Yes, video games can cause aggression
- Thread starter SoopaSte123
- Start date
It boggles my mind that people say that video games don't cause aggression. I HAVE broken a keyboard before, after all.
But then, even a game of Chess can cause aggression (High School was fun!) as you pointed out in example one.
The point that I think people are trying to make is that video games don't make people murderous, which is also a fact.
But then, even a game of Chess can cause aggression (High School was fun!) as you pointed out in example one.
The point that I think people are trying to make is that video games don't make people murderous, which is also a fact.
I agree with this, there seems to be a hell of a lot of stupid people on this website who blindly defend games believeing that children should be able to play whatever the fuck they want and that games don't cause aggression when it's quite obvious that they do.
Well yeah, it's obvious that games and tv can incite some feelings of agression. Anyone who treats the media as some sort of saint that can do no wrong is wrong.
Of course, there's a very fine line between that and murdering, I don't think that'll happen to any one who isn't a complete psychopath.
Of course, there's a very fine line between that and murdering, I don't think that'll happen to any one who isn't a complete psychopath.
The real debate SHOULD be over that, I agree. Right now the debate is just faulty studies and people poorly interpreting them.Gamblerjoe said:
Video games can not directly cause aggression. They can potentially increase aggressive behavior temporarily(no evidence yet for long term aggression increase). Also, anecdotal evidence has no place in the discussion when you make a claim like that.SoopaSte123 said:
I've always believed that games increase aggression, just like T.V. and movies. When I was little, after watching an episode of Power Rangers, my friends and I would go outside and fight each other. We copied what we saw on T.V., and I've seen kids copy what they play in video games. Sometimes I copy what I play in video games. So yeah, I believe it affect behavior.
I don't believe it turns you into a crazy killer. It may be a contributing factor--especially if all you do is play violent games for extended periods--but it won't be the only one, and it won't be the biggest one. If a game made a kid go out and kill someone, then that kid has some deep issues which games may have simply contributed to, but they sure didn't cause them.
I don't believe it turns you into a crazy killer. It may be a contributing factor--especially if all you do is play violent games for extended periods--but it won't be the only one, and it won't be the biggest one. If a game made a kid go out and kill someone, then that kid has some deep issues which games may have simply contributed to, but they sure didn't cause them.
I dunno. If you think about it, the response to getting slapped has many crucial variables (like say, who slapped me? why?). One of those is the inherent temper of the slappee. I certainly know people I would NEVER EVER slap cause they'd probably snap....my neck. And that itself IS a personal characteristic.SoopaSte123 said:
Same goes for competitiveness, frustration.etc. There are just SO many variables, and it's wrong imo, to look at one of the triggers (the fact that he is a gamer) and blame just THAT one aspect, ignoring all the other variables like personality, psyche, society, personal situation, socio-economic situation, Entertainment habits (as clues, not as causes), I could go on.etc.
It's especially bad when psychiatrists make those fucking "Games make kids rapists" derp statements, because they are supposed to be the ones who understand and dissect this shit! Not us Forum goers!
Yes, I'm well aware video games are not going to become self aware and hit me, thus causing aggression. When I say "cause aggression" I mean "increase aggressive behavior temporarily" just as you said, which I believe is apparent if you read my post. No need to nitpick.RedEyesBlackGamer said:
And I can give anecdotal evidence anytime I wish, thank you very much. This is obviously not a post I'm trying to make scientific. Adding anecdotes makes it more personal and I believe helps people see things from my perspective. I'm certainly not going around saying "I punched someone after playing video games so they are EVIL!!!"
You're first point is good, but I don't really agree with your second point. Kids being "violent" in the way you described, would happen in a vacuum, completely independent of violent media. Kids fight, that's just the way it goes, it's part of playing. Cops and robbers, sword fights, those stupid inflatable boxing glove things. I'm pretty sure kids(especially boys) have played some kind of violent competitive game since the beginning of time. Cavemen children probably had "spear fights." I don't think you can blame that on violent media, i think that is simply a product of human nature.SoopaSte123 said:
I wouldn't post a topic like this on a site like this, for your own safety, people tend to get angry if you insult a game, let alone games in general!
