Study: violent video games do make boys more aggressive

[lumberjack_jeff]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1321627/Violent-films-video-games-TV-shows-DO-make-boys-aggressive.html

Watching violent video games, films and TV shows really can make children more aggressive, scientists believe. And the more violent the scenes and the longer they last, the more normal the behaviour seems. In the most comprehensive study to date looking at the link between on screen and real life violence, scientists got a group of boys aged 14 to 17 to watch a series of video clips while using scans to study their brain activity.

The results were striking. The longer the youths watched the brutality, which included football hooliganism and street brawls, the less their brains lit up. 'Sweat tests' showed that they also became less excited by the action over time.

However, videos with little or no violence held the boys' attention - suggesting the lack of interest in the violent films was not due to boredom but to their minds becoming desensitised, or numb, to the action.

[Winterblues]

1. Duhhhh

:shrug: Rocket Science here I see.

[valerief]

2. Got Low T? Boost up your aggression with testosterone therapy.

Yeah, the world needs more damn testosterone. And Viagra.

The games are just another part of the aggression campaign. Religious fundamentalism is another.

[Romulox]

3. How about living in a society in a permanent state of overseas war, and a police state at home

That have any adverse effects on the little scamps? :hi:

[ZombieHorde]

4. The researchers in the story did not seem to measure violence.

The researchers measured the player's reaction to video game violence. There is a big difference between committing an act of violence and being desensitized to make believe violence.

I am extremely desensitized to violence from the media I consume, but I have difficulty killing mice and some bugs.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. I doubt the conclusions too.

Maybe the violent set of video clips were repetitive, boring and stupid.

Maybe the nonviolent set of video clips were not.

Think about it. "Here's yet another video clip of someone getting beat up." If you find that the 40th video of someone getting beat up is boring, it's because you're desensitized. If you find that the 40th non-violent video clip of a really adorable rabbit eating clover is boring, it's because they need to change up the subject matter. Once the subject matter is expanded to kitties and puppies... surprise! No boredom!

They do the same study periodically with porn, and conflate boredom with desensitivity.

[w8liftinglady]

7. since I raised three boys who-yes-have played violent video games...

they do become desensitized to violent video games.This does not,in my experience,extend outside the video game universe.My boys are not violent,help those who need it,and cry when they see animals hurt...big boys-grown up already.i wonder if they followed the subjects on the outside world to see their true real-life reactions to violence...

[Occulus]

5. LOL

"However, videos with little or no violence held the boys' attention - suggesting the lack of interest in the violent films was not due to boredom but to their minds becoming desensitised, or numb, to the action."

Why do I get the impression that there's a whole paragraph hiding in the dash I bolded? I only ask because that's one hell of a logical leap in that paragraph without additional, supporting information.

Also, get this:

"'I think so. Particularly if they are a heavy user of games and, in our device-driven world, that will be more and more likely in the future."

Do you see the subtle comparison/equivalence to drugs here? I sure do...

[Flipper999]

8. Well, as someone who plays lots of video games, I can say they are addictive.

At least psychologically. And I am desensitized to video game violence. Yet I became extremely sad just last week when I read a story about a 13 year old girl hanging herself because of bullying. By some people's logic, I really shouldn't be reacting to such "tame" violence/tragedy. However, I still have a very real reaction to real violence.

I believe that the only thing that really desensitizes one to real violence is real violence. People exposed to war zones or crime infested neighborhoods are much more likely to go numb than people who play a lot of God of War.