THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY:
• Boys tended to be play more violent video games and had a higher
baseline of aggressive behaviour
• Violent video games had a more significant influence on young
children than it did on older children, although both groups were
still affected
• Surprisingly, parental involvement in the media habits of children
were not a significant moderating effect
TEN MINUTES WITH
PROFESSOR ANDERSON
• Prior aggression did not actually moderate nor predict future
aggressive behaviour; as long as the child played violent video
games, he or she tended to display more aggressive behaviour,
contradicting the popular belief that video game violence only
affects people who are already highly aggressive
What were the differences in violent
behaviour, if any, between the boys and the
girls who were in the recent study?
As is usually found in such studies, boys
reported higher levels of physical aggression
than did girls. Boys also reported higher
levels of violent video game play than
girls. However, the most important finding
regarding gender was that the link between
violent video game play and later aggressive
thoughts and aggressive behaviour was
essentially the same for boys and girls. That
is, boys and girls were affected in the same
way by violent video games. Playing more
violent games led to increases in aggressive
thought patterns, which in turn led to
increased physical aggression.
influences the type of aggression later
displayed by its consumers. There also is
some evidence that playing games that glorify
criminal activities increase later cheating
or stealing behaviours. In the TV violence
literature, there is evidence that showing
harmful consequences of the violent behaviour
influences the short term effects on viewers’
aggressive behaviour. Furthermore, there is
evidence that punishing in-game violence by
taking away points reduces in-game violence
and later aggressive behaviour.
Do children who are regularly exposed to
violent video games and television shows
grow up to become more aggressive adults?
Yes, it is now clear that frequent childhood
exposure to violent media leads to more
aggressive adults. There also are a few studies
that suggest that this effect can be reduced by
reducing violent media exposure, and possibly
by increasing exposure to pro-social media.
The study showed that the rate or frequency
of reported aggressive behaviour was lower in
the older adolescents. This is not surprising,
because this age trend occurs in all major
studies that track aggression across time
and age. Of course, the ability to inflict more
serious harm also increases as children get
bigger, stronger, and more skilled in fighting
and using weapons.
On the second question, our data contradicted
the idea that older children and adolescents
are immune to media violence effects. In fact,
our data showed that the effect of violent video
game play on later aggressive behaviour was
essentially the same at younger and older
ages.
Would it be possible that certain children
In your study, what was the definition
gravitate towards violent video games and
of aggressive behaviour and violent
television shows already, perhaps due to
tendencies? What type of actions were
their upbringing or genes, and thus are
considered aggressive and violent?
more predisposed to displaying more violent
We measured physical aggression, such
tendencies and aggressive behaviour?
Why do you think younger children were
as hitting a person who had angered or
Basically, you are asking about two different
more heavily influenced by violent video
provoked them in some way. Our measure
effects: the socialization effect, which says
games? In your opinion, does this mean that
was not restricted to the extreme forms of
that violent media socializes its users into
physical aggression that would be considered violent video games and television shows
becoming more aggressive people; and the
will not significantly influence a teenager or
“violent”. In other words, some of the
selection effect, which says that “naturally”
behaviours that the participants are reporting even an adult?
aggressive individuals are attracted to
are violent (that is, intended to cause injury
violent media.
that is severe enough to require medical
WHAT DOES THIS
attention). But most physically aggressive
MEAN FOR YOU, DEAR PARENT
There are effects of upbringing and genes
behaviours don’t reach the extreme level
Before you panic and start tossing out the
on aggressive and violent behavioural
of harm to be called “violent.” For
video games with the merest hint of guns, blood and
tendencies. But the design of
example, some hitting behaviours by
gore, take a deep breath. Games are not all bad, in fact, many
this study controls for these
the older adolescents could very
researchers have discovered that in general, video games are
selection effects. By looking
well be seen as violent; they are
beneficial for your brain. Besides boosting your cognitive skills, video
at the change in the relative
old enough and strong enough
games also improve memory formation, strategic planning and spatial
amount of aggressive
to inflict serious injury.
navigational ability. There have also been results to indicate that video games
behaviour, and the change
improve the ability of the gamer to filter information for relevance, a plus point in
in aggressive thought
Does the type of violence
today’s age of sensory overload.
patterns, as measured in
affect the type of
the same individuals on
aggressive behaviour
The key is to monitor your child’s media habits and to keep abreast of the latest
repeated occasions, we
that children show?
developments and trends in the gaming world. It would be even more advantageous
essentially control for
For example, shows or
to sit down with your child and play along with him or her, boosting not only the
genetic differences and
video games that glorify
relationship between the both of you but giving you opportunities to guide him or
for family environment.
violence versus shows
her regarding the violence you see on the screen, in essence, being the pro-social
Thus, this study clearly
or video games that
invisible hand.
isolates the effect of
demonstrate the violent
exposure to violent
person losing out or
Also, you a ɔ