The Impact of Violent Video Games on Aggression in Psychology

This essay delves into the significant impact of violent video games on aggression, particularly among youth. It explores the correlation between exposure to violent content in video games and the subsequent increase in aggressive behaviors, drawing upon various research studies and meta-analyses. The essay examines how violent video games can influence impulsivity, cognition, and pro-social behaviors, potentially leading to psychological and social impacts. It critically reviews current research, including studies that investigate the priming effect and long-term consequences, while also addressing the debate surrounding the overestimation of violent video games' effects. The analysis covers the relationship between violent video games and aggression, considering factors like desensitization to violence and changes in emotional arousal. Ultimately, the essay concludes that violent video games can negatively affect human behavior, increasing the level of aggression, and suggests the need for consumers to be mindful of their behavior while playing violent video games to reduce aggression and improve helping nature.

Impact of violent video games on aggression

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Introduction
In this modern era, the use of video game is growing rapidly which also impact
on youth aggression. It is observed that consumer's exposure to the violent
environment for example; criminal gangs or fight can enhance the rate of aggression in
the youngest consumers (Anderson, et al., 2010). It is a very major concern that violent
video game is directly linked with the aggressive behaviour that has the ability for
reducing pro-social behaviour from consumers. The objective of this research is to
identify the impact of the violent video game on aggression and critically review the
problem of the violent video game. Mainly, this essay focuses on the effect of the violent
video game on the behaviour of youth and the relationship between exposure to violent
video game and aggression.
Effect of violent video game
The violent video game is one of the serious concerns in this generation which
increase the rate of impulsivity and interfere with the cognition of human's nature. A
recent study identified that violent video game impacts on the children and youngest
adults along with their behaviour. Playing violent games on a regular basis can affect the
daily life activities of consumers which enhance the rate of aggressive behaviour in
users. Most violent games are designed to artificially stimulate the sense of danger that
promotes the issue of aggression. There are numerous studies developed in a few years
and supported their arguments with the help of evidence (Breuer, Vogelgesang, Quandt,
& Festl, 2015). It is observed that violent video games enhanced the issue of aggression
in its players and it played a major role in very close temporal proximity to play online
games.
Several meta-analysis studies identified the effect of violent video game which
includes social impact, psychological impact and change in behaviour. Aggression is one
the key factor which increased by the increasing rate of violent video game and it is a
very common problem occurred due to exposure violent video game. Centre four
research, (2017) conducted research and suggested that the effect of violent video
games in aggression have been substantially overestimated due to publication bias.

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However, the violent video game also influences delinquency and bullying behaviours of
consumers in a negative manner.
A critical review of current research
The violent video game is one of the common topics for the research and many
authors provided their views on this topic in order to find the effect of the violent video
game. According to Ferguson, Olson, Kutner, & Warner, (2014) the issue of the violent
game can be improved the aggressive behaviours in the individuals and this rate
increase due to playing video games. From this journal paper, it has found that meta-
analysis is the best approach for identifying the impacts of violent video game and the
relationship between a violent game and aggressive behaviour. It is analysed the kids
and adults are more susceptible to violent video game effects which are directly linked
with the issue of aggression. Gabbiadini, Riva, Andrighetto, Volpato, & Bushman, (2014)
suggested that the impacts of studies focusing on the consequences of short term video
gameplay are linked with primary effects of the violent video game.
It is observed that the priming effect should only play a role in very close
temporal proximity to gameplay and it is very important to monitor the level of violent
video game for reducing the rate of aggression. GTA is one of the best examples of
violent video game in which consumers are rewarded for their use of violence in order
to increase the numbers of users. Moreover, the game plays focus on the open world
process where consumers can select different behaviours which also lead the issue of
aggression.
This research study identified the impact of playing violent video games and also
highlighted the relation between violent games and aggressive behaviour. According to
Gentile, Li, Khoo, Prot, & Anderson, (2014) playing violent games on a regular basis can
change the behaviour of the consumer and it also reduces the helping nature of players?
This research paper identified that the rate of aggression depends on the nature of
individual towards violent video games but affect the behaviour of players in a negative
manner. a recent study identified that the between 2014 and 2018 the rate of violent
crimes has increased by 50% because its impacts on the aggression of player which
increase the level of crimes in the United States. From a violent video game, many

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children think that they can be rewarded while playing violent games but it also
increases their aggressive nature towards society.
Greitemeyer, (2014) conducted a survey for better understanding about the
research topic and argued that the violent video game negatively impacts on the nature
of individuals who play online games and they can suffer from the aggression. From the
survey, it has found that violence is one of the major themes of the video game where
players play the game and earn rewards that directly impact on their behaviour.
However, playing violent video games on a regular basis can seed negative natures in
many ways and can be studied in a perceptual, physiological and social learning context.
A study conducted by Greitemeyer, & Mügge, (2014) identified that the negative
emotional arousal which follows by intense violent video games can lead the health
issues and problems. Another impact of the violent game is desensitization to social
values and norms and it also influences the problem of personality disorders in
individuals and children.
Relationship between violent video game and aggression
Dartmouth authors have published the findings of a meta-analysis of 24 studies
form about the world and evaluated that children and adults are more aggressive while
playing violent video games. Mainly, the aggression would start between three and four
months after individuals started playing violent games. At that time their behaviour
involves fighting with friends or hitting their school mates. There are numerous studies
conducted between 2000 and 2017 in order to analyse the impact of violent video
games and it is evaluated that there is a significant relationship between violent video
games and aggressive behaviour. From research conducted by Hollingdale, &
Greitemeyer, (2014) examined that the violent video game plays a significant character
in this modern era and it is also linked with physical aggression.
The American psychological association argued that violent video game is one of
the major factors that have the ability for increasing the aggressive behaviours of
players which can impact on consumer’s daily life activities. In the year 2017, the
American psychological association suggested that violent video games exposure was
related to improved aggressive nature, emotions, and thoughts and reduced the level of
empathy from children and adults. Moreover, it is not clear whether the violent game

