New book says that Video games do not create killers

Started by Brandon, May 15, 2008, 01:31:20 AM

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Brandon

Heres an interesting article I found. I figured I would post it under politics/religion since its sometimes a hot button issue.

Discuss

QuoteBy Scott Hillis

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Playing video games does not turn children into deranged, blood-thirsty super-killers, according to a new book by a pair of Harvard researchers.

Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson, a husband-and-wife team at Harvard Medical School, detail their views in "Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do", which came out last month and promises to reshape the debate on the effects of video games on kids.

"What I hope people realize is that there is no data to support the simple-minded concerns that video games cause violence," Kutner told Reuters.

The pair reached that conclusion after conducting a two-year study of more than 1,200 middle-school children about their attitudes towards video games.

It was a different approach than most other studies, which have focused on laboratory experiments that attempt to use actions like ringing a loud buzzer as a measure of aggression.

"What we did that had rarely been done by other researchers was actually talk to the kids. It sounds bizarre but it hadn't been done," Kutner said.

They found that playing video games was a near-universal activity among children, and was often intensely social.

But the data did show a link between playing mature-rated games and aggressive behavior. The researchers found that 51 percent of boys who played M-rated games -- the industry's equivalent of an R-rated movie, meaning suitable for ages 17 and up -- had been in a fight in the past year, compared to 28 percent of non-M-rated gamers.

The pattern was even stronger among girls, with 40 percent of those who played M-rated games having been in a fight in the past year, compared to just 14 percent for non-M players.

One of the most surprising things was how popular mature games were among girls. In fact, the "Grand Theft Auto" crime action series was the second-most played game behind "The Sims", a sort of virtual dollhouse.

Kutner and Olson said further study is needed because the data shows only a correlation, not causation. It is unclear whether the games trigger aggression or if aggressive children are drawn to more violent games.

"It's still a minority of kids who play violent video games a lot and get into fights. If you want a good description of 13-year-old kids who play violent video games, it's your local soccer team," Olson said.

The researchers also try to place video games in a larger context of popular culture. The anxiety many parents voice over video games largely mirrors the concerns raised when movies, comic books and television became popular.

"One thing I like about their approach is that they've tried to historicize the whole concept of a media controversy and that we've seen this before," said Ian Bogost, a professor at Georgia Tech known for his studies on video games.

The book urges a common-sense approach that takes stock of the entire range of a child's behavior. Frequent fighting, bad grades, and obsessive gaming can be signs for trouble.

"If you have, for example, a girl who plays 15 hours a week of exclusively violent video games, I'd be very concerned because it's very unusual," Kutner said.

"But for boys (the danger sign) is not playing video games at all, because it looks like for this generation, video games are a measure of social competence for boys."

Many video game fans have embraced the pair as champions of the industry, a label that makes them uncomfortable.

"We're not comfortable doing pro and con. We've been asked to do the pro-game side in debates, and I don't consider myself a pro-game person. Video games are a medium," Olson said.

(Reporting by Scott Hillis; editing by Patricia Reaney)


http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0725760620080509?sp=true
Brandon: What makes him tick? - My on's and off's - My open games thread - My Away Thread
Limits: I do not, under any circumstances play out scenes involving M/M, non-con, or toilet play

Trieste

Quote
Kutner and Olson said further study is needed because the data shows only a correlation, not causation. It is unclear whether the games trigger aggression or if aggressive children are drawn to more violent games.

Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is a point I've been mentioning in this debate for years now. Maybe now that people who are from Harvard Med - seriously the #1 ranked med school in the country - are saying it, people will actually give it some thought. It's tempting to drive over there, find their offices, and give them cookies. Maybe Oreos.

Hunter


Sabby

Oh, this is just too good... every time someone brings up intelligent debate, the conservatives who make up most of the anti-game debate just hide behind the 'professionals' and the 'studies' which I've always thought is a cheap exit. Jack Thompson in particular is known for doing just that, and will always hide behind his medical institutes skirts when he comes up against someone like Adam Sessler who actually knows what they're talking about.

Now we have respected medical authority that supports a lot of what us pro-games people have been saying. But, they will find some way to ignore it, being the raving hypocrits they are.

Celestial Goblin

Next thing they'll say that porn doesn't cause rape and heavy metal music doesn't turn people into satanists...!!!

Elvi

*looks shocked*

You mean I have got it wrong all these years and I'm not a Satanist?
It's been fun, but Elvi has now left the building

Sabby

I've played games ever since I was a little'un, way back to the Sega Master System and the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Most of the games I play are MA15+ ratings, and I purchased Grand Theft Auto Vice City in what was clearly my Primary School uniform. I love stomping heads into the ground, blowing heads off, breaking legs, tearing limbs off, and just making a general bloodbath in a game.

