Researchers at Iowa State University say the violent video games come first, influencing children in negative ways.  Critics say aggressive kids just like playing aggressive games.  With 90% of American kids between 8 and 16 playing video games an average of 13 hours each week, it’s a question that concerns many parents.

Craig A. Anderson, PhD, examined video game habits and how they affect a child’s behavior three to six months later.  His team conducted their study on three groups of children in differing scenarios:

• 181 Japanese students aged 12 to 15
• 1,050 Japanese students aged 13 to 18
• 364 US students aged 9 to 12

The first group (the youngest Japanese children) were monitored for how often a child chose to watch five different genres of video game violence, such as action, adventure, fighting, shooting, etc.  The older Japanese children were assessed for favorite violent games and the amount of time each child played them.  The US children named their three favorite games and described how often they played them.

Both groups of students from Japan described their own behavior, including acts of physical aggression such as fighting, hitting, and kicking.  While the American children rated themselves for these same issues, their peers and teachers submitted behavior reports on the children, too.

The results were consistent across all study groups.  The children most exposed to video violence became more aggressive several months later than the children less exposed to video violence.  Aggressive behavior reported at the beginning of the study was a strong predictor of the child’s future and this tendency toward violence became stronger months after playing violent video games.

Dr. L. Rowell Huesmann, a University of Michigan expert on the behavioral effect of watching violent media, says imitation and desensitization to violence lead to the aggression.  Some children get the impression from violent video games that the world is hostile and aggression is required.  Before long, the child imitates the aggressive acts seen on video games.  After seeing enough violence, a child may become desensitized to the emotional impact behind aggressive behaviors.  When emotionally numb to the damage, a child may not refrain from aggression when appropriate.

Dr. Cheryl K. Olson, of Massachusetts General Hospital, however, says it’s not the violence itself that leads to aggressive behavior, it’s the context of the aggression.  Children drawn to games that make killing the goal are already aggressive and there are games these children should simply not be allowed to play.  These games are often rated M for mature themes but, for adolescent boys especially, such games are just part of the routine.

Dr. David Walsh, president of the non-profit National Institute on Media and the Family, attributes our current culture of disrespect to the rude and aggressive messages children get from violent video games.  His concern isn’t for immediate acts of violence but for shifting norms and attitudes that imply aggression is acceptable.

Source: CNN