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More Studies Show That Violent Video Games Aren't A Problem For Kids
from the and-again-and-again-and-again dept
While a few anti-video gaming folks keep insisting that the evidence shows that violent video games are bad for kids, anyone who looks closely at the research has found that there does not appear to be any real connection between violence in kids and violent video games. For a while, though, the American Psychological Association had warned about violent video games, despite the lack of real evidence. It looks like, perhaps, the APA is realizing this was a mistake. In a new "special issue" of Review of General Psychology, published by the APA, a variety of studies are reviewed, and the findings suggest that the moral panic over violent video games is almost totally misplaced.
The only issue is that in a small group of kids, who already appear to have other psychological issues, the video games may contribute to and exacerbate those issues. In other words, it's not the video games that are the issue, but a separate problem. But for most children, there are no problems with them playing violent video games, despite what you may have heard on the nightly news:
The only issue is that in a small group of kids, who already appear to have other psychological issues, the video games may contribute to and exacerbate those issues. In other words, it's not the video games that are the issue, but a separate problem. But for most children, there are no problems with them playing violent video games, despite what you may have heard on the nightly news:
"Violent video games are like peanut butter," said Christopher J. Ferguson, of Texas A&M International University. "They are harmless for the vast majority of kids but are harmful to a small minority with pre-existing personality or mental health problems."Other studies also found that many video games have positive aspects, and can be quite useful to kids.
He added that studies have revealed that violent games have not created a generation of problem youngsters.
"Recent research has shown that as video games have become more popular, children in the United States and Europe are having fewer behavior problems, are less violent and score better on standardized tests," Ferguson, a guest editor for the journal, explained.
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In fact, the book I'm working on right now deals with a Psychologist being called in as part of a team to deal with the first human being "cloned" faithfully into a digital format (see either "Digital Physics" or "Digital Philosophy" in wikipedia for some general ideas on the concept). That character was called in because he previously worked as a consultant on violent videogames and their effects on children. I based him off of what I read from Mr. Jenkins....
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Violent Cartoons
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Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
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I think it all depends on the education you get (for those mentally well, the mentally unbalanced might be a different story). If you get taught at an early age that that is "just a game" and you are taught how to properly behave in society and learn that killing or hurting people is bad, violent video games won't hurt. They will actually be useful to blow off some steam.
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Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
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Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
The best example of the video game as art is Tetris.
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Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
Games that really shock me are those where you are face to face with your enemies and have to get your hands dirty like most horror games. I don't remember many of the old ones I've played, but I recently played the Chzo mythos series (great games by the way) and I couldn't sleep well for a while. I also played Call of Chtuhulu: Dark Corner of the Earth (I can never spell HIS name right), also an awesome game, but you need nerves of steel sometimes, or you flip.
Those games ARE shocking, but in the end, they are just games. You can turn off your PC and know that that was all a fantasy, kinda like a dream (or a nightmare)...There are worse things happening in the world RIGHT now, and people aren't bothered about them...
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CDC Report shows declines in violence and weapons use
But wait, wait that is exactly when video games started ramping up, how could this be?
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Re: CDC Report shows declines in violence and weapons use
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5905a1.htm?s_cid=ss5905a1_x
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Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
I'm guessing you're joking, but there truly is games that are artwork and there is also amazing artwork IN games (possibly making them works of art themselves?). Two examples:
1. Deus Ex - Amazing artwork in design, flow, storytelling, writing, etc.
2. The Longest Journey - If you don't call the visuals and settings of that game artwork, then you don't know artwork.
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RE: More Studies Show That Violent Video Games Aren't A Problem For Kids
I don't think this is any different than the totally bogus effects theory baloney that claimed that violent cartoons (i.e. "Tom and Jerry", as well as the Warner Brother cartoons starring Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, Wyle E. Coyote and the Roadrunner,) desensitized children to violence and made them prone to be violent.
We humans are predictably dumb animals, but we aren't that dumb.
It comes down to responsible parenting and appropriate socialization, folks. Always has, always will.
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Makes sense to me.
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Re: Makes sense to me.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
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Re: Re: Makes sense to me.
Or a serial closet killer. Have you ever worked demo for a construction team?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
Actually, the five games I keep in a regular rotation are:
1. Deus Ex
2. Fallout 2
3. Sam 'N Max
4. Tie Fighter
5. Monkey Island
Honorable Mention: Grim Fandango
I find something new in each of them every time....
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Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
...and it does, as do many violent movies, books, etc. The game is also M rated, which means that any parent should *not* be buying it for their kids. Sometime, adult entertainment means "this is not suitable for children, don't blame us if you decide to buy it anyway despite the warnings".
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
Bioshock
Braid
Rez
Half Life 1 & 2
Any Lucasarts adventure game
Many of the main Final Fantasy games
Super Mario World
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
P.S. Did you ever get the full tattoo in Tie Fighter?
P.P.S. I feel bad that I never finished The Longest Journey :(
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
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Like Peanut Butter.
I prefer my violent video games extra crunchy.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimalism
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Duh.
My brothers and I grew up on games, I ended up having no police record, my two siblings the same.. in fact, we are all in decent/respectable jobs. Heck, my son, he started gaming at 3 and I let him play violent games. He's a smart kid with a good heart and knows the difference between right and wrong.
Glad to finally see some polarized info on why games aren't that malicious to a child's well being.
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Re: Duh.
Video games are just the newest scapegoat, and like all the others will be forgotten when the next convenient scapegoat raises its head. It's annoying, but the reason is clear - it's easier for the media and the simple-minded to blame these things than to combat the real ills of society (crime, poverty, poor education, broken families, etc.)
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
I'm not sure. Is there some kind of reward or event that happens?
"P.P.S. I feel bad that I never finished The Longest Journey :("
Do it. Do it now. Completely worth it....
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
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Re: Violent Cartoons
and in the 80's it was comic books and dungeons and dragons.
in the 90's it was rap music.
movies and television have gotten steadily more violent and no one cares because movies have been around forever.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
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Re: Re: Duh.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
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Just who is having the problem here
I'm starting to get the impression that children have a far greater capacity to separate fantasy from reality that adults do?
Just wonderin'
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Violent video games
Other studies also found that many video games have positive aspects, and can be quite useful to kids."
Okay, recent research shows that as people make statements of facts that may or may not be related (they certainly don't appear to know); people who want to believe their unsupported conclusions accept them as fact.
Should I take it then, that "Wishing will make it so"?
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It all comes back to the parents
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Not a problem for kids; but adults *should* object.
Thief: Gold
Thief 2: The Metal Age
There's also a fan-made campaign for Thief 2 called Shadows of the Metal Age.
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Re: It all comes back to the parents
My son is 12 and has been playing games (mostly first person shooters, now) since he was 5. The entire time I have been evaluating each and every title for its appropriateness for him. At the same time, I am teaching him how to evaluate the good/bad factors in each game himself. The older he gets, the more he gets to choose what games he plays. And guess what? He passes on most of the games I would not play either.
Prepare your kids to become adults. Don't abandon your responsibility to teach on the basis of a headline.
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i've been a gamer my whole life
so i say as long as you keep an eye on your kids and just be a good parent you're fine, but its honestly gonna take alot more work in todays society than it ever has before.
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Re: i am 11
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Re: i am 11
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Re: True.
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Re: Research Paper
My research paper is on: Do violent video games and television shows cause violent, aggressive behavior in children?
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