Video games have become one of the fastest-growing entertainment markets in the world. Video games are one of the fastest growing entertainment markets on the planet. Video games are notorious for implementing violent behaviors towards everything from innocent animals to real-life players. The video games industry in recent years has come under fire for the amount violence put into their games. These are then sold on to an audience that wasn’t intended. Parents and others who are worried about how violent videogames are affecting teens and younger children are expressing their concerns. When teens and young adults play violent games, they are more likely to be indoctrinated. Yes, violence is a barrier to reality that can be broken by outside anger or problems. Video games are a good way to trigger feelings in teens and young children because they’re impressionable.
Many people believe that violent videogames can have a significant impact on someone’s mental health. However, others think that they are merely a harmless and easy way to release sudden emotions. The recent spate of school shootings has sparked a debate on this subject. As a result, many people are now focusing their attention on the issue. Both video games and aggression have been studied extensively and are well-known. The number of children who play violent video games is higher than 90%. An article in Frontiers in Phycology cites a study that shows the correlation between violent video games in children and their behavior. In multiple scenarios, the ability of playable factors determines the level of aggression. More studies conclude that rational thinking is linked to aggression. Bandura (1989) states that adolescents are more influenced by what they watch and listen to. Adolescents are more aware of their emotions and thoughts. There are studies that show the parenting style of parents can affect a child’s happiness. They also found out how this influences aggression in adolescents. Children aged between 8 and 15 who are raised in a household where there is more violence (TV or media) show signs of aggression. In Newtown Connecticut in 2012, Adam Lanza (age 20) killed 26 innocent victims, including 20 children aged 6 or 7 years. Was video gaming to blame? The police found computer games in the Lanza home, including Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and other popular titles. Some of the games found included Left for Dead or Doom. Another game was “School Shooter”, a computer game that you can play in school, shooting at other students. All of the games listed above have been given an M rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. What is the ESRB’s rating system? The ESRB rates everything, from physical games to apps (e.g. boxes). ESRB ratings are based on a series of questions that you fill out. These include things such as violence, sexuality and language. Second, the ESRB looks at the actual game via cutscenes and gameplay. Once the first steps have been completed, a panel of “professionals”, or raters, will then debate the appropriate rating for that particular game. Once they have reached a decision, ESRB staff will grade the game. There are five rating categories: Everyone, Everyone 10+ (for everyone under 18), Teen, Mature (for adults only), and Rating Pending. Since the 1950s, video games have become more realistic. Ryan Van Cleave describes in his book “Unplugged” how the popular online game World of Warcraft affected his life and even brought him to suicide. World of Warcraft has 12 million players, with more joining every day. It generates an annual income of $180,000,000 and is growing. GTA is one of most popular games for teens in the US. It has been played from 8 to 18 year olds. GTA is rated M17+ by EBSR. In light of this knowledge, it’s quite disturbing that a federally-rated system is not able to protect our youth. It is evident that children are playing video games at levels which interfere with their schooling, family lives, and psychological well-being. According to some studies, video games have a direct correlation with physical aggression, inattention, and poor school performance. Video games are known to lead to aggression. However, what about the school performance of children? A study has shown that those who play video games for long periods of time are more likely to experience attention problems in school. The time you spend playing video games, no matter what type they are, takes away your time to do homework or attend social events. Cummings & Vandewater found that children aged 10-19 spent 64 percent less on reading and writing during adolescence. It’s also common that children who are not well-prepared for school will turn to video games as a way to pretend to be someone else. Gentile (2009) discovered that in other studies children who play games more intensely are three times as likely to have ADHD or cognitive deficits. These studies have led to the conclusion that video games can affect a child’s ability to pay attention. However, games that are more complicated, such as FPSs (first-person shooting) do not have the same effect. Take two video games that are both on the extremes. Call of Duty has more violence than Minecraft. Minecraft gets you thinking about “where to build a house” or “I need some food”. Call of Duty is more beneficial to children and has less of an impact on their attention.
Video games may not be the sole factor that determines aggressive behavior in children, but they do play an important role. Despite the fact that not all people who play violent games will go on to commit violent crimes, the games reach the more vulnerable individuals. The problem is that these people are the ones who seem to be affected by violent video games. Why do gaming companies “pump out”, games that are a cause of concern for some individuals?
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