Are Video Games too Violent : 10-yr-study shows no Psychological effect of playing violent video games

violent games : A recent study has shown that playing violent video games in childhood years does not lead to aggressive behavior. Read more for all the highlights of this study.

The Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking‘ latest study investigates how exposure to violent videogames in early childhood, could result in aggressive behavior in mid-20.

The research, however, has not found any valid links to suggest that kids who grow up with violent videogames become angry teens. The 10-year study is titled “Growing Up with Grand Theft Auto: A 10-Year Study of Longitudinal Growth of Violent Video Game Play in Adolescents.”

Traditionally, there are concerns about violent games and its impact on mental health. However, this study will change the negative perception that shrouds gaming. The sample for the study initially underrepresented the lower-income group. This lead to the need for diversification, not only along economic lines, but also on other factors like race & background.

Effects of Violent Video Games

The results show that boys enjoy violent videogames more than girls do.  The group displayed three different forms of video-game play:

• high-initial violence (4%) indicating individuals play a high-level of violent video games at an early age,
• moderate initial violence (23%) where, at an early age, violent video game play was moderate, and
• and low initial violence (73%).

Based on all these different criteria, the result of the study and its conclusion was, that the group which has low initial violence, was no higher in aggressive behavior than the high initial violence group at the final time point.

Based on this, the study came to a positive conclusion. Adolescents who enjoy high-level of violent video games at an early age do not become aggressive later in life.