Violent Video Games Essay

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Over the past several decades, video gaming has become one of the most, if not the most popular form of entertainment for teenagers in America and several other countries. Video game genres can vary from the casual puzzle/ problem solver variety to a fast paced first-person shooter types. Like many other forms of entertainment media, video gaming has received a great deal of scrutiny. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the entity that rates video games (e.g., C, E, T, M and A), claims that in 2010 the average gamer spent an astonishing 8 hours a day playing video games. (ESRB, 2010) Violent games (such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto) have received the brunt of the criticism. Many people believe that violent video games cause teens to develop an aggressive and eventually violent attitude, even claiming that they are responsible for multiple recent school shootings. Due to concern over the increasing popularity of video games and their effect on the behavior of teens, a myriad of research has been conducted …show more content…
Sociopaths and others with antisocial personality disorder are characterized by their lack of empathy toward others, but are not necessarily known for acts of violence. “[S]ome people with antisocial personality disorder can be violent, but most are not.” (Feature, 2014) Similarly, simply having a more aggressive attitude by itself does not necessarily mean that person will act out in a violent manner. However, combining these traits --the desensitization towards violence and lack of empathy caused by gaming with an already aggressive attitude or mental illness -- can lead to an increased likelihood of violent acts. This would explain why teens who play violent video games are not necessarily violent, but violent teens who are associated with violence tend to be steadfast

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