Sample 6 1
Sample 6
Violence in Videogames
You are sitting in front of your T.V. with a controller in your hand and your eyes are
glued to this screen. The image of bodies falling cold with blood from gunshot wounds wiped
across the floor while someone is being mugged for their money comes on the screen and you
just sit there, watching every event because you are the one causing it. You just sit there with
your fingers pushing buttons on the controller in another world for hours until you realize your
whole day as just gone by. Most people are not affected by that kind of description anymore
because throughout the years we, together, have become desensitized to death and crimes. But,
how does the violence in videogames affect the youth? Videogames today are everywhere from
our homes to our tablets and even into the palm of our hands on our cell phones. Many people
today blame the violence in games as a source of aggression and stress to others which may
cause them to do something that normally wouldn’t. I believe that although it may be a factor, it
is not a big percentage of what is really going on inside the person’s mind.
Although most people do have an opinion towards whether there is too much violence in
videogames or not, I am in between both because I can easily see from both sides. I came across
a research paper titled, “Video Games and Youth Violence: A Prospective Analysis in
Adolescents” by Christopher J. Ferguson which was published online on December 14, 2010.
Ferguson’s research is based on other studies that have been done to try and find a correlation
between the violence in youth and their exposure to violent videogames. He states that the effects
of violence in videogames are not considered “with other influences on youth violence such as
family environment, peer delinquency, and depressive symptoms.”(Ferguson). Ferguson goes
Sample 6 2
into even more specifics that depression is what has really shown the antisocial and aggressive
behavior in the youth even if they were not exposed to any media or video games which I found
to be the most surprising fact presented. I find it interesting because many adolescents who spend
a long time playing videogames are usually depressed and looking for a way to escape from
reality making them antisocial and/or aggressive towards others. Another thing is that most of
the time research is trying to prove that video games are the cause of behavior problems but, this
research is going against that. I believe that for the next research conducted on this there should
be different ethnicities involved instead of just most Hispanics in order to see if there are
differences between other cultures. I did like their consistencies throughout their experiment
though.
As I looked through more sources I discovered an article that actually gives an alternative
and resolution to the problem with the youth being violent video games. The article is titled,
“Taking the Violence Out of Videogames: What Parents Can Do Before Kids Play” by Tara
Parker-Pope which was published on The Wall Street Journal on August 9th, 2005. Parker-Pope
explains that videogame companies are continuously being blamed for the violence in their
games when parents should be involved with what their children is playing especially since there
is a rating scale in place to avoid under aged children from playing mature games. She says that
“the rate of juvenile arrests for violent crimes fell 44% to the lowest level since 1983 from 1994
to 2001 and that videogames have now become an important part to kids’ playing and
socialization” (Parker-Pope). If some parents have become that concerned of their children’s
exposure to videogames, she gives a few options such as moving the game to a public place,
looking at the rating system and even playing the games yourself. As I looked for more
information on violence in videogames, this was the first time I have seen an article giving ideas
Sample 6 3
in order to fix the amount of violence children will see. She is specifically pointing out the
parents and how they should become more involved with what their children are doing. This is
the most interesting because most of the time, the people who are complaining about the games
are the parents. It sometimes feels like parents are too lazy to regulate the kids so, they are trying
to reduce it by regulating the videogame companies. Parker-Pope actually gives ideas for how
parents could help their children which I think it is a great idea for parents to become more
involved with their children’s choices.
There have even been surveys done to see what others think how violent videogame
affect the behavior in the real world. This article is, “Happy Puppy Sheds Light On Violence in
Videogames” that was published on May 11th 1999 by Business Wire. Business Wire begins by
explaining the Happy Puppy is a “leading online gaming lifestyle publication since 1995” which
has conducted a survey asking if videogame violence causes violent behavior in reality. This
survey lasted four days and received almost 3,000 responses. The article says that “over threequarters of those surveyed were male, 39% age 13-17 and 36% age 25 and over.” (Business Wire
Editors). It goes on to reveal that “68% agree that the level of violence in videogames is
acceptable” (Business Wire Editors) and only 5% said it increased the likelihood of violence
(Business Wire Editors). Although this article is old, it shows that even in 1999, people agree
with the idea that violence in videogames has no affect on their lives. I think that the amount of
responses for 1999 because it shows how people wanted to voice their opposing view. The
article even compared the amount of violence in movies to videogames and 80% said that “the
amount of violent content in videogames is equal to, if not less than, the amount of violence in
feature films.” (Business Wire Editors). I believe that this was fascinating because very rarely is
the violence in movies spoken of compared to videogames. The only thing about this article is
Sample 6 4
just how long ago it was published which ideas may have changed from then too now but, with
the other sources included, it is consistent to today’s general opinion on violence in videogames
and how it affects the youth.
