Study says video games desensitize gamers from violence

Posted Feb 10, 2008 at 9:19PM by QJ Staff Listed in: PS3, Wii, PSP, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PC Gaming Tags: Iowa State University
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Manhunt 2 Rockstar - Image 1Dr. Greg Snyder, a psychologist at Omaha's Children's Hospital, said that playing violent games increases aggressive thoughts, but that it also "increases pro-social behavior and increases general arousal." As proof, their studies showed that kids who had longer exposure to virtual violence had lower heart rate and skin response when being shown videos of the real thing.

"The more normal it is, the more likely it is they're going to activate or engage in those behaviours when provoked or even unprovoked," said Snyder, whose insights echo those of Iowa State University, Kansas State University and the National Institutes of Health.

However, it is also true that other types of media, such as movies, books, as well as television shows elicit the same type of response when they depict violent scenes. "Just like any new media, it gets attacked. When any new genre of music comes out, it gets attacked. TV will, of course, get attacked. I'm sure, way back when, books got attacked," said Ryan Miller, manager of general operations of the Gamers in Omaha group.

Gamers and parents in Omaha also jumped into the defense of video games. Some local kids said that playing violent games for hours on end did not make them even more violent. The parents also added that a time limit as well as talking with their children about the types of games that they play helps more than restricting the types of video games the kids play.

 
 
 

Comments

by lavino - 2008-02-10 21:51:56
NO!!!!!

I am already came pre-desensitized by movies made by Arnold, Charles Brownson, Jason, Freddie, Wes Craven, Clive Barker etc etc before I start playing the PC Prince of Persia, Mean Street, Budokan etc. Then came Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat... have you guys compare that to some 70's cult classic like "The Last House on the Left"? Of course that is not a movie for under 18.. but WTF? I saw it when I was 12! That is about the same age for some of our kids start playing GTA, Manhunt etc. I didn't say that all 12 yr old saw "The Last House on the Left" but hey same as not all 12 yr old played Manhunt at that age. For the record I didn't go postal and kill my wife, my sons, my parents, my boss, my co-workers etc etc. (The wife part is very tempting though....) Will I freak out if I walk down the street and see a chopped off head? Not anymore, but will I do that to someone? No, unless the dude owes me like a million dollars or something.
by Woden501 - 2008-02-10 22:17:51
...

The parents are correct. I have been playing violent games since I was 8 (I'm now 18), and I am just about the least violent person that I know. It's not the violence in video games that causes people to go shoot someone... it's the idiots who can't tell the difference between a game and real life that do.
by poeticjedi - 2008-02-11 03:10:55
yep

true that, i knew since i was 5 what was real and what wasnt, i always love the fictional stuff cause i knew it was fake and imaginitive, violence or not, it just mattered if it was quality gaming movies etc, violence is an aspect of existence, as much as sex, death, and birth, and when implemented in a decent manner will have a positive impact in terms of immersion quality and one step closer to realistic stories or higher level interactions. Its as it always has been, fear, people can not trust others with knowledge and self empowerment, i mean consider if all or nearly all the people in the world could see their standing, who they really are, what is real what isnt, imagine the power that would swell in each of us, the confidence, again this is current problem VS. a super-ideal. but i hope that makes a little sense as it naturally is, enjoy what you love, and leave it at that
by Jasper1605 - 2008-02-11 08:28:13
LOL at biased science

I just wrote a response essay tearing an article much like this to pieces. These so called "experiments" cannot provide control variables, the players of the said game have no option but to became stimulated from a game because they only use a game like Time-crisis 3 (the game in the article i responded to). And heart rate increases correlated to violence? so I guess they're saying after I go running I'm more prone to kill someone than if I sit on my butt typing this review: on the contrary I'm more prone to kill someone now because of how stupid these so-called "scientists" are. http://www.springerlink.com/content/66217176984x7477/fulltext.html
by RexNox - 2008-02-11 11:12:13
people people...

It's a study in Omaha...a sneeze is violent in Omaha.
by Stealth! - 2008-02-11 21:58:30
Interesting....

Although its nothing new its been going on for decades, why people would find this surprising in games is beyond me.

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