Do Video Games Encourage Violent Behavior?

Matt Bialick

Do Video Games Encourage Violent Behavior?

Video Games do not encourage violent behavior. While Craig A Anderson says that kids are promoted to be more violent through video games than from other forms of media. Anderson has said that the experiments proving that video games do not promote violent are wrong. He thinks that what happens in real life cannot be replicated in a lab. Anderson has said that, "Repeated media violence exposure increases aggression across the lifespan because Of several related factors. 1.It creates more positive attitudes, beliefs, and expectations regarding use of aggressive solutions. 2. It creates aggressive behavioral scripts and makes them more cognitively accessible. 3. IT decreases the accessibility of non violent scripts. 4. It decreases the normal negative emotional reactions to conflict, aggression, and violence." (Anderson Pg 97). On the opposite side, Henry Jenkins feels that violence from video games is overblown. The violent games do not target children, but at adults. 66 Percent of PC gamers are over 18, and 62 percent of Console gamers are over 18. Gamers are able to play as characters and do things they know is not alright in real life. IT is a experience to play a game, with no consequences. IF you shoot a cop in a video game and drive off a cliff, are you likely to drive off a cliff? No, because people have a sense of reality. There is violence in video games, but does not transfer over to the real world. Video games help people problem solve, and learn. They also allow people with common interests, to become friends through online gaming. Women also have picked up games like The Sims, and are often portrayed as powerful and strong. Which is trying to build up women's confidence. Violence only come from one thing, a person making a bad decision.