In recent years, violent video games have been blamed for influencing teenagers to turn to violent tendencies in real-life. This mounting concern has led to research into this belief, attempting to quantify whether there is a direct correlation between these games and the potential for criminal behaviour. While a variety of studies suggest a moderate link between videogames and adolescent aggression, further research is needed to draw definitive conclusions on the longer-term impacts of taking part in these virtual activities.
Video games are a universal form of entertainment now enjoyed by people of all ages. Among teenagers, they are incredibly popular, with 73% of kids regularly playing videogames, and the average teen spending an average of 10 hours a week playing. With this kind of prevalence, it is not surprising that questions have been raised about the potential effects on the physical and psychological health of adolescents.
One of the main attractions of videogames for teenagers is their ability to immerse players in a vivid, action-packed world that allows them to collaborate with friends and live out their fantasies. This allure has led to concerns that these games might desensitize young people to levels of violence, which could potentially lead to violent outbursts or even criminal activity in real life.
A number of studies conducted in the past two decades have linked violent videogames to a heightened level of aggression in teenagers. This research has mostly consisted of experiments involving randomized groups of young people exposed to different levels of violence, or of studies whereby poorly controlled environments found a correlation between game play and aggression. Significant limitations exist in these studies, such as the lack of potential confounding variables. Furthermore, it is worth noting that other factors such as mental health, parenting style, and socioeconomic status have been verified as having potential effects on the behavior of adolescents.
Despite the issues with some of the research, there are certain conclusions that can be drawn about the immediate impacts of videogames on teenager’s behavior. It appears that there is some link between playing violent video games and an increased tendency to express aggression. Specifically, it has been found that these games can lead to greater levels of hostility, decreased empathy towards others, and more rigid thinking patterns. Some studies have gone as far as to suggest that long-term exposure to violence could lead to desensitization to the effects of violence in everyday life, and may even lead to increases in physical bullying.
In conclusion, the evidence to date suggests that playing violent video games can be harmful for teenagers, by providing a virtual platform to simulate violent behavior, and leading to desensitization. Unquestionably, further research and dialogue is needed to fully understand the overall effects of these games on adolescent behavior, and to identify how society can prevent and counteract any potential negative consequences.