Since the introduction of video games in the 1970s, scientists and researchers have found reasons to argue that video games affect those that play them in negative ways. When Nintendo introduced the newer systems of the era, the idea behind violence in games affecting children who play them was born. Many scientists and researchers claim that children who invest time in these violent games are far more likely to develop antisocial behaviors, and in turn attempt (and sometimes succeed) in reenacting the scenes they have interacted with in the games. According to researcher Earl Hunsinger, video games are, “training our children to celebrate violence.” (Click here for the article by Hunsinger)

Although most are quick to believe the words and statistics provided by legitimate individuals such as Hunsinger, there are equally valid reasons to believe otherwise. Some researchers claim that the overall amount of violent behavior in children has been increasing over the past couple decades. However, studies provided by a research project from the Washington State Department of Health show that the numbers in youth violence have actually been decreasing. The idea that video games increase violent behavior in children is fueled by the media creating a link between video games and devastating crimes in the past. School shootings are tragic events that have unfortunately been occurring frequently within the last decade. When the suspects of said shootings were interviewed, they admitted to having previously spent time playing these ultra-violent video games. With this information in mind, many researchers were quick to jump on the assumption that these children were only acting out what they had seen in the games, or that the games had taught them how to do what they had done.

With these facts in mind, let’s jump over to the side that believes video games have absolutely nothing to do with the violent traits in children. There are those who believe video games only stimulate violent behavior in children. They believe the children playing the games, and then in turn being emotionally changed, were already set in the wrong mindset. Doctoral candidate Bill Blake at Carnegie Mellon University claims, “Because the evidence appears empirical, we don't bother to consider whether it actually warrants the claims we end up making.” Parents, teachers, government officials and the like are quick to jump on the bandwagon of the claims from researchers bashing the video game industry. A simple statistic can mean the difference in one’s opinion when it comes from a credible individual. This is not always a good thing, however, because even though the person stating the ‘facts’ is credible, there may be more behind the issue that isn’t clearly being addressed.

Bill Blake believes that any individual with a sense of intelligence is smart enough to know that the violent acts taking place within video games are far from reality. Children don’t begin to enact violent acts from video games simply because they ‘sparked’ the sudden interest in violence. Blake believes these children have already had previous interaction with violence, and are not psychologically “well”.

I too believe video games are not capable of making a child violent. The only reason a child may reenact a scene from a game is because they’ve had previous encounters with violence in their everyday lives. If a child is raised in a hostile environment, then yes, maybe playing a video game with similar situations will entice them to do it themselves. However, the idea was already planted in the back of their mind from reality, NOT from the video game. This issue in my opinion can be resolved if parents and guardians become more involved with what they’re children are playing, and listen to what their kids are trying to say. If a child is interested in playing a violent game, explain to them that the rating system is there for a reason, and when they’re old enough they can purchase it. Telling them flat out ‘No’ only encourages the child more to find any means necessary to play the game. Parents and guardians in general need to spend more time with their children. I believe that a major reason behind antisocial behavior in young children is because parents and guardians are too busy to spend quality time with their kids. Even if a child is playing a violent video game, I believe that the attention from their parents will nullify any possible negative effects on the child. Children just need to feel acknowledged; with their parents behind them, I believe the issue of violent video games will no longer exist.

Here is a post supporting the belief behind parental involvement in reducing the alleged problems of video games. Click Here

Thank you for taking interest in my argument. Comments are always welcome, and discussions encouraged.