Sunday, June 22, 2014
Do Violent video games stoke violence?
Many people fear that the violence among young people is stimulated in part by first-person violent video games. A number of recent young mass murderers (e.g. Adam Lanza) were heavy consumers. The research results are mixed, but new research suggests that heavy exposure can result in slow moral growth and the erosion of the capacity for empathy. President Obama has suggested that Congress make funds available for more research on the issue. I agree with him for once.
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Anyone entertained by violent video games, where virtual humans are targeted for barbaric destruction, already demonstrate an unhealthy mindset. Violent video games only expose psychological cracks that were already there. The difference are those who can distinguish between fantasy and reality, and those who can't.
ReplyDelete44: Thanks, agreed. However, children below a certain age may have a decent mindset before the games and then get into the games without realizing what is happening to them.
ReplyDeleteVery true. A regular diet of inhuman entertainment could easily desensitize young people to senseless violence.
ReplyDeleteBefore violent video games is was violent TV (have you seen the news). Before violent TV was violent books (have you read candide). Before violent books was public executions (liberte). Before public executions was living a life of violence for random reasons (children's crusade). I think people are just violent. (which brings me back to: have you seen the news).
ReplyDelete. . . and let us not forget the seminal violent video game ---- the bible . . . let's put a screen in the games that reports anyone who plays badly with opponents . . .
ReplyDeletebubba
Thanks to all for the good discussion. I agree that aggression is part of human nature. However, like all segments of human nature it can be amplified or mitigated by all kinds of factors. We'll have to wait for more definitive research results. Yes, the Old Testament is full or violence and murder. Human nature has not changed much, if at all, since then.
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