Running Head

STEPHANIE ANDRADE
V.G.V.
RWS
1301

VIDEO GAME VIOLENCE

Abstract
Computers and computer technology perform numerous tasks for us. Alongside the
numerous benefits of convenience, and productivity, came a new form of entertainment; Video
games allow the player to interact with the objects and characters they see, and in some of
todays video games, the level of realism creates a very hostile environment. The player is now
an active participant. Video games share something in common with television programming: the
trend towards violence. There are several issues that result from this, but the main issue is the
impact on those who play violent video games, particularly young adults. While there have been
studies on the subject, a comparison could be drawn between violence in video games and
violence in television.

The issue of media violence and its effects of aggressive behavior on kids and other
consumers is on the rise. Not only are parents concerned about this issue, but health
professionals as well. Throughout this report, I will share some real-life examples and statistics
from studies and trials that have been done to prove that there is a correlation. Also,
recommendations to parents by health educators to observe changes in behavior in their kids so
they can act fast.
In the past 2 to 3 years, there have been mass shootings, from school shootings to movie
theater shootings. April 20th, 1999, there was a mass shooting at Columbine High School. Two
boys, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 schoolmates, a teacher, and injured 21 others.
Their lives centered around violent video games. According to Kaplan (2012), a 2002 by the US
Secret Service and the US Department of Education, which examined 37 incidents of targeted
school shootings and school attacks from 1974 to 2000 in this country, found that over half of the
attackers demonstrated some interest in violence through movies, video games, books, and other
media.
Psychologist Craig Anderson, said the evidence for the media violenceaggression link is
very strong from every major type of study design: randomized experiments, cross-sectional
correlation studies, and longitudinal studies. In 2007, Andersons group reported on a
longitudinal study of violent video games. The study asked children and their peers as well as
teachers on aggressive behaviors and violent media consumption twice during a school year. The
researchers found that boys and girls who played a lot of violent video games changed over the
school year, becoming more aggressive. Anderson believes that high exposure to fast-paced
violent games can lead to changes in brain function when processing violent images, including
dampening of emotional responses to violence and decreases in certain types of executive

control. But there also is some evidence that the same type of fast-paced violent games can
improve some types of spatial-visual skills, basically, ability to extract visual information from a
computer screen.
Although, the link between media violence and aggression is present, media violence is
only one of many factors for later aggression and behavior. A healthy person with very few risk
factors is not going to become a school shooter just because they start playing a lot of violent
video games or watch violent movies.
In Beresins article (2016), he says that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has
created a list of recommendations to address television violence. It suggests that physicians talk
openly with parents about the nature and extent of viewing patterns in their homes. Parents
should limit television to 1-2 hours daily and watch programs with their children, enabling them
to address any objectionable material seen. Physicians should make parents and schools "media
literate," meaning they should understand the risks of exposure to violence and teach children
how to interpret what they see on television and in the movies, including the intent and content
of commercials. This issue is looked at as not too big, but neither small. It is something that can
be controlled such as being bullied or having a psychiatric illness.

Annotated Bibliography
Twose G., (2015, Oct 5). Foreward to the society for the psychological study of social issues
research summary on media violence. Retrieved from http://0-onlinelibrary.wiley.
com.lib.utep.edu/doi/10.1111/asap.12094/pdf
In this short article, used as an example, the 2012 Newton, Connecticut school shooting stating
that the public had concerns about the violence in media consumption and how it affected
behavior of the young boy who attacked the school. Movies and video games are abig
influence on pop culture and modern day society. This short article contains an example and
statistics that can be useful and helpful in my report.
Parents Television Council, (2014, February 4). Is media violence harmful? science says yes!
Retrieved from http://w2.parentstv.org/blog/index.php/2014/02/04/is-media-violenceharmful-science-says-yes/
In this post/article, Brad Bushman, professor of psychology at Ohio State shares how he believes
that kids and any other consumers that act out in behavior do it often because of media violence.
They seem to view the world as a hostile place and therefore believe that the behavior is normal.
Bushman, the International Society for Research on Aggression, as well as other professors from
other universities all come to the same agreement. Characters displayed on screen that are violent
are categorized as fun and seen as acceptable. Studies have shown that a child who views
violent media heavier than the average kid, is most likely to be aggressive. In this article, I have
facts and statistics from an organization that will provide some ethos in my paper.
Beresin, E., (2016). The impact of media violence on children and adolescents: opportunities

For clinical interventions. Retrieved from http://www.aacap.org/aacap/medical_students

_and_residents/mentorship_matters/developmentor/the_impact_of_media_violence_on_c
hildren_and_adolescents_opportunities_for_clinical_interventions.aspx
This article goes strictly into detail about how modern society violence is on the rise. It focuses
on talking about the adolescents of today and the numerous amount of school shootings and
homicides. While these issues are multifactorial, the research shows that exposure to media
violence plays an important role in violent behavior. Longitudinal, cross-sectional, and
experimental studies have all confirmed this correlation. The typical American child will view
more than 200,000 acts of violence, including more than 16,000 murders before age 18. Some
researchers have demonstrated that very young children will imitate aggressive acts on TV in
their play with peers. Psychiatrists, pediatricians, and other physicians, including The American
Academy or Pediatrics (AAP), have created a list to address television violence.
The article finishes with going into further detail of ways parents as well as health promotors can
more better educate the sensitivity of media violence. I find this article extremely helpful with
more than enough information relevant to my topic.
Kaplan, A., (2012, October 5). Violence in the media: what effects on behavior?. Retrieved from
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/child-adolescent-psychiatry/violence-media-whateffects-behavior
In this article, we have Emanuel Tanay, MD, a retired Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Wayne
State University and psychologist Craig Anderson, PhD, discuss how although media violence
does indeed have a connection to violent behavior, it may not be the only cause. They give an
example of the Columbine High School shooting and how the two boys Eric Harris and Dylan

Keblod, both had other mental issues such as being a psychopath, depressive and suicidal.
Extremely violent behavior never occurs when there is only one risk factor present. Thus, a
healthy, well-adjusted person with few risk factors is not going to become a school-shooter just
because they start playing a lot of violent video games or watching a lot of violent movies.
This article shows the unbiased side of some researchers. They stress how there are some
connections between media violence and aggression but do not believe that is the only reason.
This article may be helpful in the way that I can go further into detail from an unbiased point of
view.
Escobar-Chavez, S., Anderson, C., (2008). Journal issue: children and electronic media.
Retrieved from http://futureofchildren.org/publications/journals/article/index.xml?
journalid=32&articleid=60&sectionid=291&submit
Although this article talks about all possible factors that can contribute to violence and
aggression, the findings of research is presented on the connection between electronic media and
violence. Despite many reports that exposure to violent media is a causal risk factor, the U.S.
public remains largely unaware of these risks, and youth exposure to violent media remains
extremely high. The newest form of media violenceviolent video games played on computers,
Internet, social media, etc., are the fastest growing.
In this article, I am too given some unbiased information that I can find helpful but also more
statistics and facts about studies done on the cause.