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Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke

Posted Jun 1, 2011 at 4:30PM EST by Carl B

Listed in: News Tags: craig anderson, violent video games

gears-of-war-3beta

According to psychologist Craig Anderson, playing a video game is more dangerous than cancer-inducing smoke.

"Facts: Meta-analyses reveal that violent video game effect sizes are larger than the effect of second hand tobacco smoke on lung cancer, the effect of lead exposure to I.Q. scores in children, and calcium intake on bone mass," Anderson said in his study. "Furthermore, the fact that so many youths are exposed to such high levels of video game violence further increases the societal costs of this risk factor."

Anderson used a number of references for his study, which mostly consisted of himself and a colleague:
Anderson, C.A. (in press). An Update on the Effects of Violent Video Games. Journal of Adolescence.
Anderson, C.A., & Bushman, B.J. (1997). External validity of "trivial" experiments: The case of laboratory aggression. Review of General Psychology, 1, 19-41.
Anderson, C.A., & Bushman, B.J. (2001). Effects of violent video games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature. Psychological Science, 12, 353-359.
Anderson, C.A., & Bushman, B.J. (2002a). The effects of media violence on society. Science, 295, 2377-2378.
Anderson, C.A., & Bushman, B.J. (2002b). Human Aggression. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 27-51.
Anderson, C.A., & Carnagey, N.L. (in press). Violent evil and the general aggression model. Chapter to appear in A. Miller (Ed.) The Social Psychology of Good and Evil. New York: Guilford Publications.
Anderson, C.A., & Huesmann, L.R. (in press). Human Aggression: A Social-Cognitive View. Chapter to appear in M.A. Hogg & J. Cooper (Eds.), Handbook of Social Psychology. London: Sage Publications.
Bushman, B.J., & Anderson, C.A. (2001). Media violence and the American public: Scientific facts versus media misinformation. American Psychologist, 56, 477-489.
Bushman, B. J., & Huesmann, L. R. (2000). Effects of televised violence on aggression. In D. Singer & J. Singer (Eds.). Handbook of children and the media (pp. 223-254). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Rosenthal, R. (1986). Media violence, antisocial behavior, and the social consequences of small effects. Journal of Social Issues, 42, 141-154.

His colleague, B.J. Bushman, helped Anderson write a work in the past that the APA gave the following critique to: "Comments on an article by Bushman and Anderson (see record 2001-17729-001). We are concerned that Bushman and Anderson's article on media violence contains data that are incorrect or irreproducible."

We reported last month that a doctor found no link between violent video games and aggression -- it looks like Anderson didn't read that study.

Check out Anderson's study by following this link.

via Spong

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The effect size for violent video games on violence is greater than that of second hand smoke on lung cancer or calcium intake on bone mass. Doesn't necessarily say that video games are MORE dangerous than second hand smoke (or more beneficial than calcium, for that matter...), just that more people are are exposed to violence through video games than are exposed to lung cancer through second hand smoke. He's essentially saying there's a larger 'user base' for aggression through video games than there is for lung cancer through second hand smoke.

That said, the article containing "...data that are incorrect or irreproducible" is not the same study presented after the included link and is also only shown speculated on as being "incorrect or irreproducible".

Also, if you actually read the article at http://www.computerandvideogames.com/300456/violent-games-do-not-cause-aggression-this-isnt-mickey-mouse-research/ about the guy who says there's no link between video games and aggression then you'll see that he's incredibly unprofessional, has no hard evidence to back up his claims (or his trashing of others' work in the field of video games & aggression) and quite frankly is just saying 'no' and not 'no, and here is irrefutable evidence as to why 'no' is absolute.'

THAT said, I'm not sure who I believe. To be honest, I don't think aggression is a universal effect of video games, but I do believe that it can be an effect on some people and that it can manifest more predominately in some of THOSE people.

TL:DR?

Go to school. Learn to read.

