ENG-W131: Analyzing the Psychological Impact of Video Games

This essay examines the effects of video games on adolescents and children, referencing articles by Anderson, Douglas, and Katherine, and Happ and André. It delves into the debate surrounding violent video games (VVG) and their potential to promote violence, while also considering the role of empathy. The essay highlights the importance of understanding the science behind VVG effects for responsible gaming and suggests that both articles provide significant tools for teens and families to navigate the world of video games responsibly. It also acknowledges the discrepancies in research findings regarding the connection between aggression and playing VVG, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the influence of video game content on the electrical brain processes of children and adolescents.

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Rickdai / Chuyan Dai
ENG-W131-13752
Professor Molly
4/4/2018
Effects of Video Game on Adolescents and Children
The two articles that are to be put into the conversation in this paper are “Violent video
game effects on children and adolescents: Theory, research, and public policy” and “Empathy
and violent video games: Aggression and prosocial behavior.” The former article is authored by
Anderson, Douglas, and Katherine whereas the latter is authored by Happ and André. The main
topic discussed in the two articles is the effects of a video game on adolescents and children.
Craig Anderson is a leading researcher of aftermaths of violence exposure in mass media and
together with his colleagues Katherine Buckley and Douglas Gentile, have presented a highly
scholarly and extremely sophisticated explication of VVG effects.
They have detailed why partaking in violent games can, in fact, promote violence by
participants and why the community at large, including prominent journals and newspapers, find
it quite challenging to accept the significant amount of carefully gathered evidence which
presently exists documenting such ill influences. On the other hand, Happ and Melzer usher the
two primary components of research as empathy and content of social media. In this sense, both
articles offer relevant information that will help me under-investigated video game content
influence on electrical brain process of the adolescents and children.
Anderson's study is a must read the piece for scholars with interests in understanding the
media violence because it merges a concise summary of previous studies with reports of 3

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different significant studies thereby efficiently elucidating the violent video games’ effects on
young adults, adolescents, and children. Indeed, the reported studies in this book give the most
compelling and rigorous evidence to present-day about the destructive effects of VVG.
Especially, the use of the longitudinal study of VVG effects in Anderson et al. study is on
that worth silencing the critics that complain about the short-run, experimental lab research
validity. This book is worth being cited by policymakers as the cornerstone in future attempts to
tackle the issues about VVG. Similarly, Happ and Melzer have used several previous studies to
present the evidence of the adverse effects of violent media on children and adolescents which
are explained by different theoretical models for easy understanding by the readers.
The use of credible previous studies in these two articles helps present comprehensive
background on the topic. Indeed, Happ and Melzer have presented useful empirical examination
at the effects of empathy on VVG, and this is blended with the theoretical literature thus helping
the readers to note the relationship between VVG and children and adolescents’ violence.
Similarly, Anderson et al. provide a blend of excellent empirical research and theory including
authors’ own studies, and several suggestions for public policy discourses thus leading to a more
positive content of the games alongside a more considered videos’ use.
The methodological section in Anderson et al. is, however, well written and identifiable
than it is in Happ and Melzer and hence a must for any person who contemplates entering the
VVG field. To sum up, the two articles leave readers walking away fathoming that video games
are never to be feared, but need to be enjoyed responsibly once the participant has understood the
science behind VVG effects. The two articles are significant tools that will assist teens as well as
families to remain responsible players.

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Works Cited
Anderson, Craig A., Douglas A. Gentile, and Katherine E. Buckley. Violent video game effects
on children and adolescents: Theory, research, and public policy. Oxford University
Press, 2007.
Happ, Christian, and André Melzer. Empathy and violent video games: Aggression and prosocial
behavior. Springer, 2014.