A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology reports that as few as 20 minutes of violent video game play can desensitise players to real violence. The 257 college students who took part in the study were divided into groups that played violent and non-violent games, then had their emotional reactions measured when exposed to short, extremely violent film clips. Researchers found that those who played the violent games had "lowered physiological responses." Iowa State University instructor Nicholas Carnagey, who co-led the study, observed, "It appears that individuals who play violent video games get used to it. They eventually become physiologically numb to it."Interesting, but somewhat flawed.
The term real violence is ambiguous at best. I mean you take a group of people that enjoy video games, played on a TV screen, and then test their response to ‘real violence’ by showing them images on a TV screen. It doesn’t work that way. I can see news images on TV and not be moved by them, because it’s what you expect to see. It’s not real, because there’s nothing you can do about it.
But put me in a situation where someone needs my help, and I’m able to do something about it, and I’ll help. Its not about being desensitised, its about context.
And of violent behaviour, how much is really caused by violent video games? My neighbour gets verbally violent most weekends. He doesn’t play video games, he drinks excessively.
Comments
2 comments to "NEWS | Violent Research"
8:13 PM
But I remember reading that US soldiers are given time in front of certain violent video games specifically in order to desensitise them to "real" violence. And we all know that the military have access to some of the most cutting edge technology around.
7:59 AM
Violet - that may be so, but lets not forget the dehumanising training regime where the Army pounds every ounce of humanity and individual thought out of you, essentially turning you into a zombie that follows orders. This is what makes killers, by emotionally stripping people and training them to kill. They do use video games - America's Army is a game developed by the Army - but this is used to teach tactics and strategies - not to create violent behaviour.
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