Does Violent Video Gaming Have an Effect on Children - Research Paper Example

Does Violent Video Gaming Have an Effect on Children? The advancements in science and technology brought many changes in the life styles of the people. Many of the traditional sports and games used for physical workouts, relaxation and enjoyment have been given way for technology oriented games. Children of current generation are not much keen in playing physically hardworking sports and games; they are more interested in spending as much time in front of the computers, mobile phones or television sets for playing videogames. According to Gouzouasis et al (n. d), “the type of extra-curricular activities like playing an instrument versus playing video games has differential effects on the person’s skill acquisition and personality development” (Gouzouasis et al, p.12). The themes of majority of the videogames currently available are violence. Many people believe that violent videogames play a vital role in the personality development of children. Moreover, many of the school violence incidents are happening as a result of the increasing influence of violent videogames upon children. Children who engaged in playing violent videogames may try to practice violence in their real life also. At the same time many other people believe that violence in videogames may not affect children’s attitude or character very much. In this paper I argue that violent video gaming have an effect on children. In a Joint Statement (2000) before the Congressional Public Health Summit, a number of American medical associations caution parents about violence in the media and its negative effect on children. Their report states that exposure to violent media can elevate aggressive feelings and thoughts, especially in children. These effects on aggressive behavior can be long-term. Although fewer studies have been conducted on interactive video games, evidence suggests that playing violent video games may have a more dramatic influence on the behavior of children and adolescents (The Impact of Video Games on Children) Nobody has any doubt about the negative influence of violent videogames upon children. None of the scientific studies have ever argued or proved the utility of playing violent videogames. At the same time there are many studies which proved the negative effects of violent videogames upon children. Kim et al (2010) have mentioned that “excessive playing of video games may result in impaired academic performance (Kim et al, 2010). It is an accepted fact that most of the modern videogames are thought provoking and hence it can improve children’s skills such as numerical ability, problem solving, decision making, synthesis, analysis etc. At the same time, it should be noted that spending too much time for playing videogames may have detrimental effect on children as far as the academic achievements of the children are concerned. The increased influence of video games will force the children to decrease the time spent for learning academic topics. In other words, children who spent more time for playing videogames may spent little time for doing their home works, assignments or project works. Failure in doing home works may result in poor academic performances of the children in schools. Poor academic performances of the children may generate criticism from family and teachers which may generate frustration in the minds of children. Increased frustration may often come out in the form of violent behaviors. In other words, even nonviolent videogames can generate violent behavior indirectly among children. Children may discuss the themes of the violent videogames they played even at schools and they may try to implement it in their real life also. For example, Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular videogames among children at present. The theme of this videogame is a motor vehicle theft as the name indicates. Same way Mortal Kombat is another videogame in which the major theme is fighting. Such videogames will definitely encourage children to do the same activities in their real life as they witnessed in the videogame. Gun violence incidents in American schools are mainly happening because of the increased influence of violent videogames upon children. Whenever a conflict occurs among children in schools, they will try to settle the conflict with the help of violence rather than using any other means. This is mainly because of the influence of the violence in videogames. These children might have seen how the heroes in videogames settled such issues in their life. They will try to imitate the heroes of the violent games in their real life also. They do not have the ability to segregate between facts and fiction. Many of the recent studies proved beyond doubt that teens who play videogames may get addicted to it and have lack of control over their behavior. Baki et al (2008) have mentioned the exposure to pornography as a result of videogame playing (Baki et al, p.18). Teenage is a period in which the children find difficulties in segregating good and evil. The thirst for knowing new things or experimenting new things are is more during the teenage period because of the development of some of the hormones during this period. Teenage is a period during which the sex hormones are hyperactive. Many of the videogames available in the current market are with major themes like sex and violence. The videogame manufacturers deliberately manufactured such videogames in order to exploit the weakness of the children to sex, pornography, and violence. Such videogames become an addiction just like alcohol addiction, smoking addiction drug addiction etc. Anderson & Dill (2000) have mentioned the development of aggressive behavior among teenagers as a result of excessive videogame playing. In their opinion, “long term video game players can become more aggressive in outlook, perceptual biases, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior than they were before the repeated exposure or would have become without such exposure” (Anderson & Dill, p.774). Repeated practicing of any behavior can strengthen its influence up on a person. For example, many of the people start smoking as a joke. However, after some time, they will realize that it is difficult for them to avoid smoking in their life. Same way most of the children start playing videogames as a joke, however after some time; they will realize that they are getting addicted to videogames. They will not know the indirect things these videogames cultivate in their minds. For example advertisements influence us unknowingly when we go for a shopping. While watching television, reading newspapers or surfing internet, we will come across many advertisements. We usually neglect such ads. However, when we go for a shopping, these ads will definitely influence us unknowingly while taking a purchasing decision. Playing violent videogames may also have similar effects upon children. While playing they may perform the violent activities just for fun or to win the matches, however, these violent activities may influence the children unknowingly just like the influence of ads mentioned earlier. “Young children who play video games later tend to act similarly to the way their computer game character acted. Moreover, aggressive behavior appeared more likely to occur following the playing of a violent computer game than a non-violent computer game”(Haris, p.8). To conclude, videogames playing may have some utility as far as the mental development of the children are concerned. However, playing violent videogames may always affect the children negatively. Unknowingly children may develop violent behaviors as a result of continuous playing of violent videogames. Since children have less awareness in segregating good and evil, they may often try to practice the themes they observed in the violent videogames in their real life. Many of the school violence incidents are taking place as a result of the increasing influence of violent videogames upon children. In short, videogame playing, especially the violent videogame playing should be restricted among children. Parents and teachers should focus more on student activities and they should assist the children in the selection of videogames for playing. Works Cited 1. Anderson C.A & Dill K.E. “Video Games and Aggressive Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior in the Laboratory and in Life”. 2000. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. American Psychological Association, Inc. 2000, Vol. 78, No. 4, 772-790. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.78.4.772 2. Baki, Roselan., Yee Leng, Eow., Wan Ali,Wan Zah., Mahmud, Rosnaini and Gani Hamzah, Mohd.Sahandri. “The perspective of six Malaysian students on playing video games: Beneficial or detrimental?”. 2008. US-China Education Review, ISSN1548-6613, Nov. 2008, Volume 5, No.11 (Serial No.48). Web. 13 April 2011. 3. Gouzouasis, Peter, Kishor Nand and Guhn Martin. “The Relationship Between Achievement and Participation in Music and Achievement in Core Grade Twelve Academic Subjects”. Web. 13 April 2011. http://www.bcmusiccoalition.homestead.com/Predict_music_pg_mg_v_B40C7.pdf 4. Haris Jessica. “The Effects of Computer Games on Young Children – a Review of the Research”. 2001.Publisher: Great Britain, Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (2001) 5. Kim JunWon, Han Doug Hyun., Park Doo Byung., Min Kyung Joon. Na Churl, Won Su Kyung and Park Ga Na. “The Relationships Between Online Game Player Biogenetic Traits, Playing Time, and the Genre of the Game Being Played”. 2010. Psychiatry Investigation. v.7(1); Mar 2010 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. Web. 13 April 2011. 6. “The Impact of Video Games on Children”. Web. 13 April 2011. Read More