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Violent Video Games: Yes or No
Kids today are constantly surrounded by technology. It’s a well known resource for most children. Violent video games are also well known for most children. Violent video games were made for “fun”, but never did anyone think about the results that can come from them. Although some Americans believe violent video games do not contribute to youth violence, it actually is proven to be involved because there is a correlation between violence and video games. These video games can promote aggressive behavior and bad actions, which can lead to many problems with family, crimes, and school education.
It is true that “media violence – specifically video games – is not a major risk factor for violence” (USA today). Grand theft auto is one of the best-selling video games in America. While kids are playing that game, they are learning new habits and being taught to do violent actions. In all regards this does not mean that the children playing these games are going to be violent or more aggressive; researchers don’t even have enough resources to prove the violent video games do not affect the brain, or a child’s behavior. In these games children are not in reality but what if the game is their own fantasy? That could quickly change a lot of the behavior in a child, but doesn’t mean it will. Many school shootings have been blamed on video game violence, but 90% of children who play violent video game have no record of violent acts.
However true all these ides may be, let’s look at the living environments of each child that buys a violent video game. Spoken from Joseph Pitts, “I think it is safe to say that a wealthy kid from the suburbs can play Grand Theft Auto or a similar game without turning it into a life crime, but a poor kid who lives in a neighborhood where people really do steal cars or deal drugs or shoot cops might not be so fortunate.” I’m not saying that that’s the reason for all cases of video game violence, but I agree that this could have a major impact on their decision. Kids don’t think about the outcome in most cases, but with certain kids, it is shown to them by their neighbors or friends and family. Others may not realize the impact on the government and society. This is a problem that violent video games have with this world because its real world action in a competitive game but in some cases can be taken farther than a game.
Even more important is if these children want this fantasy to become reality. Who is there to stop them when video games are teaching them that violence = reward? With the violent video games on top of the charts, think of how it might develop the brain to make violence okay. Proven studies show that violent video games create more aggressive behavior. Violent video games represent significant risk to health of children and adolescents; this is mainly shown through aggressive behavior. Violent behavior is increased due to many video games, so can we take that chance. With many crimes committed by adolescents today, they’re mostly shootings and robberies which are the main violent actions in the video games.
These violent video games change the minds of kids and affect their behavior. With all these video games, can we trust kids these days not to go overboard? Video games have a bad impact on this world and with these video games there is no chance for world peace. Children are not old enough to tell right from wrong. Violent video games show that what is wrong is right and they get rewarded for that. Kids today should not be thought that reward system. Violent video games have too many risks with the one benefit of “fun”. Violent video games should not be allowed to adolescent and children. Violent video games are in an ideal environment in which to learn violence.
Work cited
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Hill, Tara. The Final Report and Findings of the Safe School Initiative: Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the US (PDF) (2004): 1-34. July 2004. Web. 26 May 2014.
Specialist, Senior Research. Teens, Video Games and Civics (n.d.): 1-99. Pew Internet/ Animal Life Project. Web. 26 May 2014.
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Douglas Gentile, David Walsh, Paul Ellison, Michelle Fox, and Jennifer Cameron, "Media Violence as a Risk Factor for Children: A Longitudinal Study," American Psychological Society 16th Annual Convention, May 2004
Douglas Gentile, "Examining the Effects of Video Games from a Psychological Perspective: Focus on Violent Games and a New Synthesis," National Institute on Media and the Family website, Nov. 2005
Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl K. Olsen, Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do, Apr. 2008
Chris Kohler, "July 29, 1994: Videogame Makers Propose Ratings Board to Congress," Wired website, July 29, 2009
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