Video Games… Reduce Violence?
Apr.17, 2008 in
General Tech
itnews.com.au reports a new study published that reports that playing some games can reduce stress and violent tendency levels.
The sample size is small, but consisted of 292 people between the ages of 12 and 83. Essentially the study found that after playing the game (World of Warcraft) people felt more relaxed as opposed to more violent. I guess running around killing things helps blow off steam as opposed to turning you into a serial killer. Who knew?
Of course, one has to take it with a grain of salt. After all, not only is the sample size tiny, but the article doesn’t even have a true reference to the study.
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May 9th, 2008 at 8:01 am
This really isn’t news to anyone who games. While you will always have some people who turn out to be murderers who game those are the ones who complain that it isn’t real enough for them. The rest of us simply get to release aggression that is no longer considered appropriate behavior no matter how much it is part of our human nature.
May 13th, 2008 at 7:00 am
I’m a mother and when I get stressed (happens a lot) I go to my 360 and play Gears Of War or Dead Rising, I did a whole post on how killing things is like the virtual ‘punching a pillow’ when angry, it’s so relaxing to kill stuff in games!!
June 5th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Most of the games I play aren’t violent and the ones I do play don’t necessarily help me relax - if I’m playing Nintendo I get all worked up getting to the next level but if I play Sims it’s not stressful. Then there’s the puzzle games that I like and some of those can be stressful if I play timed…yeah I could spend all day playing but then I wouldn’t get anything else done.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Wow, that’s GTA screen shoot?
July 10th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I agree by playing games, any games can reduce stress. When you are so in the game your problem wil slowly dash away.
But if your playing hardcore game,killing everyone,a lot of blood everywhere,bullets and crazy killing with out plotor storyline now that is wrong.Just look what happen in school, kids and gun are close friend now.
lankapo
hate violence
July 21st, 2008 at 7:44 am
I am not a violent person and I do agree that playing games can reduce stress, but i believe that playing violent games and watching violent shows can influence your behavior a little. Definitely in kids. My son loves superheros. He mostly watches the old shows with very little violence but when he watches some of the newer shows, he not only swings like Spiderman but he punches and kicks too.
There was a point when I was a little addicted to GTA and when I would walk out on the street after playing for a while, I had to try really hard to hold myself back from stopping a car, pulling the driver out and taking the car.
July 31st, 2008 at 6:40 am
I happen to play alot of counter strike source and mmo’s like everquest 2. I did play some of the GTA series. I do not feel any more or less violent before or after gaming, and while their may be some science to this I really think it is just a reflection of your mental health, how you were raised and a few other obvious stresses. Do they make us feel better? Yes absolutely immediate gratification and the thrill of competition has always made the human spirit soar. Keep in mind I am not an advocate for developing minds to be playing games like this their is a time and place for everything and my belief is that parents should be doing their job.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:56 am
I can’t believe that people still blame games for violent tendencies anyway…I prefer to believe this study.
People that take their frustrations out on characters in a game, should be less likely to take them out on their friends, family, and co-workers.
September 28th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Yup this study is in contrast to others that suggest that playing violent games makes kids more violent in real life…I think this study will set a new trend…..I think parents are the best judge…every child is different
October 28th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I play a lot of games. Mainly ones that involve me killing something. When I get stressed over that I watch TV to veg out. Mainly I use killing in games to de-stress. It works about 95% of the time. The rest I veg out in from of the TV or go to bed.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
oh my. i had no idea video game violence can be that (the picture) bad.
but i do believe there may be some element of truth behind the idea that video games can relieve stress. don’t you sometimes feel like strangling someone when you are under tons of stress?
January 1st, 2009 at 11:28 pm
[…] image678404x-1.jpg Filed under Killing Games Jan 1 Violent Video Game370×278Original context http://www.digitalsolecism.net/2008/04/17/video-games-reduce-violence/ […]
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:31 am
Is there a way to become a content writer for the site?
May 24th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Мне нравятся Ваши посты, заставляет задуматься…
June 25th, 2009 at 4:22 am
I believe that now a days video games have become violent and this has made an impact on children’s attitude. It is proved scientifically also.