A Study on the Influence of Video Games on Violent Behavior in Youth

This essay examines the influence of video games on violent behavior, particularly among young people. It acknowledges both the potential benefits of video games, such as improved problem-solving skills and mood enhancement, and the negative impacts, including increased aggression, desensitization to violence, and potential for social isolation. The essay discusses the role of violent video games in mass shootings and the psychological trauma experienced by players in online multiplayer games. It also considers alternative perspectives that emphasize the importance of mental health and environmental factors in contributing to violent behavior. The essay concludes that while not all video games are harmful, continuous monitoring and awareness are necessary to mitigate the potential negative effects of violent video games on youth, advocating for a balanced approach that considers both the content of the games and the overall well-being of children.

Running head: INFLUENCE OF VIDEO GAMES ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
INFLUENCE OF VIDEO GAMES ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
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INFLUENCE OF VIDEO GAMES ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
Introduction
The American society has progressed at a paceunmatched by other societies and it has
turned out to be themost developed and modern societies of the generation. However, certain
incidences have obstructed the development and raised concerns for the society. One such is the
increasing rate of violent behaviors demonstrated by the young generation mainly due to the rise
in violent video games. The essay will establish the vitality of the influence of video games to be
measured and evidences be gathered to fathom the exact effect. The main argument of the essay
thus is that strict monitoring and awareness to ensure that children are not indulged in negative
behaviors through the video games is most important.
Discussion
Video games are always considered to have a negative impact on the behavior by
common public. However, researchers have suggested that it could help children in developing
their skills of problem solving (Thompson et al., 2012). This is due to the fact that when playing
strategic games such as role-plays, children improve their solving problems skills. With the
same, games like Angry Birds are straightforward and they bring in relaxation and instant
happiness and further improved the moods. As per Granic, Lobel and Engels (2014), it is a
“fundamental emotional benefit” that children could get from video games. However, it is to note
that the negative impact of video games are basically related to how often an individual play
video game as well as the content of the game. One of the most harmful impacts of playing video
games is that of increased in aggression among children. As per Greitemeyer and Mugge (2014),
video games are casual risk factors that increase aggressive behavior. Also, some of the
researchers have stated that theviolent video games could make children less sensitive to

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violence and they decrease the possibility of pro-social behavior. Also, the psychological games
are possibly to develop feeling of social isolation, anxiety depression and insomnia.
America has a dark history of mass shootings carried out by shooters as young as 14 to
15 years of age. In the recent past, most of the shootings, be it the Las Vegas shooting of 2017,
the Virginia Tech shooting of 2007 or the most recent, Santa Fe High School shooting have been
motivated by violent video games, suggest experts.Fox and DeLateur (2014) have opined that
multiplayer online video games that involve violence do have a serious effect on the psychology
of a child. In a recent case of an online multiplayer game, the mother of a 7-year-old girl had
shared a horrid instance of her daughter being traumatized after her Roblox avatar was ‘virtually
gang raped’ by some players(Dailymail.co.uk, 2018). However, many are of the view that
blaming the video games solely for the violent behaviors is not valid because it.According to a
study conducted by Ferguson and Olson (2014), no evidence of bullying or criminal behavior
was found in children who spent hours in playing video games but with “clinically elevated
mental health”. It is therefore evident that apart from violent video games, mental health of the
children and young people also plays a part in violent behaviors.
It is to note that not all the studies have found a link in between aggression and video
games that are violent, yet, most of the works does show a relationship in between the two. As
per the research conducted by Gabbiadini et al. (2016), violent video games lead to aggression
and they reduce empathy among the video game players. Also, as per Kuhn et al. (2018), violent
video games increases the aggression among the players. As a result the behavior of the video
game players changes towards their friends, family and peers. They react aggressively and
violently and this give rise of fights. In one of the very recent meta-analysis of about 98 different
studies, comprising of 36,965 participants it has been shown that video games influence the

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social behavior of individuals (Greitemeyer & Mugge, 2014). Also as per Ferguson (2015),
playing violent video games lead to immediate changes in the behavior. For example, players are
more possibly to punish the unseen opponents in a task by making noise bursts after playing
violent video games. However, it is to mention that the effects of violent video games is not
equal for everyone. It vary across different individuals.
As discussed above, not only violent video games but mental health also play a part in the
violent behaviors demonstrated by children and young people. Ferguson (2014)opines, “societal
consumption of media violence especially videogames is not predictive of increased societal
violence rates”. These evidences indicate that there is an increasing need for spreading awareness
amongst parents and their children about the need for a stable and sound mental health.
Policymakers responsible for restricting the consumption of videogames amongst children and
youth often question the influence of videogames on the violent behavior of people. This is
because they view that monitoring and awareness is more important than restricting videogames
being played by people. Violent video games are just one part of the aggressive and violent
behaviors demonstrated by younger people and children. The monitoring should involve constant
check on the kind of environment children grow up in, the environment in their home and school.
It is important that children be given consistent help from the parents and teachers to elevate
their mental health. The awareness must include children and younger people be enlightened
about their true potential rather than just engaging in violent video games. In addition, the
videogame producers should also be made aware about their responsibility towards the society.
Conclusion
Hence, from the above analysis it is conclude that not all video games are harmful for the
children and not all of them promote violent behaviors among them. It depends on the game

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content and the amount of time children are spending playing it. Power of the video games is a
crucial issue for the society as its effect, not always, could be extremely negative. Hence, a
continuous monitoring is always necessary. With the same, it is also to mention that although not
everyone agrees to this, the evidence of video games causing violent behaviors comes down on
the side of neuro-hit.

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Dailymail.co.uk. (2018). Outrage as 7-year-old's Roblox avatar is 'gang raped' by other players.
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olds-Roblox-avatar-gang-raped-players-virtual-world.html
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