Researchers from Iowa State University have published the results of three separate studies they conducted in a new book called "Violent Video
Game Effects on Children and Adolescents," and their results are pretty bleak. The first study investigated the effects of playing violent children's games versus games meant for older audiences and found that the cartoonish graphics did not lessen the effects of the violence on the players. The second study found that children who were exposed to more violent movies, TV shows, and video games were more aggressive and less forgiving than those who weren't exposed to those forms of entertainment. The last study followed children over the course of the school year, monitoring how the attitudes and demeanors of those who played violent games changed.
In other words, they pretty much gave Jack Thompson a big pile of ammunition wrapped up in a nice velvety bow. Given that most violent games are clearly not meant for children, the only part of this study I find interesting is the first part and its notion that it's not the blood and gore that trips the violence trigger, but rather the act of punishing another character. So all those years of butt-bouncing goombas has made me a violent person? Funny, I don't seem to recall bashing someone over the head with a frying pan recently...
I'd like to hear what you folks think about this.
ISU psychologists publish three new studies on violent video game effects on youths[ISU News Service]
