Violent Video Games And Aggressive Behaviour: 4 Myths

lillymarie

Violent Video Games And Aggressive Behaviour: 4 Myths
Myth 1: The Jury Is Still Out On The Impact Of Video Game Violence

There is actually substantial consensus amongst the vast majority of active researchers in this area. Several key short and long term impacts on children are well established, including

• Increased aggressive behaviour
• Increased hostile thinking
• Increased fearfulness
• Desensitisation to violence
• Decreases in empathy and pro-social behaviour.
  

Myth 2: The Effects Are Too Small To Be Of Any Practical Importance

[size=13.63636302948px]The size of these effects, although modest-moderate in size, is as large as those found for many important medical and social phenomena. Equally important is the significant potential social impact of these effects.


Myth 3: It Might Be True For Some People But It Isn’t True For Me (the “third party effect”)

[size=13.63636302948px]The vast majority of teenagers play video games and the amount of hours per week is rising, especially since the advent of internet-connected mobile devices. Symptoms of serious overuse in some children, as well as physical health and posture problems related to sedentary/repetitive aspects, are now being reported.


Myth 4: There is nothing parents can do

[size=13.63636302948px]Parents can:

• Educate children about aiming for a healthy media diet along the lines of a healthy food and exercise diet (moderation in amount; being aware of content and age-appropriateness).
• Set limits (eg restricting hours/content works) while giving some control over how those hours are ‘spent’
• Learn more about the games and the potential problems
• Actively view or play the games with their children (passive co-use has little benefit).
• Restrict access to violent/inappropriate media
• Talk with children about what they have seen
• Try to restrict screen media in the 2 hours before bedtime, as screens may interrupt the secretion of hormones that prompt sleep
• Try to keep computers and other internet-capable devices out of bedrooms
• Be a good role model in their own media use.
  

Source: Dr Wayne Warburton, The Annual Women’s & Children’'s Health Update, Adelaide 2014