New Study Links Games and Violence - Video Games Forum

marksman · #1 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

A new, if rather small-scale study into the effects of violent videogame play has been completed, the results of the investigation being published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Predictably, the survey found that persistent play of violent games had the effect of decreasing sensitivity to real-world violent images in the subject. The test was conducted by Bruce Bartholow, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Marc Sestir from the University of North Carolina and Brad Bushman, a professor at the University of Michigan.

"It's already well known that playing violent video games increases aggressive behaviour and decreases helping behaviour," professor Bushman commented in an official press release. "But this study is the first to link exposure to violent video games with a diminished reaction to violent images."

"Most of us naturally have a strong aversion to the sight of blood and gore," Bartholow explained. "Surgeons and soldiers may need to overcome these reactions in order to perform their duties. But for most people, a diminished reaction to the effects of violence is not adaptive. It can reduce inhibitions against aggressive behaviour and increase the possibility of inflicting violence on others."

Thirty-nine undergraduate men took part in the test, and whilst this link has been inferred in the past, the experts behind this research are quick to highlight the significance of their findings. That said, we still don't know if videogames have a stronger impact on the psyche than TV, films and other visual entertainment forms. More as we get it.

http://www.ferrago.com/story/7040

lpstong · #2 (**permalink**) 01-24-2006, 12:19 PM

Hmmm..... I have been hearing that violent games affect the children in the media for years now. Is there any other studies out there that study children and video games. I know one thing I hear quite often is that many people play the video games to escape the downers of life. That it is one way to control something no one else can.
I wonder what kind of healthy lifestyle this is for many people. I know for some this will not have any affect on their relationships. But for some this is not a healthy form of expressing what they are truly feeling about others.
I also saw on the news that a 10year old boy started having tick muscle movements from over play on his game system. His mother said he was playing 4 hours or more on the system. Than she noticed him having involuntary muscle movements. The Doctor told the mom to have the child stop playing. Amazing enough the ticks stopped. Apparently the child is still playing at 1 hour a day instead of 4.

thepaper · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2006, 01:39 PM

I play alot of games and never had a violent tendancy. Well unless you count me yelling at the characters in the game. But I think I can get heavily involved in the game and play for hours.

llkooldudell45 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 03:26 AM

Well, most of these studies are conducted on young children. When they are easily manipulated. There is a difference between a 7 year old playing a violent video game then a 11 year old playing one.