Nowadays video games are popular not only among teens, but also among adults. Therefore, video games industry is a growing one, which can even cause addiction. However, most top selling video games are based on violence. That is why many people argue as to whether violent video games can cause people violence and whether the age of the players should be limited to 18 and older. Although the direct link between violent video games and people’s violence has not been established yet, it is a well-known fact that playing violent video games is the result of the aggression, fighting and bullying; parents, pediatricians and researchers agree on negative effect of violent video games on children’s behavior; violent video games are tied to antisocial behavior; violent video games cause trouble; many mass shooters were violent video games players; video games containing violence against women result in violent actions against them; the US soldiers are trained to kill with the help of violent video games. Let us consider the above-mentioned arguments against playing violent video games in much detail.
Firstly, playing video games that contain violence result in aggression, fighting and bullying. The research shows, those schoolchildren playing violent video games were fighting and beating up their classmates, as compared with other pupils who did not play such games and thus did not display aggression. Thus, the effects of playing video games can be easily seen in children. Daily playing violent video games create aggressive, long-term behavior. Experience also shows that children playing such games are more inclined to bullying, hostility, aggression towards teachers and parents.
Secondly, parents, pediatricians and researchers reach a consensus that aggressive behavior of children is caused by violent video games. Eight out of ten researchers believe that violent games increase children’s aggression. Almost all the US pediatricians agree that too much violent video games expose children to aggression. Six most prominent medical associations made a joint statement about the impact of playing violent video games on children and concluded that there is a casual link between video games violence and children’s aggressive behavior.
Thirdly, violent video games are tied to antisocial behavior. According to Jack Flanagan, nice games make people nice, and consequently violent games make people violent. He also adds that people playing violent video games lack empathy. Violent games also push players into bad lifestyles, such as drugs and wild sex. Researchers even relate playing violent video games to poor romantic relationships. Flanagan states that violent video games initially has been created in order to change people’s state of mind and to bring negative changes in their lives (n.p.).
Fourthly, violent video games cause trouble. It is a matter of fact, that playing violent video games can bring nothing good, but the addiction to them and the distorted sense of reality. As it has already been mentioned, violent video games are related with drug use, which in its turn cause much trouble.
Fifthly, many mass shooters were violent video games players. The Newtown shooter was an obsessed player of violent video games. Anders Breivik, Norway shooter, was reported to have been playing for 16 hours every day. Aurora theatre shooter was also obsessed with playing violent video games (Kain n.p.). Playing definitely had impact on their actions and the desire to kill not virtually, but in reality.
Sixthly, video games containing violence against women result in violent actions against them. Donald Trump once said that violent video games create monsters, and it is really so (Kain n.p.). The Journal of Interpersonal Violence’s study found that violence against women in video games increases violent attitudes towards them in the real world. Thus, sexual content of video games leads to violent sexual intercourse.
Finally, the US soldiers are trained to kill with the help of violent video games. It is a well-known fact that the US army released the first shooter game in order to prepare soldiers to the battlefield. On the one hand, violent video games benefit soldiers by training them to kill. The army discipline helps them to gain control over the situation and to demonstrate violence only if the situation requires such actions. On the other hand, there is no use of playing such video games for children. They lack the discipline and are very often not able to cope with their emotions and to make reasonable decisions.
Although most people consider violent video games dangerous, as can cause people violence, there are not enough valid research data to prohibit them or at least to establish age limitations for the players. To conclude, it should be stressed, that from violent video games children suffer most of all. If children’s personalities are formed under the conditions of constant playing violent video games, these children can be dangerous for the society. Violent video games do cause people violence.
Under the influence of violent video games children become out of control, they dispose aggression to their parents, classmates and teachers. Antisocial behavior is also characteristic for violent video games players. Such games can cause much trouble not only for players themselves, but also for the society, they live in. Moreover, many mass shooters are reported to be literally obsessed with video games, they could play for many hours a day. Thus, it comes as no surprise that violent video games players have a distorted image of the reality. One more thing that demonstrates the seriousness of the effect violent video games can cause is the fact that violent video games are used by the US military to train soldiers to kill and to be prepared for the battlefield.
Works Cited
Flanagan, Jack. "Violent Video Games Promote Antisocial Behaviors" Web. 22 May 2016.
Kain, Eric. "Violent Video Games Do Not Cause Violence". Forbes. Web. 22 May 2016.
