Psychology – Video Game Violence
The use of modern technology has resulted in the creation of different video games.
However, violent video games have dominated these games, and many controversies made about
it dominate many types of research. In as much as people enjoy playing violent video games, the
World Health Organization annual report of 2019 indicates the violent video games are
dangerous. In other words, it exposes people to many negative impacts. The chief objective of
the study is to explore some of the dangers and effects of video game violence in society.
The Dangers of Video Game Violence and what it causes
Video game violence is currently widespread in society. First, people playing violent
video games think that hurting and killing others as a source of entertainment. In that regard,
violent video games create a notion that violence is a recreation activity. Therefore, the idea can
make gamers to imitate the violence they see in the video game to cause harm in society.
Besides, violent video games have a decentralizing impact. That is, they create desensitizing and
decentralizing effects to gamers by inhibiting their ability to distinguish between reality and
fantasy (Snider 36). Also, video game violence causes addiction, where players spend a lot of
time in games. Thus, using a lot of time playing these games makes people less productive and to
adopt unhealthy lifestyles.
Moreover, video game violence is dangerous because it makes violence acceptable in
society. These games create an assumption that violence is the best strategy for solving disputes.
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According to research done by the American Psychological Association in 2009, people who
play violent video games use violent strategies to solve the conflict, unlike those who play non-
violent video games (Snider 67). In the long run, violent video gamers are likely to immerse into
violent character. For example, the number of teachers reporting attacks in the classrooms has
increased due to the increase in the number of teenagers playing violent video games.
Also, video game violence has become dangerous by increasing cases of misuse of guns
by teenagers. In other words, most cases of gun violence among teenagers have a perfect positive
correlation with video game violence. The number of violent incidents in schools has increased
drastically. Mass shooting in school is the main form of violence caused by violent video games.
For example, the number of violent school incidents recorded in the United States in 2018
remains the highest since 1970, when the first data on school mass shooting was collected
(Snider 78). In Florida, Texas, and California, more than 52 students were killed in school mass
shooting in 2018 alone. This data indicates the amount of damage caused by violence that arises
from playing violent video games.
Another danger of video game violence is a negative impact on mental health. The
American Psychological Association argues that the majority of violent video gamers have
developed undesirable cognitive behaviour and other violent behaviours. Conversely, video
game violence causes sleep disruptions and deprivations to violent video gamers. The blue-light
from violent video games exposes gamers to major disruptions in their sleeping patterns. Mainly,
gamers who play video games for about three hours at night are likely to experience insomnia
(Kimmig et al., 230). Apart from mental health, video game violence triggers aggressive
behaviours where the majority of gamers have been involved in criminal activities. Young
people adopt aggressive tendencies from violent video games. Science Briefs released a report
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that claimed that violent video games increase physical aggression among adolescents (Anderson
12). The meta-analysis study indicated that violence associated with violent video game tend to
increase until it becomes extreme and uncontrollable.
Finally, video game violence can cause individual isolation. Isolation affects the mental
health of a person. Many gamers play violent video games as a group, but they are likely to
suffer social isolation at a personal level. More than 3% of individuals who consider themselves
as “avid gamers” suffer social isolation from video game violence ( Bamford 56). Overall,
according to the International Gaming Research Unit, more than 12% of violent video gamers
suffer addiction due to their playing habits. Therefore, their addiction interferes with their work
where they are dismissed based on absenteeism. Despite different theories, myths, and unwanted
questions about video game violence, the dangers and negative impacts are inevitable. The only
way to reduce hazards and effects is to regulate violent video games in society.
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Works Cited
Anderson, Craig. “Science Briefs: Violent Video Games: Myths, Facts, and Unanswered
Questions”. Psychological Science Agenda , 2003. Available at
https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2003/10/anderson
Bamford , Art. “What is the real impact of violent video games?” Fuller Youth Institute, 2015.
Available at https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/blog/the-real-impact-of-violent-video-games
Kimmig, Ann-Christin; Andringa Gerda & Dernt Birgit. “Potential Adverse Effects of Violent
Video Gaming: Interpersonal- Affective Traits Are Rather Impaired Than Disinhibition
in Young Adults”. Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 9, no. 736, 2018: Pp. 212-234.
Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00736 . Available at
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5964217/
Snider, Mike. “Study confirms link between violent video games and physical aggression”. USA
Today, Published Oct. 1, 2018. Updated Aug. 8, 2019. Available at
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/10/01/violent-video-games-tie-physical-
aggression-confirmed-study/1486188002/
