Do video games cause aggressive behavior?
Video games have been the center of controversy due to graphic violence, adult nature situations, consumption of illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol use and the use of the bad language. Ever since 1997 when the popular Pokemon game apparently set off seizures in your kids, experts have tried to weigh the pros and cons of video games. I believe that there are some good video games that are good examples for children but the majority are violent and contains mature content. Psychologists have done many research studies to support their case of aggressive behavior in kids that play violent video games. Research has shown that young people that play these violent video games behave more violently and seem to think more aggressively. Some researches have said that violent video games are more harmful then violent television shows because they are more interactive and require that the player identify with the aggressor in the game.Psychologist’s research shows that kids are playing for long periods of time at a time. They repeatedly play games that has violent nature and they tend to believe that its normal behavior. The research states that kids are more likely to show aggressive behavior towards their peers. Children result to solving conflicts in the aggressive manners that are depicted in the games. There is a higher rate of injury and harmful behavior towards otthers. It’s disturbing because in many violent games you as the player are allowed to act out crimes and are rewarded for it. For instance in the game Grand Theft Auto, players are rewarded for carjacking. In a version of the game, the player is rewarded for murdering corrupt police officers. Not only are these games promoting violence, it also depicts racist hate crimes. When asked what is your favorite video game, many kids answered violent ones. Kids have admitted that their violent crime or disturbing behavior is something they learned in a video game. For instance the teen shooter in the 1999 Columbine high school massacre admitted he was mimicking a video game. I think that parents have to get more aware of the games their kids are playing. Game retailers and vendors have to enforce the id requirements for purchasing these games. Kids today unfortunately witness enough use of profanity, drugs, alcohol and crime just walking the streets in this society. There is enough of aggressive behavior and crime in this world. It shouldn’t be glorified in video games. Kids should be able to be kids.