Of course games can cause aggression. Some people on this site just have a hard time accepting that.
(note I am not insulting games, and blaming them for problems we have, I'm just sayin').
Of course games can cause aggression. Some people on this site just have a hard time accepting that.
(note I am not insulting games, and blaming them for problems we have, I'm just sayin').
THANK YOU!!!mocruz1200 said:i think the whole "video games promote violence thing" is a load of crap.
i play shooters, all the people that i know who play shooters(even the ones who are gun nuts) are docile people. games like CoD, L4D, TF2, GoW, ETC., let you do things you cant in real life. you get to experience a simulation of war(CoD,Battlefield,GoW) survival(L4D,Dead Rising, Dead Space, Killing Floor ETC.) or just plain killing others with a sort of humor attached to it.(TF2). yes, some people are agressive, and SURPRISE! some of them play video games. and, with all respect to you and the examples you chose, i bielive that they are wrong for your argument. your Tekken example: i used to play Street fighter at an arcade with buddies and random people there. and, like your example, things would get heated up, to the point where we DID end up in blows.now is that because of the video game? or our competitive nature? if we had been paintballing, playing football(the real kind, not handegg =P), or basketball, the outcome would have probably been the same. competitive people will be competitive.
as far as your second example, i turn to this:
now im not calling anyone a retard with this, but what i am trying to say is that it is not the persons fault(child or adult)for wanting to replicate something they saw, but in the case of the child, proper guidance should be provided to teach them that not everything that they see is real, nor should they try it.
TLDR?
1. people will be competititive, no matter what the activity
2. kids will be idiots that want to mimic every cool thing they see on tv/movies/games. but its up to the parents to teach them better.
And also, there is a RATING on the front of the box, try following that for a change? You don't have to be the age exactly, but if it says mature, be mature before you play it, you don't have to be 17 or older, just mature before you play it
But would you say NOTHING triggers aggression except personality, then? Because somewhere there will always be someone who won't be affected by it. If not, where would you draw the line? 90% of the people are affected? 80%?GrizzlerBorno said:
Certain things are more likely to cause aggressive behavior than others. Competition is one, and video games at the very least has that. So do many other things, but that's my point. We shouldn't be denying that it causes aggressive behavior, but we should realize many things do naturally and are NOT dangerous and video games are one of them.
I made the first point because you would be surprised at how many people don't know the difference between the two. No offense intended. This is a claim that is currently being tested. Meaning that idle speculation serves no purpose. It is like with people who claim a same sex household can't raise children properly. I have citable evidence to the contrary. Their claim is moot until they find evidence to support their claim. Sorry, I just take these types of discussions very seriously.SoopaSte123 said:
I want to point out that it's likely that some music and TV cause aggression. So yeah, videogames likely cause aggression, but considering witnessing violence causes aggression it's really dificult saying anything with any form of conflict dosen't do this.
Fair point. It seems common sense. But if you're doing studies in which you have a kid alone or a kid that gets to play a fun video game, which would you think would be classified as more aggressive? That's why I think the point needs to be made. Kids get wound up over things.spartan231490 said:
Everything was covered rather well, and I agree. Videogames are competetive, and that causes agression, if you removed the competitive part, the game wouldn't be as fun, just like if you removed competition from sports, sure they are still games, but without the goal of winning, you don't see any reason to play.
No offense taken, and I'm sorry if I came off a bit harsh myself. It is indeed a serious matter, so I understand your conviction.RedEyesBlackGamer said:
I also understand what you're saying. Testimony without evidence won't get anywhere in serious debate. That said, I think a lot of things in life can be understood without being completely proven if you use logic, and my own personal experiences help explain my logic sometimes. So I guess that was the point of my thread: to try to spread understanding and not try to prove anything.
It should be noted ANY game regardless of any genre can and will cause aggression, especially if people play it competitively. You can focus on videogames and say yes, those cause aggression, if you look at how angry some people get while playing them, then you can look at sports where people can and will get aggressive to the point of occasionally causing riots and say yes, those cause aggressive behavior too. I never quite saw anything other than normal in that regard.