Violent Video Games Explained
Violent Video Games Explained
Ever since Video Games first appeared on the market, there have been concerns over violent content and real-life effects of that content. Researchers and parents alike have made claims stating that violence in video games causes severe behavior problems in children, such as aggression and violence. However, researchers have released numerous studies stating that there is no link between violence in games and behavior problems in the real world. Behavior problems are not directly caused by violent video games, and this essay will prove it!
Overview of the Problem
There has always been a negative connotation towards violence of video games, ranging from gun violence in Call of Duty to jumping on blocks in Super Mario Bros. Parents and researchers alike have found problems with violent video games, but many do not know the real problems. Doctors have claimed that violence in these games can include aggression, confrontation, engaging in fighting, and a lack of school achievements (Norcia). Scientists have also conducted studies that found that children are more likely to imitate things they see in games, which could lead to problems if they are playing a violent game. They also found that repetition in games can lead to problems because they may be repeating violent actions (Norcia). In order to help this problem, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) was created to inform parents of content in games, but problems still persisted. It is not surprising how parents and researchers could claim these things, but scientists have not released any studies that have actually proved that they cause these problems.
The Real Story Behind Violent Video Games
Although many researchers and parents have claimed that violence in video games is harmful to their children, countless amounts of studies have proved that this violence has no effect on children. One study conducted in the United Kingdom showed that between 1996 and 2011, youth violence dropped while the levels of media violence stayed high. (Vincent). Psychologist Christopher Ferguson also noted that society should devote time to reducing crime rather than video games (Vincent). This helps to show how even as the violence in media such as video games and television