Parents should make informed decisions before allowing children to play violent video games. Studies show that exposure to violence can lead to increased aggression, but correlation does not necessarily indicate causation. Lack of physical activity can also contribute to aggressive behavior.
Parents must make their own choices before exposing children to violent video games. There are still speculations about the degree to which children can be harmed by playing these games. Studies in this matter show that children tend to display more aggressive behavior immediately after playing violent games, but many argue that few children exposed to such violence will become violent people.
There are few long-term studies showing correlations between adult violence as directly related to violent video games or any type of exposure to violent media. Games with extreme violence that became popular in the 1990s, like Grand Theft Auto, haven’t been around long enough to show that they create aggressive adults.
However, studies of even E-rated games (approved for “everyone”) show that children respond aggressively, especially immediately after playing a video game with any violence. They also don’t simply mimic the violence of the game, such as practicing karate kicks. They can go further and may hit, bite, pull hair, or otherwise attack those around them. The same results were also found in children watching E-rated television programs with so-called “fantasy” violence.
Some studies also show a correlation between violent video games and aggression in young children, adolescents, and college-level adults. Such studies point to an increase in school fighting, school misbehavior, and even violent-type criminal behavior in adolescents. Some argue that correlation is not causation. While studies show a link, some suggest, it’s not proof that the link provides cause. In other words, video games may not cause violent behavior but may simply be a coincidence for those who would be violent.
This argument carries some weight, but it cannot be shown that the correlation does not indicate cause. Furthermore, it is clear that some children are at greater risk for aggression and potentially criminal behavior later in life. These children may not always be in populations considered to be at risk, mainly children with a history of abuse and males. In general, studies have shown that children of both sexes from good and poor family backgrounds have shown increased aggression after exposure to rough play.
Another factor that needs to be considered by parents who might let their children watch or play violent video games or television is the relatively passive nature of both. Children often process aggressive feelings through activity and exercise. Hours spent in front of the TV watching anything, even Sesame Street, mean fewer opportunities for exercise for your child. When factors of aggression after exposure to violence are added to lack of activity, one may temporarily have a very aggressive child on one’s hands.
The questions for all parents right now should be: How does exposure to violent video games benefit my child? What are the benefits of playing these games at an early age? Do these benefits outweigh the potential negative causes?
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