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — EtnasPrinny 2011-06-01 18:00

How the -blam!- do you compare second hand smoking(which KILLS you) to violent games?
The only bad thing about games is the fact that it takes too long to get to save points... of course there's also the fact that CoD can cause you to break your controller/tv.

# RE: RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — SeRosiS 2011-06-01 18:34

Quoting EtnasPrinny:

of course there's also the fact that CoD can cause you to break your controller/tv.

Only if you have anger management issues.
I can honestly say the only time I broke a controller on accident was when I stepped on my Dualshock 2...

Easily retrofitted the innards into a Dualshock 1 casing shortly afterwards.

+2 # RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — RzmmDX 2011-06-01 18:04

No, he just a really bad psychologist with nothing better to do than to write provocative papers in hopes of getting some recognition and attention that he lacked during childhood.

I took a Psychology course and I too can make a random psychoanaysis of a person that I have never met!

But really, comparing it to second hand smoking is really gasping at straws. With the cost needed to treat lung cancer, treat? I mean delay the inevitable untimely death indirectly caused by other people. I could buy over 1000 games.

And that averages to about 10000 hours with multiplayer. Which only lasts for about 3 years? God damn it.

# ... — TheRockness 2011-06-01 18:58

I agree with you about this guy trying to gain some recognition. So many people will use videogames as their soapbox to stand on. The problem is that soapbox is the media and lots of times these douche canoes can get a lot of undeserved credit for this. Luckily Jack Thompson got his ass barred because of his crusades. This guy isn't calling games evil but then again he's definitely not promoting them either.

+2 # RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — slash_th 2011-06-01 18:09

Wow..
i'd like the moron who said that to tell that to a guy's face that got cancer from 2nd hand smoking.

i wanna see him NOT get punch =/
seriously this is beyond stupid.

# RE: RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — truk 2011-06-01 22:43

and how! seriously, i'd punch him.

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — The SNK Freak 2011-06-01 18:39

I really don't know why this kind-of-human-form-of-vermin Psychologist Craig is saying about video games.
Let me explain something that is very important in this forum, when you go to buy a game on any store, must of the store assistants tells you if the game is for you or a young kid, must of them explain to you the ESBR (Entertainment Software Rating Board).
But the real psychos here are the children parents because they buy those games knowing of the effect that can cause by playing those games. I'm sorry about this but I started playing games since the first generation of video games, so I know what I'm talking about. And Craig try to get rid of your license or diploma and start playing some video games, so you can understand what we are talking about or a good option could be, try to get some game consoles and try to test on kids and try to see for your self what video games can do for you, because I rather have my kids playing video games and doing exercises that doing drug or doing some stupid things.

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — NakedFaerie 2011-06-01 18:47

Another tosser thats not a gamer.

# Wow! — TheRealSeeYouLater 2011-06-01 19:29

My dad died of cancer and I play video games.
Please tell me where this idiot got his diploma from, so I can call the college and ask them if this is the kind of things they teach now.
There is no comparison of the knowledge of certain death from cancer to someone having aggression management issues.

WHAT AN IDIOT!!

-1 # RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Xtmrage 2011-06-01 19:53

Granted violent video games are not cancer inducing, but consider all the violent images going into the kids brains? I had a friend whose 17 year old son killed his mother because he was listening to music that explicitly said "kill your mother" found in the police report. What kind of content people put into their heads DOES have an adverse affect on their actions. Even on a subconscious level.

# RE: RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — truk 2011-06-01 22:48

there was obviously something wrong with this person that goes farther then the music he listened to.

# RE: RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Justin Graziano 2011-06-02 00:48

Yea, because a song is going to drive a completely 100% sane human being to murder. You make me sick.

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — bigjock 2011-06-01 19:59

i'd take it seriously, but psychology isn't a legitimate field of science. so instead i'll just laugh.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHA

# RE: RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — yeye 2011-06-01 23:43

Your comment gives insight into your screen name choice, it seems.

