid=8440
Ferguson,
C. J. (2011). Video games and youth violence: A prospective analysis
in adolescents. Journal
of Youth and Adolescence, 40(4),
377-91. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/858659823? accountid=8440
Perry,
S. (2013, Jan 08). Violent video games not shown to cause real-world
violence. MinnPost.Com.
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