But in real life, I don't know how to, or enjoy fighting, do not want to fire a gun, and killing a human is something I don't ever want to do. If anything, violent games have been a good thing in my life, and are a vent at least. I laugh like a crazy person when I shoot a guy in the back as hes running down the stairs, or slam a guys face through a wall, but I can tell the difference between fantasy and reality.

Silly parents need to find something to blame for their own lack of parenting skills. My parents were there and showed an interest in my own interests, and were a supportive part of my life, and would even play these games with me. But, its everyone elses faults they don't know what kind of person their child is growing into. Its not because they don't know how to raise kids :P its because of this, or that, or anything to pin the blame to, and not them. And games are just the new medium that will be that scapegoat for this age.

MagicalPen

Finally! I've been playing violent video games my entire life, much longer then these HighSchoolers who shoot up their schools, and have you seen me go shoot up some place because of the violent games and movies i watch. NO! Its bad parenting is what it is, and bullying in school. Take that, you bible-thumpers!

Its also ok to believe in Aliens now too, according to the POPE.

My On and Offs
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Kitikat

I normally steer away from the hot-button topics in forums like these, but I'm compelled to post in this one...

I've played games of various kinds since I can remember... friends consoles, Commodore64 computer club at school, IBMs from the 386 upwards, PS2, etc... that's everything spy hunter and tank wars to a Predator game to wolfenstein and doom to Doom3 and GTA:SA. I think I've run pretty much the whole gamut from violent to cute, via strategy, puzzle-solving and roleplaying.

I've also been heavily involved in a range of martial arts, fired various guns at ranges (I'm fascinated by guns, not because of the violence but because of the chemical power and precision in the device, as well as the drastic historical influences). I've also seen various hectic movies, read quite disturbing books, and listened to a massive range of music, from big-band to just-released metal (I'm not a huge fan of death metal, cos well, I just don't get it :( )

I'd say I've been exposed to the full spectrum of commonly-held-to-be-negative influences, including un-sunscreened sunlight and burnt toast. I believe there is even asbestos in the cement of the water pipes in my area.

My point, in this ramble, is that while I'm fairly convinced I am high on the cancer risk, I have absolutely no desire to go out and murder anyone, bloodily or otherwise. I've screamed at fellow roadusers a few times, but mainly because I know they can't hear me. I'm slightly paranoid, but I think that's because I actually read the newspapers on a regular basis.

I'm sure anyone who'd played with me on here can attest to me not being hugely normal or stable... and yet all of these terrible influences have failed to turn me into a maddened killer with a fireaxe.

Funny how the people ranting on about evil videogames have failed to mention all the millions of people like me, in order to hilight the few people who might have been contaminated by bad games and/or music videos or whatever. One would think their time would be better spent fretting about all the people killed by bad driving on a daily basis.
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Hunter

"Guns don't kill people, Bullets do."

-SledgeHammer

ShrowdedPoet

Quote from: Celestial Goblin on May 15, 2008, 09:10:43 AM
Next thing they'll say that porn doesn't cause rape and heavy metal music doesn't turn people into satanists...!!!

Wow, I rape AND I'm a satanist!?  Really. . .pitty I never had a clue. . .

But I completely agree that video games are not the cause of violence. . .I'm very violent and I don't think I've ever played a REALLY violent game in my life. . .lol
Kiss the hand that beats you.
Sexuality isn't a curse, it's a gift to embrace and explore!
Ons and Offs


Celestial Goblin

Quote from: ShrowdedPoet on May 15, 2008, 01:17:15 PM
Wow, I rape AND I'm a satanist!?  Really. . .pitty I never had a clue. . .

Maybe it happens when the moon is full and you turn into a demon, then forget all about it? :)

MadPanda

*applauds*

Thanks for posting this, Brandon!  Extra kudos for including the whole article instead of just a link.  :)

The stupidity of people who fail to realize, little M in the corner notwithstanding, that anything with the words 'grand', 'theft', and 'auto' in the title might not be appropriate for little Jimmy's fourteenth birthday...

That's like walking into any film by Quentin Tarantino and declaring yourself offended by the violence and harsh language.  (shakes head)

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta introduce the Cub to God of War.
Voluptas ailuri fulgentis decretum est!
Omnis nimis, temperantia ob coenobitae.
(Jes, tiuj frazoj estas malĝustaj. Pandoj fakte ne komprenas la latinan!)

