Running Head: VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES

Community Problem Report: Violent Video Games

The University of Texas at El Paso
Armando Chaidez

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Abstract
Video games are now considered by the National Endowment for the Arts as an art, in the
same category as books, movies, etc. (Paul Tassi, 2011). However some question the violent
content that some of these titles serve and worry if it has an influence on young players. Studies
done to find out whether video games do or do not influence players have been done since the
first violent games came to the scene. These studies either came back inconclusive or in some
form of conclusion that was either for pro violent games or pro banning. However an answer
might not be possible with this topic as people have different psychologies and react differently
to what they are exposed to. However as video games become more popular as the years
progress the controversy it brings with will continue as until a solution to the conflict can be
found.
Introduction

Video games are by many considered an art form because of the styles and stories each of these
games does and are sometimes compared to movies and books. As they become more and more
popular video games will only continue on to expand into more popularity, it will also expand
along with the controversy it brings with it. The Discussion with video games has been with it

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since its inception, many people question whether or not video games can change a persons
perspective on society and cause them to become violent. Many people especially parents and
educators of young children are convinced that video games do change a persons behavior.
However, players themselves do not believe so based on their own experiences. This report will
discuss on the topic on whether or not video games change peoples viewpoints and taking into
account real studies performed by experts.
Because of the release of violent video games such as Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft
Auto have parents worried about what their children could get exposed to by playing video
games. Many parents are convinced violent video games will cause an alteration in behavior in
their children. Because of incidents in the past, such as the Columbine School Shooting skeptics
have blamed video games as the root for the shootings happening. They believe that kids and
teenagers who see violent content, especially if they are in control (e.g. video games), will mimic
these actions. Studies by universities all over the country have been experimented to see if there
is a link with violent content and young children and adolescents. In a study performed by J.
Holingdale and T. Greitemeyer in which they were trying to figure out if people became more
aggressive as a result of playing violent video games. They concluded that people do in fact
develop more violent behavior after plying violent video games for a considerable amount of
time.
Many do in fact believe that violent video games cause violent behavior including
government officials, which have taken action. A good example of government intervention is
the introduction of the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board). The ESRB labels each
game based on the content that the video game displays in the game, and depending on how the
game is it gets a rating similar to how movies are rated based on their content. There are a total

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of six possible rating a game could get (early childhood, everyone, everyone 10+, Teen, Mature,
Adults only). An experiment done by Y. Hasen to see if violent games cause aggressiveness. In
his experiment violent and nonviolent games were used to see if any aggressiveness was
generated as a result of playing the games. In his conclusion he came up with that violent games
do indeed cause more aggressiveness than nonviolent games.
An article in psychology today goes over the discussion of violent video games and their
place in society and how and if they cause a change in a persons personality. And that despite all
the research and experiments done there is still not clear explanation if video games cause
violent behavior. In the end he came up with a theory that researchers dont reach a conclusion
because they are not asking the right questions. So despite all the research done it raises more
questions than answers. However, most have concluded that it all depends on the persons
psychology since every person reacts differently to the violent imagery
Violent video games are as old as video games themselves. One of the first violent game
to come out to the market was a game titled Death Race. In the game players were instructed to
run over people that the game referred to as Gremlins. The game caused a great deal of
controversy and was looked down on by people because video games at the time were seen more
as a childrens pastime. Controversy was big when games like Mortal Kombat and Doom were
released during the 90s. The games were the subject of controversy so much that both of these
titles were key reasons that the ESRB was first founded in 1994. Grand Theft Auto an additional
title which brings controversy with each instalment released is another hot topic in this conflict.
Its because of these games that all the parents and government officials panic and question what
their children really are playing. But are video games really hurting the young adolescents of the
world?

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Video games will continue to be the subject of controversy as long as their made and
regardless of whether people support them or not. Just like violent movies and violent books,
violent video games will continue on and will likely be more accepted as time moves on. Certain
books in the days of the middle ages were considered controversial because of what the text
described and for going against the teachings of the church. Because of this many books were
burned. Movies were also the heat on controversy during the 20th century when movies started
making their mark and displaying more violent content like the 1960 movie Psycho. Early
movies that depicted grotesque sites and violent imagery were considered wicked by societys
standards at the time. Video games will most likely end up in the same route a few years down
the line. A potential solution to this argument of whether or not video games changes a persons
behavior can be solved by people just accepting the conflict between the two and in a few
decades the conflict will subside.
Video games are now considered as an art form in the same categories as books and
movies (Paul Tassi, 2011). They provide storys and characters perspectives and fictional
settings. Some people view violence differently than others, some enjoy it in their books, movies
and games while other prefer a more mild tone. Perhaps on the other hand people need to except
video games for what they are regardless if its violent or not. On the other hand if the
controversy did not reflect the number of sales as most of violent themed games have done, than
the video game culture would be a great deal smaller than what it is now. Studies have found that
the higher the controversy the video game has the higher the sales of that game will be. So the
lesson here is that video games and video game controversy are essential for each other so that
video games in general will continue on.

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As stated above different groups of people have different viewpoints on the topic.
However most dont look at the big picture, on both sides they have their defending arguments to
help support their opinions and beliefs. With people who dont support violet games they dont
see that millions of people play violent games and they themselves do not become aggressive or
even hostile towards their surrounding environment. And those who support violent video games
dont see that people who are mentally unstable could in fact become violent as a result of
playing a violent game.
Conclusion
Video games are a popular trend in todays society and will continue to rise as the years
pass, bringing with it the controversy of violent themed games. In the ongoing debate
questioning whether or not violent video games are affecting todays youth is split between two
groups, pro and con. Those who support it and those who are against it. However a possible
resolution to this conflict could be that in time video games could be accepted by society as an
art form possibly when the next new popular and controversial trend pops along.

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7
References

Hollingdale J, Greitemeyer T. (2014). The Effect of Online Violent Video Games on Levels of
Aggression. PLOS ONE, 9(11). 1-5
Hasen, Y.; Bejue, L.; Bushman, B.J. (2013). Violent Video Games Stress People
Out and Make Them More Aggressive. AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. Volume 39(1), (64-72)
Bajovic, M. (2013). Violent Video Gaming and Moral Reasoning in Adolescents: Is There an
Association? Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 50 (3). 177-191

Nauroth, P.; Gollwitzer, M.; Bender, J.; Rothmund, T., (2014), Gamers Against Science: The
Case of the Violent Video Games Debate. European Journal of Social Psychology, 44(2), 104116
Singer, D.G. & Singer, J.L. (2005). Violent Themes in Play, TV Content, and Video Games. In,
Imagination and Play in the Electronic Age (pp.83-109). Cambridge, Massachusetts; London,
England: Harvard University Press.
Benedict, C. (2013, February 11). Shooting in the Dark. The New York Times. Retrieved from
http:// http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/science/studying-the-effects-of-playing-violentvideo-games.html?_r=0
Romeo, V. Ph.D. (2013, June 27). Can Video Games Cause Violence? Psychology Today.
Retrieved form https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/media-spotlight/201304/can-videogames-cause-violence

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Andrea, N. (2014, June). Violent Video Games and Aggressive Behaviors. Sutter Health Palo
Alto Medical Foundation. Retrieved 3/23/2015, from http://www.pamf.org/parentingteens/general/media-web/violentgames.html