Aggression and psychopathology in adolescents with a preference for violent electronic games

Abstract

Associations between a preference for violent electronic games and adolescents' self-perceptions of problem behaviors and emotions were examined. It was predicted that a preference for violent games would be associated with negative externalizing characteristics, in particular aggressive emotions and behaviors, on the Youth Self-Report (YSR), a standardized self-report measure of adolescent problem behaviors. Thirty-two 11-through 15-year-olds (17 girls) listed and categorized favorite electronic games into one of six predetermined categories and completed the YSR. MANOVA revealed significant relationships between a preference for violent games and the Thought Problems subscale (P < .01) and YSR Total Score (P < .05), with trends noted for the Internalizing (P < .06) and Anxious-Depressed (P < .08) subscales. Expected relationships with externalizing behaviors, including aggression, were not found. However, across all YSR subscales, children with higher preference for violent games had more clinically significant elevations than those with low preference for violent games. On the Total Problems subscale, of the eight children receiving scores in the clinically significant range, six were in the High preference group (three boys and three girls). The failure to find the expected relationships between a preference for violent games and aggressive, externalizing behaviors is puzzling. It is possible that individuals with a preference for violent games may have high exposure to all forms of media violence. Their perceptions of their own behavior, in comparison, may not seem sufficiently aggressive to justify endorsement of problems in this area. Or, playing violent electronic games may promote a disconnection between the emotions normally associated with violence and violent acts. These explanations are consistent with a desensitization model where exposure to media violence decreases sensitivity to aggression. Aggr. Behav. 28:134-144, 2002.

The Meaning of Race and Violence in Grand Theft Auto

“…One similar study of aggression and videogames expressed bewilderment at its "failure to find the expected relationships between a preference for violent games and aggressive, externalizing behaviors" (Funk et al, 2002). These researchers were somewhat baffled by their inability to find any causal link between game play and violence, leading to a number of interesting hypotheses about why they failed to find a correlation between videogames and aggression.…”

Children's Exposure to Violent Video Games and Desensitization to Violence

“…A relative risk model is useful in understanding this caveat. [6] With few risk factors for desensitization, and some protective factors such as optimal parenting and safe neighborhoods, exposure to violent video games may have no obvious negative effects on a particular child. With additional risk factors such as poor parenting and poverty, the negative effects may be subtle, such as having lower empathy for victims, or more positive attitudes about the use of violence, reflecting the onset of desensitization to violence.…”

“…[26] Fifty-two sixth graders were surveyed to examine relationships between a preference for violent video games, attitudes towards violence, and empathy. [27] Children listed up to three favorite games and categorized the games using previously established categories and definitions [see Table 1]. [28] It was anticipated that a stronger preference for violent games would be associated with lower empathy and stronger proviolence attitudes.…”

“…[6,7,8] Desensitization occurs when the individual is exposed to a previously disturbing stimulus under conditions that mitigate the disturbance. [9] The behavioral outcome of desensitization may be failure to intervene to stop violent actions or the voluntary commission of a violent act.…”

The Next Level of Research on Electronic Play: Potential Benefits and Contextual Influences for Children and Adolescents

“…The first game that was considered to be controversial, Death Race, was published as an arcade game by Exidy in 1976 (Gonzalez, 2004). Computer and video games, and their possible effects on players, have been studied in many fields of scientific literature, with areas of focus including whether games with violent content increase aggression or violence (Anderson & Ford, 1986;Cooper & Mackie, 1986;Funk et al, 2002;Gentile, Lynch, Linder, & Walsh, 2004;Sherry, 2001); whether these games lead to desensitization (Funk, Baldacci, Pasold, & Baumgardner, 2004), real aggression, or violence; the physiological responses to playing computer and video games (van Reekum et al, 2004); addiction (Phillips, Rolls, Rouse, & Griffiths, 1995;Salguero & Moran, 2002); and the use and efficacy of computer and video game ratings (Haninger & Thompson, 2004).…”