Violent video games have been blamed for increases in bullying, aggression, and even school shootings. Many believe that these games desensitize players to violence, reward players for simulating violence, and teach them that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflicts. On the other hand, video game supporters argue that a vast majority of the research on the topic is deeply flawed and that no fundamental relationships have been found between video games and social violence. They see gaming as an outlet rather than a cause for aggression. This issue remains up for discussion, with even the government getting involved. Do violent video games contribute to aggression among children? Violent video games teach youth that violence is an
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Violent video games can lead to scripts that tell youth to respond aggressively in certain situations. Pamela Eakes, Founder of Mothers Against Violence in America (MAVIA), wrote in an article titled Do You Know What Video Games Your Children Are Playing? “According to child psychologist Michael Rich, children develop what psychologists call 'behavioral scripts.' They interpret their experiences and respond to others using those scripts.” Eakes went on to say, “One can easily see how repeated exposure to violent behavioral scripts can lead to increased feelings of hostility, expectation that others will behave aggressively, desensitization to the pain of others, and an increased likelihood of interacting and responding to others with violence.” Violence in video games may lead to real world violence when scripts are automatically triggered in daily life, such as being nudged in a school hallway. Constant involvement in violent video games causes a gamer to be desensitized to real life violence which will end up hurting them in the real world as they are more prone to being hostile to …show more content…
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry wrote in an Aug. 2006 article Children and Video Games: Playing with Violence, “Children and adolescents can become overly involved and even obsessed with videogames. Spending large amounts of time playing these games can create problems and lead to... aggressive thoughts and behaviors." Rewarding players for doing violent tasks incentivizes the act of violence which is then carried on into the real
Violent video games can lead to scripts that tell youth to respond aggressively in certain situations. Pamela Eakes, Founder of Mothers Against Violence in America (MAVIA), wrote in an article titled Do You Know What Video Games Your Children Are Playing? “According to child psychologist Michael Rich, children develop what psychologists call 'behavioral scripts.' They interpret their experiences and respond to others using those scripts.” Eakes went on to say, “One can easily see how repeated exposure to violent behavioral scripts can lead to increased feelings of hostility, expectation that others will behave aggressively, desensitization to the pain of others, and an increased likelihood of interacting and responding to others with violence.” Violence in video games may lead to real world violence when scripts are automatically triggered in daily life, such as being nudged in a school hallway. Constant involvement in violent video games causes a gamer to be desensitized to real life violence which will end up hurting them in the real world as they are more prone to being hostile to …show more content…
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry wrote in an Aug. 2006 article Children and Video Games: Playing with Violence, “Children and adolescents can become overly involved and even obsessed with videogames. Spending large amounts of time playing these games can create problems and lead to... aggressive thoughts and behaviors." Rewarding players for doing violent tasks incentivizes the act of violence which is then carried on into the real