It is very disturbing that school shootings are becoming too common, and I have often wondered why we think of solutions to issues like these only in the aftermath of horribly tragic incidents like mass shootings. The factors that lead up to these horrific incidents include mental illness, easy access to guns, and environmental factors. In the last few decades, there have been multiple studies conducted about the effect of violence in media on behavior and scientific evidence clearly shows that violent video games have harmful effects. In a 2004 survey of Pediatricians, over 98% believed that media has an effect on childhood aggression. But somehow, this message has failed to reach and impact the average American parent.
Video gaming (playing video games) has become an increasingly popular activity for children and adolescents and the games are becoming more sophisticated and realistic. While some games have some educational content, most of the popular ones emphasize on negative themes. Some of these game themes include
- the killing of people or animals the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol
- criminal behavior, disrespect for authority and the law
- sexual exploitation and violence toward women
- racial, sexual, and gender stereotypes
- foul language, obscenities, and obscene gestures
Of all the forms of media that influences behavioral changes, I think that video gaming is the most effective one since it involves active participation and is an actual simulation experience of the activity in the game. In a research conducted in 2007, it was noted that people who identify with a violent character are more likely to behave aggressively themselves. Also, violent video games reward violent behavior by ‘awarding points’ or ‘by advancing the player to the next level’. When a child is playing games like these day after day, he is bound to become immune to the horror of violence or become more ‘accepting’ to violence as a way to handle problems.
Some people claim that playing video games promotes learning, problem solving, and increased eye-hand coordination and there is research supporting this. However, violent content might not be required to obtain these beneficial effects. In 2012, multiple studies done with about 130,000 participants around the world show that violent video games increase aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, physiological arousal (like increase in heart rate, blood pressure ), and aggressive behavior. Violent games also decrease helping behavior and feelings of empathy towards others.
In general, increased time spent by children in video gaming can lead to poor social skills, less time for studying resulting in poor grades, decreased physical exercise resulting in overweight kids and behavioral changes depending on the content of the game. For those interested in video gaming, parents need to check the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings to learn about the game’s content. We have a responsibility to select appropriate games in terms of game content and developmental level of the child. It is vital to set clear rules about the duration of gaming both inside and outside of home. Some games connect to the Internet, which can allow children and adolescents to play online with unknown people. We need to warn children about potential serious dangers of Internet contacts and relationships while playing games online.
I do not believe that violence in the media is the only risk factor for aggressive behavior or that it’s the most important factor. Violent behavior in people is usually a net effect of various genetic and environmental factors. But violence in media is definitely a contributing factor and its one of the factors that we can do something about.
For more information about the topic of ‘Children and video games’, you can visit the website of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/children_and_video_games_playing_with_violence
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