Psychology Study Blames Games for Aggressive Behavior

[Riddle78]

Counterpoint,herr doktor.

Fictional media only negatively effects those who are suceptible to thinking such overt displays of violence/debauchery/whatever is morally/legally correct. Any rational individual who has enough mental electricity to ponder legal and moral right and wrong would be able to effortlessly discern right from wrong in fictional media. Most of the time. Wipe out Geth Heretics in a genocidal remode delivered EMP virus,or brainwash them? Evil choice,either way.

 

[9Darksoul6]

Why is it so hard for you (common gamers) to believe that seeing violent imagery in motion affects you senisitivity towards violence? Even more if you're actively causing it ("playing")...
Be rational. How could your subconscious possibly know the difference between real-life violence from virtual violence? Is it really that hard to admit? I also play violent videogames, and it doesn't bother me.

Because my brain knows the difference between fictional violence and real violence.

The other day, I was chopping mutated humans into little pieces in Dead Space 2 without blinking an eye.

The other week, I saw a man with a broken leg, the bone sticking out of the skin and I almost threw up.


It's all about context.

I don't think it is.

The important questions here are: would your reaction to that man's broken leg be worse if you weren't exposed to fictional violence (at all)? And if so, how worse?
You have no conceivable way test that through experience alone; "reason", on the other hand, makes strong points...

 

[l3o2828]

Unprofessional article is...well...unprofessional.
It's not the games that make people violent, is a violent person who commits violent crimes then
some sort of 'omnivorous mammal belonging to the Canidae family' NEWS uses it just to sound relevant and rant about something they have no idea of.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Why is it so hard for you (common gamers) to believe that seeing violent imagery in motion affects you senisitivity towards violence? Even more if you're actively causing it ("playing")...
Be rational. How could your subconscious possibly know the difference between real-life violence from virtual violence? Is it really that hard to admit? I also play violent videogames, and it doesn't bother me.

Because my brain knows the difference between fictional violence and real violence.

The other day, I was chopping mutated humans into little pieces in Dead Space 2 without blinking an eye.

The other week, I saw a man with a broken leg, the bone sticking out of the skin and I almost threw up.


It's all about context.

I don't think it is.

The important questions here are: would your reaction to that man's broken leg be worse if you weren't exposed to fictional violence (at all)? And if so, how worse?
You have no conceivable way test that through experience alone; "reason", on the other hand, makes strong points...

It's a good job that I don't have to prove it then.

The burden of proof is on the one making the claims.

All I know is that I make the distinction between fiction and reality. If I am desensitised to real world violence, then it's at such an insignificant level that it's hardly worth noting.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

This just in: Study finds that microwave ovens cause increased aggression in hamsters.

 

[-Ulven-]

Try exposing them to Fox news and see what happens. My theory: Testsubject went on rampage due to stupidity. Anyone? no?... aaaw

 

[WaffleCopters]

Violent video games make aggressive behaviour? maybe if the retards from last generation would stop trolling us then that would help. and want some REAL violence? watch the news!

 

[-Ulven-]

Why is it so hard for you (common gamers) to believe that seeing violent imagery in motion affects you senisitivity towards violence? Even more if you're actively causing it ("playing")...
Be rational. How could your subconscious possibly know the difference between real-life violence from virtual violence? Is it really that hard to admit? I also play violent videogames, and it doesn't bother me.

Because my brain knows the difference between fictional violence and real violence.

The other day, I was chopping mutated humans into little pieces in Dead Space 2 without blinking an eye.

The other week, I saw a man with a broken leg, the bone sticking out of the skin and I almost threw up.


It's all about context.

I don't think it is.

The important questions here are: would your reaction to that man's broken leg be worse if you weren't exposed to fictional violence (at all)? And if so, how worse?
You have no conceivable way test that through experience alone; "reason", on the other hand, makes strong points...

It's a good job that I don't have to prove it then.

The burden of proof is on the one making the claims.

