Do violent games influence YOUR behaviour? (Discussion)

With stories on the internet lately about violent video games being the cause of violence coming out of Thailand and the Philipines, I have a some questions for everyone.

1. Have you ever done anything of serious consequence because of a videogame?

2. Have you ever than anything violent or harmful because of any other medium?

3. Have you ever wished that any specific aspects of video games could apply to real life?

With stories on the internet lately about violent video games being the cause of violence coming out of Thailand and the Philipines, I have a some questions for everyone.

1. Have you ever done anything of serious consequence because of a videogame?

2. Have you ever than anything violent or harmful because of any other medium?

3. Have you ever wished that any specific aspects of video games could apply to real life?

Lexxzilla

No. I find video games relaxing ..

and I'm also able to distinguish that video games arn't real thanks to my sanity ...

Yes I wish certain aspects of video games could apply to real life (not violent ones) ... luckily my imagination is enough

I am an avid video gamer and I also have a degree in Psychology.

Video games are a release, an escape. People play video games to experience exciting environments and situations that they would otherwise never be able to experience. It is much the same as watching violent television or reading a violent book. The key thing is that it is a vicarious thrill. Violence has always been considered exciting by society as a whole. War has always been glorified throughout time. I have been playing violent video games all my life. I have always been able to tell the difference between real violence and video game fantasy violence even as a child. It is my contention that those who act violently after playing violent video games do so because they are predisposed to violence in the first place. The fact that they had been playing violent video games in the first place is likely coincidence, as I barely know anyone (at least any males) who don't or haven't played violent video games unless they aren't interested in games at all. Some theories are even beginning to be proposed that violent video games actually could reduce violence by providing an outlet for that type of aggression. I found this research paper to be a fair overview of the situation for anyone interested, http://culturalpolicy.uchicago.edu/conf2001/papers/freedman.html. But if you are lazy, here are the conclusions :P

Given these problems and limitations in this body of research, what can we reasonably conclude from the findings? 1. There is substantial, though far from overwhelming or definitive evidence that people who like and play violent video games tend to be more aggressive than those who like and play them less. This is, of course, a purely correlational finding and tells us nothing about whether playing violence video games causes aggression. 2. There is some slight evidence that immediately after playing violent video games there is an increase in aggressiveness. As discussed above, the evidence for this is minimal and is greatly weakened by limitations in the research, which provide alternative explanations of the effect. 3. There is not the slightest evidence that playing violent video games causes any long-term or lasting increase in aggressiveness or violence. There is very little relevant research, and no longitudinal studies that might show such effects. It may well be that further research will indicate that playing violent video games is harmful. For the moment, however, there is no such work and no scientific reason to believe that violent video games have bad effects on children or on adults, and certainly none to indicate that such games constitute a public health risk.

Yep, basically condensing the above post, because I had to do this in a sociology class, twice, is the point that, people that play video games may tend to be somewhat more aggressive, but that is most likely what causes them to play video games, not the effect of playing them. Cause and effect are two very different things...

Of course most "researchers" or publishers that say video games cause violence have that impression off the bat, so they naturally interpret the data as they see fit. The last thing a publisher knows a parent wants to read is that it's YOUR fault your kids are messed up and YOU need to do something about it. It's much easier to blame video games.

In answer to the OP's post, no, no, and yes. I say no in that it had no more effect than anything else in life, like breathing or trying to change a tire in the rain... and sure occasionally I think I'd like to have super powers or dodge bullets, but then boring old reality kicks in and I think, I should go play a video game instead :P

With stories on the internet lately about violent video games being the cause of violence coming out of Thailand and the Philipines, I have a some questions for everyone.

1. Have you ever done anything of serious consequence because of a videogame?

2. Have you ever than anything violent or harmful because of any other medium?

3. Have you ever wished that any specific aspects of video games could apply to real life?

Lexxzilla

Hey man...I'm a Filipino who lives in Philippines and videogames causing violence doesn't occur here.

Great post Jpokes. I agree.

Games have always been an escape for me but they have still always been just games.

@skp_16; Video games don't cause violence anywhere, but there is a story circulating on the net about a guy killing someone because he was addicted to video games, which is total BS. Games have been a release for me, in fact the times when I did violent things regularly, I was not even playing video games often, it was because I kept running into confrontational idiots. In fact video games help me unwind far more than anything else.

1. Yes. I shut down my pc improperly - I was so mad.

2. Does yelling at the cat count?

3. At times, I wish I could frag a person or two.... but my black market dealer says he can't provide boom, boom.

No, why would you even ask something like that!?!? Why, I outta......

but to be serious it depends on the developmental stage of the game player. a four year old playing grand theft auto may cause behavioral issues because they are not old enough to distinguish fantasy from reality. however a teenager playing gta can distinguish and any violence is not related to the game, but to behavioral issues they have.

i'm not an expert, but i do have an undergraduate degree in psychology, working on my masters in education now.

i personally think that is a lie...i dont think it influences it.....the people just play it....get really into the game......think its so cool and think it would be fun...so they try it....and yeah...the end.....i think its just what they think about it......it has nothing to do with the game influences.....its them..thinking it themselves...without the help

To responde to some parts of this thread, people can be influenced and may do violent acts because of video games. I'm sure you've heard the example of a fire mage kid. It is possible, but it's uncommon and most will not act upon violent video game influence.

And to respond to the TC's question:

1. I haven't done anything serious because of video games.

2. There are times when I've done a few karate chops and kicks, usually after Jackie Chan or Jet Li movies, (and DBZ when I was younger) but never to a person.

3. No. Video game playing is an escape for me, and I'd like it to stay that way.

No

No

Yes

Not at all.

But I do find that frustrating games make me scream, punch pillows and general freak out.

My brother used to hit me when I won at Fifa, but we've both grown up since then. But considering this fact, it seems it isn't the game, but the people who are playing it that cause the violence. I wound him up, and he decided to hit me, had nothing to do with the guys on the screen kicking lumps out of each other.

Only people with skewed senses of reality and "right vs. wrong" can be influenced into doing violent things by media.foxhound_fox

No way! *Drags person out of car, shoots them, and drive off* ^_^

But seriously, I don't think videogames affect people any more than any other media.

And yeah there are penty of things I wish could apply to real life. Like extra lives and rewinding time.

yea, whenever i play God of War, Devil May Cry i pick up my sword and unleash my fury on people in streets

its more fun than games

Hum... videogames are a way to express inner impulses.

There is a correlation between a specific genre and the character of the gamer. Isnt it? Do u think a calm person would play Devil May Cry?..

I haven't done anything violent because of video games and I never will, I play GTA since GTA III and I haven't stole one car or robbed a store, I've played Assassin's Creed and I don't stab people in the back with a knife.Kentisc

An avatar change is in order this instant please !! :evil:

I looked at your post and thought I wrote it ...:P

That is some deep territory to get into though, because in my opinion there is no absolute right or wrong. Our right and wrongs are quite different from other countrys like China or Russia for instance. Whats right or wrong to someone has so many variables like childhood, how they were raised, where they were raised.....etc.GodModeEnabled