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(Study) Kids are concerned that violent video games make them aggresive!

May 19, 2008 in News comments 17

In a recent study on UK childrens' Media Literacy, a rather interesting point was brought up in regards to children's views on violent video games.

Apparently two-thirds of British 12 to 15-year-olds believe that playing violent video games makes them feel aggressive.
In fact, they said that violence in games has more of a negative impact on them than violence in movies or television shows combined.

The study also found that 68% of adults believed violent games were harmful to children - Though that's nothing new.

Children share public concern about violent games

Children’s views on gaming are particularly interesting. Around two-thirds of older children agree that violence in games affects people’s behaviour outside the game and that violence in games has more impact on people’s behaviour than violence in television or films. There are high levels of agreement for having settings on consoles which can restrict game playing based on age ratings.

Although research to date has failed to prove conclusively a link between violent games and violent behaviour in children, children themselves clearly share the wider public concern around this issue. A possible factor in this is the high ongoing level of media coverage of violent crimes in which game playing is alleged to have been a factor.
Miss Razz via ofcom.org.uk »
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Most recently commented on by on May 20, 2008

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  • 1
    StarJet May 19, 08
    WHAT THE HELL?
    This is gotta be some BS, right? Kids saying that violent video games make them aggressive?
    "two-thirds of British 12 to 15-year-olds"
    I'm sure this two third is picked from kids who have never been gamers. And I say again, what a load of BS!
  • 0
    Final Blade May 19, 08
    Come on enough of this BS, Every time we get articles like this, another resurfaces to negate it. Violent games do not cause violence or aggression. Its proven fact, if thats the case i should be massively aggressive for playing them, yet im not.
  • 1
    Miss Razz May 19, 08
    I think it's interesting hearing it come straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. It's also interesting that many of the kids even admitted that they feel agressive after playing violent video games.

    Though, of course, kids that age shouldn't be playing violent video games in the first place. Just because a study "proves" that kids feel more agressive after playing violent games, doesn' tmean anything needs to be changed. Age restrictions are already put in place. If a kid gets violent after playing a game, it's the parent's fault for allowing the kid to play it.
  • 0
    The Power May 19, 08
    I have been playing them ine I was 13, I have never felt more aggressive after playing them, god some people in the world are weird
    • 0
      Final Blade May 19, 08
      People hear me now, first time ever, No games makes me aggressive and violent, imagine what i could do without gaming...
  • 0
    Play ISDF May 19, 08
    *yawn* I wonder if those kids just think video games make them aggressive due to all the bullshit flying around that you hear and read these days. Short of that, I'm just gonna go ahead and say that if they really feel aggressive after playing a game, then they shouldn't be playing the damn things in the first place. I don't want some idiotic kids going to some school and shooting the place up, games don't need more bad publicity.

    I've grown up with video games (and computers, yes the typical nerd) all my life and although I can't honestly say I haven't gotten angry and such some times (face it, what usual gamer hasn't), I haven't felt aggressive or felt the need to go out on a rampage or something. The simple fact is, it seems these days, people are having trouble seeing that one world is fiction and the other real, that in one your in it to have fun and the other you got responsibility and consequences.

    I just realized that these days, for the average joe it's impossible to play a video game without self control...just what *bleep*ed up world have we created?
  • 2
    ali3n May 19, 08
    Kids aged 12-15 shouldn't be playing such games in the first place considering the fact that most violent games are rated at least 16+ in the UK.
  • 0
    Special K May 19, 08
    I never get violent because of a game. I've thought about it before though.
  • 0
    J Bro May 19, 08
    Then those must be some missed up kids. It really depends on the kids that play it, not the actual video games. If video games are supposed to make you violent, then I should be a freakin cereal killer right about now. What a load of bullshit.
    • 0
      Final Blade May 20, 08
      Um don't you mean Serial Killer?
  • 0
    Bale Fire May 19, 08
    Hey guys I think your taking this a little too seriously, I mean they said they felt more aggressive but how much more? I don't know about you but losing badly makes me feel a little aggressive even if I control it well. Aggressive doesn't mean chucking a tantrum and screaming.
  • 0
    Rinkydink May 19, 08
    Violent games are there for the people to release their anger on the games, instead of people.
  • 0
    Distortion May 19, 08
    I think as long as they can separate fantasy and reality, it's fine, none of this "Ugg, I'm playing a violent video game and it makes me feel aggressive" BS.
  • 0
    Seeker X May 19, 08
    One thing I noticed...

    Is it really the violence in the game? Or is it the difficulty of the game? Is it permanent or is it temporary?

    These studies are still inconclusive IMO. For example, I think competitive online gaming is one of the reasons why I get frustrated sometimes...not because I'm shedding someone else's blood that makes me feel like some homicidal beast.

    Then there's the fact that kids are not really observing what they are doing. You hear it everywhere..."Violent video games can make you aggressive"...hell you see it right there...that they said that violent video games are worse than violent movies/TV? That conclusion was based off ANOTHER study which said the EXACT same thing.

    A good study would be to get a kid to play something online and get the other to play something offline, then get the other to play something like Super Mario Galaxy or something along those lines. Try to cover ALL bases.
  • 0
    R1DDL3S May 19, 08
      It in no way relates to violence in the game. Just the fact that there is indeed a game. When you are attracted to something and are occupied with it. If you are busy doing something you like and your parents interrupt you for instance, you will be irate to a certain extent.
  • 0
    Zero and X May 20, 08
    The only time I feel agressive in a game is if the game is hard and its frustrating me. Other than that, the fact that the game itself is violent isnt what really makes people violent. This is my view on the whole video games make people violent. I think people confuse this. Hell its not even a matter of the game itself, people as a whole hate to lose and we become angry and agitated when we dont win. Simple as that, has nothing to do with the games themselves being violent and/or gory, just that people hate to lose, we get angry when we do, and people percieve this as violent.
    • 0
      Miss Razz May 20, 08
      I pretty much agree with that. Heck, when I was younger I felt the same amount of anger when losing Mario Kart as I did when losing Resident Evil. But the worst I ever did was throw my controller to the ground in anger.

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