All I know is that I make the distinction between fiction and reality. If I am desensitised to real world violence, then it's at such an insignificant level that it's hardly worth noting.

I would go with Daystar on this... context means alot more than what playing violent videogames does to dezensitise you. You do as have basic instincts telling you what's bad and whats not. Seeing someone injured in a virtual world where your mind is set to knowing that no person is harmed in real life you kinda "meh" at it. And so forth you get dezensitised to pictures of violence in a test ince you in your brain think that the pictures are manufactured. I mean if you got a news shot of a dead and mauled man you would be more appaled then a "artsy" picture of a man with a gun to his head. Just saying. Seeing blood splatter is alot more that seeing a gun pointed somwhere.

 

[9Darksoul6]

How could your subconscious possibly know the difference real-life violence from virtual violence?

Simple. They're not real. Your brain has had millenia of practice working out that little nugget rationally.

I'm amazed by how the greatest minds in science and philosophy still try to establish what "reality" is, while you believe a mecanism (your brain is not a person, therefore it is not rational; nor is your subconscious) simply "worked it out".

 

[RA92]

Hey, you know who else are desensitized?

Surgeons.

Those creeps aren't only desensitized from seeing all the wounds and corpses everyday, but they also cut people up on a regular basis. So instead of paying 'em annual six figure sums, why not lock 'em? You know, just in case? Or at least take away their surgical tools?

 

[RA92]

Multiple posts fuuuu-

 

[RA92]

-uuuuuuuuuu-

 

[RA92]

-uuuuuuuuuu-

 

[RA92]

-uuuuuuuuuu-

 

[RA92]

-uuuuuuuck you stupid browser!

 

[fundayz]

Anyone who actually thinks that violent imagery, including video games, doesn't desensitize us to violence lacks common sense.

This is really just affirming the obvious.

 

[Dastardly]

I suggest that Associate Professor Bartholow keeps working on it.

Permalink

I think you're right, but I think you're coming at this defense from the wrong angle.

He is demonstrating that exposure to violence in video games can desensitize a person to the idea of violence. Not only does he appear to demonstrate this in the brain, it also makes sense--the more you see anything, the less shocking/surprising/novel it will be.

He then claims that subjects behaved "more aggressively" when asked to "blast an opponent" with a loud noise. And that this means the desensitization is encourage, or even prompting, this aggressive behavior. Don't we think, perhaps, the fact that you told them to do it is what led to this behavior?

So, it seems that the desensitization elevated their willingness to engage, but it didn't cause aggressive behavior. You could say it elevated it when already present or cued.

Furthermore, could that also just be because subjects engaged in a competitive game are encouraged to be more "aggressive" in order to win? See, "aggression" and "violence" are not the same thing. Violent videogames, however, pit human against human(oid) in competition, which may stimulate our basic hypothalamus "fight or flight" response in a mild way. That could make us more likely to react more strongly in perceived competition.

In order for this study to hold any real water, we'll need to know:

1. What were the "non-violent" games being played?
2. Were any of these games competitive non-violent games?
3. If not, what effect do competitive non-violent games have on the "sound blasting" choices?
4. If some of them were, was there any "statistically significant" difference between those and the non-competitive non-violent games?
5 Do other competitive endeavors outside of video games have any similar impact? (Sports, martial arts, really any competitive activity)

We have to be extremely careful how we define things like "aggressive" and "violent," and be careful not to conflate them with traits like being "competitive" or just "in an excited state."

 

[Eri]

Hey, you know who else are desensitized?

Surgeons.

Those creeps aren't only desensitized from seeing all the wounds and corpses everyday, but they also cut people up on a regular basis. So instead of paying 'em annual six figure sums, why not lock 'em? You know, just in case? Or at least take away their surgical tools?

Sextouple post detected. You might want to fix that.

 

[Dan Steele]

what else is new?

 

[The Night Shade]

What Bull**** mother@#|@~~|piece of~#@@~|@#son of|@|#|#@#|@@|

On all seriousness i think it's a load of BS