Effects of Violent Video Games on Children Essay

Words: 1691
Pages: 7
Open Document
Effects of Violent Video Games on Children

The use of video games has become tremendously popular among children and adolescents in the past decade. In fact, “Sixty-eight percent of U.S. households play computer or video games.” (David Jenkins, 2009) This statistic reveals how important it is to understand the effects that these games can have on individuals and more specifically, children. Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted investigating whether video games have positive or negative impacts. An increase in popularity has raised concern with the negative effects that may or may not be occurring. Video games exploit three fundamental learning strategies and therefore are easily able to influence children and …show more content…
Children exposed to high amounts of violence in video games tend to be less sensitive to real life violent situations. (Anderson & Dill, 2000, p. 782; Gentile & Anderson, 2003, p. 134) The use of cross-sectional research rather than longitudinal research affected the results of these studies. In order to obtain accurate conclusions, on the long-term effects of violent video games, the researchers should have observed the same cohort as it ages. Also, the participants in both studies, conducted by Anderson and Dill, were predominantly female. Although, the researchers used random selection, a population of mainly females is an unrepresentative sample. Minimal research on the long-term effects of video games has been made due to a lack of funding for a longitudinal design study. (Gentile & Anderson, 2003, p. 150)

On the contrary, a substantial amount of studies have been performed on the short-term impacts that violent games can have on a child’s aggression levels. “In the short term, playing a violent video game appears to affect aggression by priming aggressive thoughts.” (Anderson & Dill, 2000, p. 788) Children begin to use aggression outside of the video game as either an imitation or to solve conflict. In a study conducted by A. Irwin and Alan Gross, children’s aggression is observed during playtime and during a frustrating situation after playing either a violent or nonviolent video game. Results indicated that children
Show More

Related Documents: Effects of Violent Video Games on Children Essay

Violence in Video Games Essay

which has come along with both negative and positive effects. Heated debates of whether video games have positive or harmful effects to those who play it more so young children and male adults have ensued. These debates have not been conclusive of whether video games have negative or positive effects on the gamers. Video games played from Playstation 3's, Xbox 360, laptops, and computers have made access to video games possible to the lovers of the game. Critiques, however, hold divergent views over the…

Words 1796 - Pages 8

Violent Video Games Research Paper

27 September 2014 Violent Video Games Everyone knows that technology is the future. For children and teens, that means more advanced video games, specifically violent ones. In time, video games will become more realistic and detailed; violent games will have and even more gruesome storyline than ever, containing more fighting, shooting, and gore (“Violent Video Games”). The question parents should ask is, “Do these violent video games have a negative physical and mental impact on children?” The f…

Words 706 - Pages 3

Violent Video Games Essay examples

Violent Video Games: Effect on Child Development Every year the world of video games grows in influence and importance for the lives of American families. Amazing new games continuously outdo the previous games. Games now have higher levels, and new technologies unlock new possibilities for interaction, entertainment, and impact. According to MediaWise-Harris Interactive Poll, 9 out of 10 kids ages 8 to 16 play video games in their homes. Also the average age of gamers continues to increase, as…

Words 725 - Pages 3

Violent Video Games Cause Aggression

Keyona Washington Mrs. Treglown Comp Two June 23, 2014 Violent Video Games Cause Aggression There are many people around the world that allow their children to play violent video games and play games that has violent things on them. I feel that young children should not be allowed to play video games that have violent things in them. Violent games can make young kids look at things in the world differently. There are thousands of games now days that show things that could drive a child to possibly…

Words 1795 - Pages 8

The Power of Video Games on Children Essay

101 March 16, 2014 The Power of Video Games on Children As the video game industry grows in our culture, we see more and more children getting involved in the widespread games of this age. Studies for video games have always been split due to the difficulty of pinpointing the effects on long-term involvement. While some games pose potential to stimulate children’s minds, the main popular games consist of shooters depict war. Violent video games played by children pose the threat of normalizing violence…

Words 1282 - Pages 6

Synthesis Of Video Media

B.J. (2001). APA reference is below. Video game industry leaders deny the harmful effects of their products (Video games) however this has been a long debate among social scientists on the role of exposure to violence of TV and indulgence of children in playing violent video games on their overall behaviour. Television and video games are the most commonly accessed media by youths and thus become a focal point of study in determining their effects on behaviour. A myriad of writers have indulged…

Words 590 - Pages 3

Video Games and Violence Essays

Video Games and Violence Video games vary in the type of entertainment they provide, from educational purposes to extremely violent. Inevitably, with the large variety of games available, parents are facing the task of protecting their children from the more violent games that could have a negative impact on them. The debate over the evidence supporting the connection between video games violence and real world violence among experts is ongoing, however; both sides agree the parents play a pivotal…

Words 722 - Pages 3

Debate: Violence and Video Games Essay

DEBATE 4 ARGMUENT POINTS 1. There is no question that playing violent video games has an adverse effect on our children. Parents know this intuitively, and the research confirms it. It ranks right up there with gang membership as the No. 1 sign for propensity to commit crimes of violence. Among the risk factors for aggressive or violent behavior, it is three times greater than substance abuse and two times greater than a record of prior violence. 2. The research in this area is so clear that the…

Words 778 - Pages 4

Violent Video Games Do Not Cause Violence

Video games do not cause violence in kids or teens. There is barely any real evidence to prove violence is enhanced by video games. Video games have been around for years, kids, adults, and teenagers all find enjoyment out of them. However, many people think that the increasing rate of violent acts is due to kids growing up playing violent games. This statement is not true, though, and here's why. Most violent acts that are carried out are by adults. There are a couple of cases that have occured…

Words 564 - Pages 3

The Effects Of Violent Video Games

exposure of children to violent video games leads to aggressive behavior, feelings of hostility, and disruptions in academic achievements. Violent games first appeared in 1970’s but it was not until 1990 that violent video games fully emerged. At this time the manufacturers of video games first experimented to see if the public accept violence in video games. It gradually became clear that most of the best-selling contained high levels of violence, and even today many of the games that sell the…

Words 1038 - Pages 5