Do Violent Video Games Actually REDUCE Violence and Crimes?!
We've all heard this news story a thousand times: Violent video games are dangerous, they promote violent behaviour and increase crime rates.
But other studies show the exact opposite - violence in video games could actually reduce violence in the real world!
Increased Violence?
It sounds totally logical - violent games promote violence, they make the gamer feel like shooting things / people was normal , they make people more aggressive and they tend to pursue crimes in real life after that.
They set a bad example and encourage people to act violently as well.
Many studies have proven that this is true - but the problem seems to be that the studies were looking at short-term effects, and not long-term ones.
Long-term effects have actually come to mixed results in this matter.
Decreased Violence?
New studies have shown that violent video games might not have the same impact on real-life crime that we always assumed.
A study from January 2016 analyzed the crime rates shortly after popular, violent video games had been released.
Surprisingly, those statistics showed a decrease in the weeks after the releases!
And this wasn't just one time - the same result could be proven multiple times.
When violent video game sales increased for 10%, crime rate decreased 0.3% - a decrease that was not found wihen comparing to non-violent video game sales.
This effect was actually not only shown in video game sales, but also for violent movies.
Crime rates decreased 1.1% for every 1 million people that watched a violent movie.
What's the reason for this paradox?
Obviously this is only a theory and experts are still arguing over this.
But some suggest that people who are attracted to violence or aggression are also more attracted by violent media.
So when a violent video game comes out, those people will tend to be more occupied and play the game instead of committing real-life crimes.
Of course, this is very simplified and it certainly doesn't mean that this theory is the answer to this whole debate.
But still, one can't deny the statistics, and this theory also makes quite a lot of sense.
It's not only that people are occupied - maybe they also use gaming as a way to express their negative emotions, instead of acting aggressively in real life.
Also, these games make the player happier, and can even promote social interaction since there are often multiplayer modi in these kinds of games.
Conclusion
The conclusion is that you could probably find arguments, studies and examples for both sides.
This is definitely a tricky topic, and there's no easy way to figure out which theory is right and which one isn't.
In the end, it all depends on how you look at it and what you personally think has more of an impact.
What's your personal opinion about this topic ?!
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© Sirwinchester
Interesting way to look at it.
I personally think that violent video games are a way for aggressive people to release their anger and tension, and this COULD actuallly lead to them being more calm in real life.
Yes, i agree in some cases, it's definitely a good way to release stored anger or energy!
I couldn't agree more, the first game we developed involved killing my real life neighbour in a cartoon world - 32 different ways to be exact. So if I not only enjoy such games but develop and script them I should be a real world serial killer if people that merely play violent games wish to manifest such pleasures in the real world!
Very interesting viewpoint. Something like crime rate is incredible hard to link to any specific cause because there are simply so many different factors at play. I have actually read material that suggests that of the people who are prone to violence, the members of that group who was exposed to violence through artificial means actually were less likely to commit those types of acts in real life. I would link it if i could but it was a discussed in a lecture I attended last January. But, if that is true it reiterates the original theory in the article.
I hadn't heard of that - very interesting! Thanks for your input!
And you're right, crime rate is so hard to connect to anything since there are so many different types and also so much of it stays unknown to the authorities and could never be recognized in statistics.
Maybe the violence rates go down because the violent people are watching the violent movie or playing the game, when they get tired of it maybe the person then goes violent with other people.
I'm just saying I have no idea what happens.
Yes, there are just so many factors that come into this, it's incredibly hard to judge what the real effect actually is (plus, it depends on each person). Thanks for your comment!
I actually raised my kids the opposite of the reactionary fear hype. I let them watch violent movies, and play violent video games. I simply taught them the difference between games, movies, and real life.
I had probably the least aggressive and passive kids around. They certainly were not violent, or quick to anger.
On the flip side I had some friends who sheltered their children from ALL of that. Their son ended up being one of the most aggressive and violent kids in the school.
I've written about what I think is going on here awhile ago in my post on taboos, censorship, banning, prohibition, etc.
That's a very interesting point of view, and in my opinion a great parenting style.
This example doesn't only work for violence, I also know some kids who would go crazy whenever there was free candy offered anywhere because their parents didn't allow any candy at home.
But other who just always had sweets in their cupboard didn't even feel the need to eat it if it was just laying there openly.
I think not having strict guidelines but instead teaching and having the kids understand WHY the rules are like that is the better approach.
I did have rules and my kids were not always happy they were there, but I told them "there is a reason for every rule", if you want me to explain any of them feel free to challenge me. IF it doesn't make sense or you can convince me then it will no longer be a rule.
@sirwinchester some of them have programming too
maybe it depends on which game?
some violent video games slip "war" programming in the heads
and if a kid has been exposed to it so much
it could actually become his conditioning
I'd still recommend games that make you move
pokemon - it's also somehow a game that makes the character "fight" at the same time make you walk and go around
but why not tennis or dance your anger out
it will soon turn into love ;)
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Yeah, just let the kids get it out of their system so they don't shoot people in real life!
Lol I love the conclusion, we don't know so tough. The whole rest of the article was well written and researched.
I like sports and action games and i post wwe 2k18 gameplay
This kind of post are very important, because (even when we are in 2018) the big journalists have a very distorted vision about video games.
Good work gentlemen.