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — bearmon2010 2011-06-01 21:16

This news is stupid. A second hand smoke killed you because of caner. This game doesnt killed you but addict you thats all. SILLY CONCEPTION!

# HAHA — Rozza 2011-06-01 22:48

Oh Fuck off, second hand smoke can kill me with cancer, video games to jack shit other then obesity

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — HangmanSwingset 2011-06-02 00:48

God damn get back in your mini van you pice of shit soccer mom. Video games aren't causing cancer, heart and lung problems, or even killing anyone. You can't compare the two.
The only problems for me that video games cause are headaches from little kids crying that I kill them on Halo.

+1 # RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Justin Graziano 2011-06-02 00:50

It cant be that some people are just dumb, insane, or something else, right? That cant be the reason. The video games are the things corrupting their minds! Just like in the 50s, it was the rock music! Remember how harmful that was!? It was corrupting everyone, turning them into monsters! And television, so harmful! Worse then drugs! Now its the video games! Every one of them murderers in prison killed because of their exposure to GTA, right? Oh and those murderers and other wackjobs from the 70s and earlier, they went to the future and seen video games, thats how they became so crazy. Right? The guy who assassinated John F. Kennedy, he invented a time machine, went to the future, played GTA and thats what made him kill our president!

These anti media freaks are the only things corrupting our world. They belong in the same places the other wackjobs go. Nobody cares what your little conservative "studies" have to say, because all they show is how YOU think something like video games is harmful to people. A person who is affected negatively by any form of media has some other problem(s). Get that through your thick, close minded heads, its NOT the media.

And heres another nice little bit for your so called "study". I have been playing M rated games since I was 7 years old. No, not 17, SEVEN. Games like Resident Evil, Grand Theft Auto, and many other "inappropriate" titles. Judging by the huge amount of money and effort put into keeping these titles out of minors hands, I should have been severely affected by playing these games at such a young age. But guess what, I have never killed anyone, I have never even been in a real fight. I am very anti violent, against guns, and believe there are ways to solve problems without violence. I am also a high school graduate and currently in college, so the low IQ nonsense wont work. Can you explain to me why I have not been negatively affected by this so called "harmful" media? Please explain. If you are doing a legit study, I should be given a completely valid explanation as to exactly why I have not been affected. I know you won't give me an explanation, because you cant do that without admitting that media is harmless to any sane person, and any attempt to restrict it is 100% useless and a waste of time and money, so you go on with your little study while I sit here wondering what you will be targeting after video games. Hmm...

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Apollo887 2011-06-02 01:49

Well fuck that I smoke and am a gamer.

# What? — urbz1999 2011-06-02 04:22

If anything its irresponsible parents not monitoring what games there kidz are playing.

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Arch 2011-06-02 06:03

bullshit based on bullshit

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — jazneo 2011-06-02 07:08

that guy made because he cant smoke in his favorite place no more. so you has to blame something else

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Kali B 2011-06-02 10:17

I'm 25. I've been playing video games since I was 5! My first violent game was Mortal Kombat. I have yet to kill someone because of a video game. If this was the case we should stop watching T.V. and going to the Movies. Hell even the Disney/ Pixar movies have violent scenes in them!

-1 # RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Drink Me 2011-06-02 10:35

First, I can't believe this many people gave a thumbs down....oh wait. Yes I can. Just because you people don't want to hear it doesn't make it any less true. Second, I've been posting alot of comments lately and QJ refuses to post them. Treading thin ice QJ, treading thin ice.

# RE: RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — HangmanSwingset 2011-06-02 12:50

So if there's an article that says you playing video games gives children in Africa AIDS, you'd just say we don't want to hear it and that it is true?
You can't compare the two things. It's an invalid argument.

