Can video games really to blame for violence among the younger generation? (drug, myths)

[wclac]

I know these days, whenever young people or teens do something bad, parents and the media blame the video games for their problems. I mean, why do video games have to be blamed fro all the violence for the younger generation?

[karfar]

Originally Posted by wclac

I know these days, whenever young people or teens do something bad, parents and the media blame the video games for their problems. I mean, why do video games have to be blamed fro all the violence for the younger generation?

Because everyone wants to blame something instead of themselves.

[wclac]

Originally Posted by karfar

Because everyone wants to blame something instead of themselves.

Yeah, blame the parents on why things all so messed up for young people.

[cjma79]

Even if it was true.. and I dont believe is true...
Then the parents are responsible.. since they got the game for the kid....

[wclac]

Originally Posted by cjma79

Even if it was true.. and I dont believe is true...
Then the parents are responsible.. since they got the game for the kid....

Parents treat video games like its a drug and poison. I don't understand these parents sometimes.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by wclac

I know these days, whenever young people or teens do something bad, parents and the media blame the video games for their problems. I mean, why do video games have to be blamed fro all the violence for the younger generation?

Probably because it is a significant and real problem:

Myths and Facts
Myth 1. Violent video game research has yielded very mixed results.
Facts: Some studies have yielded nonsignificant video game effects, just as some smoking studies failed to find a significant link to lung cancer. But when one combines all relevant empirical studies using meta-analytic techniques, five separate effects emerge with considerable consistency. Violent video games are significantly associated with: increased aggressive behavior, thoughts, and affect; increased physiological arousal; and decreased prosocial (helping) behavior. Average effect sizes for experimental studies (which help establish causality) and correlational studies (which allow examination of serious violent behavior) appear comparable.

Myth 9. The effects of violent video games are trivially small.
Facts: Meta-analyses reveal that violent video game effect sizes are larger than the effect of second hand tobacco smoke on lung cancer, the effect of lead exposure to I.Q. scores in children, and calcium intake on bone mass. Furthermore, the fact that so many youths are exposed to such high levels of video game violence further increases the societal costs of this risk factor.


Violent Video Games: Myths, Facts, and Unanswered Questions

[cjma79]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

Probably because it is a significant and real problem:

Myths and Facts
Myth 1. Violent video game research has yielded very mixed results.
Facts: Some studies have yielded nonsignificant video game effects, just as some smoking studies failed to find a significant link to lung cancer. But when one combines all relevant empirical studies using meta-analytic techniques, five separate effects emerge with considerable consistency. Violent video games are significantly associated with: increased aggressive behavior, thoughts, and affect; increased physiological arousal; and decreased prosocial (helping) behavior. Average effect sizes for experimental studies (which help establish causality) and correlational studies (which allow examination of serious violent behavior) appear comparable.

Myth 9. The effects of violent video games are trivially small.
Facts: Meta-analyses reveal that violent video game effect sizes are larger than the effect of second hand tobacco smoke on lung cancer, the effect of lead exposure to I.Q. scores in children, and calcium intake on bone mass. Furthermore, the fact that so many youths are exposed to such high levels of video game violence further increases the societal costs of this risk factor.


Violent Video Games: Myths, Facts, and Unanswered Questions

It is to early to know this..
Just like in the 80's with smoking,, but not know.. no research today will say that smoking is free of cancer...
And second... how can you copy/paste or believe that video games are worst then second hand smoke

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by cjma79

It is to early to know this..
Just like in the 80's with smoking,, but not know.. no research today will say that smoking is free of cancer...
And second... how can you copy/paste or believe that video games are worst then second hand smoke

I don't understand the question, they knew smoking a cancer were related all the way back to the mid-1950's.

Video games have been prevalent for about 25 years now, so sufficient data is available to analyze their impact on violent behaviors.

Regarding second hand smoke, many folks aren't convinced that the impact is fatal, as opposed to just creating some non-fatal medical problems.

The link provided was from the American Psycological Association web site.

[Nomander]

Originally Posted by wclac

I know these days, whenever young people or teens do something bad, parents and the media blame the video games for their problems. I mean, why do video games have to be blamed fro all the violence for the younger generation?

No, each individual can be blamed for all of the violence they commit. You might be able to blame the parents to a degree, but in the end, it is the individual that pulls the trigger.

[unseengundam]

It all up to person and how they are raised not some video game. I am young 23 year, who used plan quite few violent games and watch violent shows. However, I consider my quite a non-violence person. I haven't ever gotten into fist fight or anything like that. Probably, because how I was raised.

Again, violence will turn up in some people even without video games. Might have something to do with society in general these days, maybe?....