Video game play and copycat crime: An exploratory analysis of an inmate population.

Surette, Ray; Maze, Allison

doi:10.1037/ppm0000050

Cited by 22 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…For instance, criminologists have meta‐analyzed links between media violence and serious physically aggressive behavior (Savage & Yancey, ). Other scholars have examined whether genetics could explain links between television viewing and adult crime (Schwartz & Beaver, ) or whether video games could influence copycat criminal behavior (Surette & Maze, ). However, sound criminological input has often been lacking from much of this debate.…”

Section: A Brief History Of Video Game Debatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Why Scholars Hold Different Views on the Influences of Video Games on Public Health

Ferguson

Colwell

2017

J Commun

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Despite decades of research, no scholarly consensus has been achieved regarding the potential impact of video games on youth aggression or other public health concerns. In recent years, hypotheses have been raised that scholarly opinions on video games may resemble past moral panics, with attitudes reflective of generational conflicts. These hypotheses are tested in a sample of 175 criminologists, psychologists, and media scholars, examining both overall negative attitudes about video games and perceived linkages with youth assaults specifically. Results reflected continued lack of scholarly consensus on the issue of video game influences with only 15.3% of scholars endorsing the view that violent video games contribute to youth assaults. As hypothesized, older scholars endorsed more negative views of video games generally, although this appeared to be related to experience with games rather than age per se. Scholars with more negative attitudes toward youth themselves were also more negative about games. Criminologists and media scholars were more skeptical of violent video games contributing to youth assaults than were psychologists. These results are discussed in relation to Moral Panic Theory.

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Section: A Brief History Of Video Game Debatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Why Scholars Hold Different Views on the Influences of Video Games on Public Health

Ferguson

Colwell

2017

J Commun

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“…The catalyst model specifically suggests real‐life events are far more powerful than fictional ones. Fictional media may sometimes have minor influence on the style of a behaviour (Surette & Maze, ) but not on whether the behaviours occur.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexualised video games, sexist attitudes and empathy towards victims of rape: Correlational evidence for a relationship is minimal in an online study

Ferguson

Colwell

2020

Criminal Behav Ment Health

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Background There is continued debate about whether sexualisation in games can influence sexist attitudes and reduced empathy towards women in real life. There is research evidence both supporting and refuting the possibility. Aims Our aim was to examine the relationship between sexualised content in video games and players' sexist attitudes and empathy. Our research question was, do any such relationships exist once other factors including gender and trait aggression are controlled? Methods An online sample of 125 participants were recruited and asked to rate their video game playing experience, complete a trait aggression scale and record responses to a vignette about rape. Scores were first correlated, and then hierarchical multiple regression was employed followed by PROCESS examination of interactions between sexualised game content and trait aggression. Results Exposure to sexualised content in video games was neither correlated with higher sexist attitude ratings nor with lower empathy scores. Sexualised content in games was associated with slightly lower sexist belief scores for those with higher scores on trait aggression (the 12.8% of our current sample at one standard deviation above the mean). No effects were observed for those low in trait aggression. Conclusions and Implications While it is natural to be concerned about the impact of potentially arousing video games, actual effects may be counterintuitive, so if seeking to regulate, it is important to act from actual information. Further research with groups of particular concern will be important.

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“…Much of its central theses regarding video games or other media causing copycat crimes has since been discredited (Surette 2013;Surette and Maze 2015).…”

Section: On "Sexist" Gamesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Association between Sexist Games and Diminished Empathy Remains Tenuous: Lessons from Gabbiadini et al. (2017) and Gabbiadini et al. (2016) Regarding Sensationalism and Accuracy in Media Research

Ferguson

Donnellan

2017

J Youth Adolescence

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Video game play and copycat crime: An exploratory analysis of an inmate population.

Cited by 22 publications

References 39 publications

Understanding Why Scholars Hold Different Views on the Influences of Video Games on Public Health

Understanding Why Scholars Hold Different Views on the Influences of Video Games on Public Health

Sexualised video games, sexist attitudes and empathy towards victims of rape: Correlational evidence for a relationship is minimal in an online study

The Association between Sexist Games and Diminished Empathy Remains Tenuous: Lessons from Gabbiadini et al. (2017) and Gabbiadini et al. (2016) Regarding Sensationalism and Accuracy in Media Research

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