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Sabby

Hurray for God of War! ;D Nothing bonds a father and sun like a shirtless asshole breakdancing in a bloody storm of flying limbs.

MadPanda

Daughter, actually  :)  We're hoping she'll take after her mother, who does a lot of hack-and-slash and tends to play Jack Burton clones.

Kratos got so many fun one-liners...
Voluptas ailuri fulgentis decretum est!
Omnis nimis, temperantia ob coenobitae.
(Jes, tiuj frazoj estas malĝustaj. Pandoj fakte ne komprenas la latinan!)

One on Ones Suggestion Box
Group Game Suggestion Box
Pandariffic Ons and Otherwise
In Memory of Bishrook

Sabby

And hes a womanizing prick aswell ;D I applaud your choice of role models

ShrowdedPoet

Quote from: Celestial Goblin on May 15, 2008, 02:50:52 PM
Maybe it happens when the moon is full and you turn into a demon, then forget all about it? :)

OMG. . .maybe you're right!  I wonder how many people I've raped and sacraficed to Satan?  And all this time I was getting mad at people for calling me a satanist. . .
Kiss the hand that beats you.
Sexuality isn't a curse, it's a gift to embrace and explore!
Ons and Offs


Brandon

Well since the debates started I figured I would throw in my own views.

All this stuff about bad kids is all the god damn parents and schools fault! If parents and teachers would discipline todays youth for all their transgressions in an equal and fair way we wouldnt have school shootings and crap like that. There are so many times that today any athlete can break a another kids arm and get away with a slap on the wrist yet when that kid retaliates by bringing a knife, gun, or something else to protect himself (after the system has failed to protect them or punish the offender) he/she's a bad person.

I firmly believe that to prevent tradgedies like school shootings we dont need to change our entertainment, we need to change how our system works so that it prosecutes and protects equally

Brandon: What makes him tick? - My on's and off's - My open games thread - My Away Thread
Limits: I do not, under any circumstances play out scenes involving M/M, non-con, or toilet play

OldSchoolGamer

I don't believe video games affect us...it's entirely coincidental that after a couple days straight of playing Rome Total War I got the urge to pick up a sword and carve shit up while shouting, "All Rome will be amazed at such a victory!  The day is oooouurrs!"

Sabby

I agree completely Brandon. Nothing is done and the system fails to protect you, so when you try and protect yourself, your the one they will go after. Brought a tazer to school once after several weeks of being very seriously bullied (almost to the point of hospitalization) and I was suspended.

Storiwyr

I completely agree with the statement that's been made multiple times in this thread ... that it's the responsibility and failing of parents if video games are having negative effects on their children.

I remember about a year ago, reading about how they were trying to add video game addiction to the DSM-IV as a recognized mental illness. Now that's a debate for another thread. But what blew me away was this woman who was supposedly a hotshot psychiatrist, talking about how World of Warcraft ruined her son's life. That he'd been an outgoing, socially active 14 year old, and within a year, he'd dropped out of school, become sullen, stopped interacting with anyone outside the game, and locked himself in his room. Sob story, blah blah blah.

And in the meantime I'm sitting here thinking "... what the HELL is he doing with a computer in his room, then? Why did you as the parent let it go that far? Most importantly, if he's not going to school, not working, and never leaves his room ... who's paying his subscription to the game?"

But no. It's the game's fault.
Lords, get to know me before you snuggle all over me. Sorry, but I get a little anxious! Ladies and Lieges, cuddles are always welcome, read my O/O for more detailed info.
"There's no need to argue anymore. I gave all I could, but it left me so sore. And the thing that makes me mad, is the one thing that I had. I knew, I knew, I'd lose you."

OldSchoolGamer

Quote from: Sabbat on May 17, 2008, 03:45:08 AM
I agree completely Brandon. Nothing is done and the system fails to protect you, so when you try and protect yourself, your the one they will go after. Brought a tazer to school once after several weeks of being very seriously bullied (almost to the point of hospitalization) and I was suspended.

Hell, do that in America these days and you'll end up in Gitmo.

But I totally agree with the sentiment.  For the losers and bullies and whatnot there's all kinds of rights and procedures and whatnot, but if you're an innocent, hardworking person, the system has two words for you, and they're not "Happy Birthday."  Time for boot camp for the bullies, gangbangers and whatnot.  After a few months of 5:00am reveille, gruel three meals a day, and nowhere cool to hang out, believe you me, these people will straighten up and fly right.