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was related to delinquency or cyber-crimes. Krahé, & Möller, (2018) demonstrated that
violent video games can desensitize consumers from seeing aggressive nature and
reduce pro-social behaviours, for example, helping another consumer and capability to
understand other consumers.
Evaluation of research literature
Therefore, it is argued that violent video game can impact on the nature of
consumers and also enhance the level of aggression. Due to the high level of aggressive
behaviour children cannot help another person and reduce feeling empathy. However,
players who play a violent video game on a regular basis are more likely toward
aggressive behaviour. Although men spend more time while playing violent video
games as compare to women due to which men are more aggressive. Hitting or pushing
is very common factors linked with the aggressive behaviour which are growing rapidly
due to the use of violent video games.
From recent literature, it is evaluated that there are fewer studies supported that
violent video game increase the change of criminal behaviour in consumers but it is true
that violent video games and activities can enhance the issue of aggression in the
consumer who play such kind of games (Kühn, et al., 2018). For better understanding
about impacts of the violent video game the American psychological associated
developed and implemented several strategies and argued that children aged below 14
years are more likely towards aggressive behaviour because they play violent video
game seriously.
The Meta-analysis approach reviewed the impact of violent video game and
suggested that playing a violent game can increase physical aggression among preteens
and adolescents. In the year 2015 literature review conducted by American
psychological association concluded that violent video games increase the level of
aggression in older kids and adults (Markey, Markey, & French, (2015). From previous
studies, it is observed that media violence is one of the major risks for aggression which
occur due to the use of violent video game on a regular basis.

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Conclusion
Form the research, it is concluded that violent video game negatively impacts on
the human’s behaviour and also influence the aggressive behaviour in consumers. This
research study identified the impact of violent video game and computed the relation
between violent games and aggression. There are several studies provided evidence
regarding violent video game and identified that playing such kind of games over a long
time can lead to fighting or hitting behaviour in children. Therefore, it is suggested that
consumers should focus on their behaviour while playing violent video games which
can reduce the level of aggression and improve helping nature.

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References
Anderson, C. A., Shibuya, A., Ihori, N., Swing, E. L., Bushman, B. J., Sakamoto, A., & Saleem,
M. (2010). Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and prosocial
behaviour in Eastern and Western countries: A meta-analytic
review. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 151.
Breuer, J., Vogelgesang, J., Quandt, T., & Festl, R. (2015). Violent video games and
physical aggression: Evidence for a selection effect among
adolescents. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 4(4), 305.
Centre four research (2017). Violent Video Games and Aggression. Retrieved from:
http://www.center4research.org/violent-video-games-can-increase-aggression/
Ferguson, C. J., Olson, C. K., Kutner, L. A., & Warner, D. E. (2014). Violent video games,
catharsis seeking, bullying, and delinquency: A multivariate analysis of
effects. Crime & Delinquency, 60(5), 764-784.
Gabbiadini, A., Riva, P., Andrighetto, L., Volpato, C., & Bushman, B. J. (2014). Interactive
effect of moral disengagement and violent video games on self-control, cheating,
and aggression. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5(4), 451-458.
Gentile, D. A., Li, D., Khoo, A., Prot, S., & Anderson, C. A. (2014). Mediators and
moderators of long-term effects of violent video games on aggressive behaviour:
Practice, thinking, and action. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(5), 450-457.
Greitemeyer, T. (2014). Intense acts of violence during video game play make daily life
aggression appear innocuous: A new mechanism why violent video games
increase aggression. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 50, 52-56.
Greitemeyer, T., & Mügge, D. O. (2014). Video games do affect social outcomes: A meta-
analytic review of the effects of violent and prosocial video game
play. Personality and social psychology bulletin, 40(5), 578-589.
Hollingdale, J., & Greitemeyer, T. (2014). The effect of online violent video games on
levels of aggression. PLoS One, 9(11), e111790.

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Krahé, B., & Möller, I. (2018). Longitudinal effects of media violence on aggression and
empathy among German adolescents. Journal of Applied Developmental
Psychology, 31(5), 401-409.
Kühn, S., Kugler, D. T., Schmalen, K., Weichenberger, M., Witt, C., & Gallinat, J. (2018).
Does playing violent video games cause aggression? A longitudinal intervention
study. Molecular Psychiatry, 1.
Markey, P. M., Markey, C. N., & French, J. E. (2015). Violent video games and real-world
violence: Rhetoric versus data. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 4(4), 277.