# lol, such a bullshit — alexx910 2011-06-02 11:35

Over one year ago I read, that gamers have the reaction time like a starfighter-pilot, now we should better smoke cigarettes than playing a bit

BS :)
Actually I dont believe in this shit, of course there are some games, that make me angry like DB:RB and SF4 just because of retarded controls, but other games are just awesome, so I dont see a reason to stop playin :)
I think this guy just got very frustrated by a game that he had to say, that games are bad :) Always the same crap, I dont mind.

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Xmas 2066 2011-06-02 18:18

Second hand smoke is worse than Gaming.
Psychologist you need some pills.

# RE: RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — The SNK Freak 2011-06-04 13:55

That's right

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Walo 2011-06-02 19:26

I'm guessing his colleague was Jack Thompson...

# From Billy Madison... :P — ps3juggalo 2011-06-02 22:54

Mr. Craig Anderson, what you've just wrote about video game violence vs second hand smoke ... is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent theory were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone that clicked the link to your study is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

# noob wrangler — blargh 2011-06-03 05:44

woah, did anyone else instantly think of jack thompson when reading this?its pretty low how everyone points the finger at gamers without reason. if someone has a skewed view of reality and cant differentiate between a fictional account(whether it be print or through visual media) of violence and events happening in the real world, our society has bigger problems than video games(i use the term problem loosely). anyone who watches a 50's or 60's era warner bros. cartoon or reads a greek tragedy or Shakespeare or a history book or the bible even is exposed to violence...in some cases we're talking more than two thousand years of people being exposed to violent media. if there was really a correlation here don't we think that the world population would be significantly lower? the only correlation here is between the increase in the value of payouts from frivolous lawsuits and the frequency with which they are filed. basically, when our freedom of speech is impeded, we, as a society, taken P.C. way too far... IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO ACT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF WHAT IS DEEMED SOCIALLY/MORALLY ACCEPTABLE AND TO REALIZE THAT IF THEY CHOOSE TO ACT INAPPROPRIATELY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES MAY BE SUFFERED. it's really not up to any one person or group to decide what quantifies entertainment. take for example L.A. NOIRE, i am sure that it would potentially offend people who avidly watch say, CSI, but do not play video games just because it is an interactive media. we all know this whole thing is just a grab for attention, its a crock. we cant let these things get the best of us, we need to approach these things rationally and respectfully. if we lash out, it makes it seem like they are right, if we are tactful and behave like adults, they will prove themselves to be ignorant fools! just look at some notable quotes from figures in video game opposition, half of the things they say are riddled with borderline violent rhetoric. just keep these things in mind and we can erase these ugly "gamer" stereotypes!

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — EducatedGamer 2011-06-03 13:26

Technically there are some truth about violent video games inducing violence but it depends on the social background of said child/individual...

# Drug & Medicines — Preeti 2011-06-04 02:54

Mental and behavioural problems are increasing part of the health problems the world over. A mental illness is an illness of the mind. People with a mental illness often behave in strange ways, or have strange thoughts, in the view of others. A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological pattern generally associated with disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development. People with a mental illness often have problems dealing with other people, or leading what is called a normal life. Research has advanced the understanding of psychiatric disorders and made major contributions to their treatment.

Documentary - "The Marketing of Madness - Are We All Insane?" reveals the fact of psychiatry world that psychotropic drugging is a business. It exposes the truth behind the marketing schemes and scientific deceit that conceal a dangerous and often deadly sales campaign. How valid are psychiatrists' diagnosis - and how safe are the drugs?

To watch please visit - http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/3932

# RE: Psychologist: Gaming is worse than second hand smoke — Asmodeus 2011-06-18 21:30

Second hand smokers are second hand People ...
when earth rots from hatred religions philosophies and wars...
it is the generation of gamers who will be sent to varios planets according to the difficulty skills you can master in games...
next they will send normal people...
then they will trash all smokers including second hand ones as they will smudge the purity and harmony of the cosmic stellar perfection of a world free of conspiracies and pollution...
a world where everyone is a god by himself...

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