From surveys to research, each source gives the reader a different opinion on whether or
not videogames truly are violent towards the youth. The topic is so controversial that a website
has been made solely for the purpose of allowing the reader to make their own personal opinion
based on facts that are for and against the idea of violence in videogames contributing towards
the violence in real life. This site is videogames.procon.org which is a “nonpartisan and
nonprofit website that is presenting the facts and statements that are related to how this violence
has contributed to adolescents” (Videogames.procon.org Editors). The website had multiple
sections such as “Did You Know?” and “Pro & Con Arguments: “Do Violent Video Games
Contribute to Youth Violence?”” with even a section to footnotes and sources allowing for the
credibility of every statement or statistics that is posted. I was so surprised to find an entire
website strictly dedicated to the arguments towards violence in videogames. I found it to be
impressive because you as a reader can decide for yourself from facts and researchers that others
have conducted to make your personal opinion on the subject. The website is very credible due
to its citations and the facts published but, sometimes I doubt it because how credible can each
individual be? Also, it works based on donations by others which the editors can use for their
own person benefit or actually on the site to keep it running.
Although there are many facts and statistics to go by, sometimes the current events may
be saying otherwise. Julia Layton published an article on howstuffworks.com on March 24th
2008 titled, “Do violent video games lead to real violence? “ Layton talks about the correlation
between killers like in school shootings and the fact that they played videogames. The problem is
Sample 6 5
that “an estimated 97% of America’s young people are playing videogames” (Layton) which
leads us to believe that there are good chances these killers do play videogames. She then
contradicts herself by saying that “may be that real-life violent psychopaths enjoy being virtual
violent psychopaths and they choose games based on that preference.“ (Layton). But, if that is
the case then, wouldn’t most of us be violent psychopaths or becoming psychopaths based on our
game preference? She does speak about research conducted but that although evidence proves
changes in the brain activity, it doesn’t necessarily lead to the changes in the person’s behavior.
As I read this article I felt like she was continuously switching her opinion depending on the
event whether it is a school shooting or research conducted. Although she does speak of both
sides, she provides little evidence to prove which could be right or at least which she agreed with
more. But, something I enjoyed was that she too gives the role to the parent to decide whether or
not and how long the child should be playing along with other tips like learning more about the
game your child wants.
The final source is from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry with
an article that was published in March of 2011 with the title, “Children and Video Games:
Playing with Violence”. This article explains the pros and a con when it comes to videogame as
well as it improve the development of motor skills and coordination but, does emphasize the
negative things such as killing and use of drugs. The article continues to give tips to parents that
can be followed to reduce the opportunity of problems arising like addiction or violent behavior.
The audience is geared more towards the parents of children and how to reduce changes. Once
again, I think it is a great idea that it is not being blamed on the companies but the parents
themselves since companies cannot regulate how much a young child will play except for the
parents. This website being a psychiatry as does display their contact information just in case
Sample 6 6
they need to be contacted for help. This source is credible due to it being a psychiatry but, the
information is so general that it could apply to anything situation and may not give the parent all
needed as stated.
As various sources were found from research to surveys to general websites, there is no
clear-cut answer to the question of violent videogames leading to violent children. As I would
like to continue research, it is safe to say that there are multiple factors as to why a child may
become violent and videogames are most likely a factor but, nowhere near may the amount some
people believe. I, personally, lean more towards the idea of violence in games not leading to
violent adolescences but there are very credible and convincing arguments from both sides. The
most impressive part of my research was the website that was solely dedicated to the arguments
of violent videogames affecting adolescents because it specifically cited where each argument
came from along with its publisher because this site allows the reader to make a personal
opinion. Throughout this research, I have also become more well-aware of the options that
especially parents have to try and reduce the addiction and aggression in their child. At the end
of the day, it is up to the parent but, the child may have other problems that should be dealt with
first before their entertainment with virtual worlds.
Works Cited
Ferguson, Christopher J. "Video Games and Youth Violence: A Prospective Analysis in
Adolescents." Journal of Youth and Adolescence 40.4 (2011): 377-91. ProQuest. Web. 5
Feb. 2014.
Sample 6 7
Parker-Pope, Tara. "Taking the Violence Out of Videogames: What Parents can do before Kids
Play." Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition ed.Aug 09 2005. ProQuest. Web. 5 Feb.
2014 .
Business/Entertainment Editors. "Happy Puppy Sheds Light on Violence in
Videogames." Business Wire: 1. May 11 1999.ProQuest. Web. 5 Feb. 2014 .
Videogame.procon.org Editors. “Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence?”..
Web. 5 Feb 2014. <http://videogames.procon.org/>.
Layton, Julia. "Do violent video games lead to real violence?" 24 March 2008.
HowStuffWorks.com. <http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/video-game-violence.htm>
05 February 2014.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Editors. “Children and Video Games:
Playing with Violence” AACP.org: March 2011 Web. 05 Feb 2014.