Tyler Towner
English 1311
March 17th 2013
Violence in Video Games Annotated Bibliography
Barlett C, Rodeheffer C. Effects of realism on extended violent and nonviolent video
play on aggressive thoughts, feelings, and physiological arousal.
game
Aggressive Behavior
[serial online]. May 2009;35(3):213-224. Available from: Academic Search Complete,
Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 3, 2013.
This article is a scientific study about conducting tests and analyzing the role of violent
video games by having participants play violent realistic games, violent unrealistic games, and
non-violent games. The study contains tremendous amounts of data that is useful for my topic,
including the realism in games, arousal rating, and if it causes aggressive feelings. The study also
compares its results with different studies conducted in the past.
Becker-Olsen, K. L., & Norbert, P.A. (2010). CAUTION, ANIMATED VIOLENCE. Journal Of
Advertising, 39(4), 83-94. doi:10.2753/JOA0091-3367390406
This article helps explain the rating system from the ESRB and the tools they have in
place to prevent unknowledgeable purchases of games with violence in it. This rating allows
parents to know what the game includes of before buying it for their child. The article examines
the ratings and give suggestions on how to make it better and that the rating system needs
reevaluation. This article would help in my paper because it describes something we have
already tried to put in place to make people more aware of what they purchase.
Tyler Towner
English 1311
March 17th 2013
Bowen H, Spaniol J. Chronic exposure to violent video games is not associated with
alterations of emotional memory. Applied Cognitive Psychology [serial online].
November 2011;25(6):906-916. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich,
MA. Accessed March 3, 2013.
This article conducts a study on the desensitization that violent video games may have on
a person. The study concluded that violent video games affects the mind short-term, but not
long-term. They state additional research would be required to come to a affirmative conclusion.
Although the article needs more information, they do have a good amount of findings that could
help in my paper.
Edwards D. (2013). Former FBI profiler 'Video games do not cause violence'. The Raw Story
Retrieved from: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/24/former-fbi-profiler-video-games-donot-cause-violence/
FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole said in her experience, video games do not cause
violence. Ferguson, Texas A&M psychology professor, states that when any new media comes
out there comes a period where that media is blamed for all societal ills. He gives an example
back from the 1950s when Congress and psychiatrists were claiming comic books were
responsible for violence and homosexuality. Inside the article there is also a video of O'Toole
discussing the matter.
Tyler Towner
English 1311
March 17th 2013
Ferguson C. J. (2011). Video Games Don't Make Kids Violent TIME Ideas Retrieved from:
http://ideas.time.com/2011/12/07/video-games-dont-make-kids-violent/
This article brings up the point that even though video games have skyrocketed in the
past ten years, violence in youth has dropped to the lowest levels it's been in the past forty years.
They also state that it has been recognized that early research on violent video games used
outcome measure that didn't have anything to do with real-life aggression and were unable to
control for other variables. More research has also shown that children who play violent games
have not found that they were more violent than kids who don't. This article continues on about
how they do nothing to affect children, and will be used greatly in my paper.
Ferguson C.J. Video Games and Youth Violence: a prospective analysis in adolescents. Journal
Of Youth and Adolescence [serial online]. April 2011;40(4):377-391. Available from:
MEDLINE, Ipswitch, MA. Accessed March 17, 2013.
This article explains how although there have been many studies conducted, there has
been no real concrete evidence of violent video games affecting violence in children or
considered the violence in context with other influences, such as a family environment and
depression. Although this article is similar to the one before, it provides some information the
previous one did not.
Tyler Towner
English 1311
March 17th 2013
Gallagher M. D. (2010). Video Games Don't Cause Children to be Violent US News Retrieved
from: http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/05/10/video-games-dont-cause-children-tobe-violent
This article brings up that video games causing violent behavior has not been proven yet.
According to FBI statistics, violence in youth has declined while violent video games have
soared. The courts have also ruled that there is not substantial evidence that violent video games
cause psychological harm. The article will help me in proving that video games haven't had an
effect on children.
Perry S. (2013) Violent video games not shown to cause real-world violence. Minnpost
Retrieved from: http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2013/01/violent-video-games-notshown-cause-real-world-violence
Studies cited in this article have sonsistently found that video games do not harm our
brain or increase violent acts in us. They also explain even though video games have a short-term
effect on us, that television and violence in the news have had similar effects on us. This article
helps me conclude that violence in other forms of media have the same effect on people, so if
video games are to blame, they should be as well.
Tyler Towner
English 1311
March 17th 2013
Schreier J. (2013) Do Video Games Make You Violent? An In-Depth Look At Everything We
Know Today Techspot: Technology News and Analysis Retrieved from:
http://www.techspot.com/article/629-do-video-games-make-you-violent/
This article gives the two different sides of the research people have concluded, both in
favor and not in favor that violent video games affect people. One side says that there are many
studies that prove that violent video games cause harm to people, while other say that it is just
inclusive research. This article can help me see the other side of story and possibly disprove it.
Voorhees G., Call J., & Whitlock, K. (2012) Guns, grenades, and grunts: First Person Shooter
Games. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing
The book goes explains the origins of tons of different First-Person Shooter games, from
Team Fortress 2 to Call of Duty. The game explains the effect it has on people in a more
competitive environment and also deals with realism effecting other children. It also takes aim at
sexual harassment that happens in video games. This book can give very detailed analysis on
subjects that deal with video games affecting your brain.