1. Effects of Video Games
on Children
Ashle e K ea ne, Sh a rlene Sm it h, Brie
Wh iteh ead- G a rc ia, De v on R odriguez
2. Statistics
Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=_LxX559haew&feature=youtu.be
According to a study of 1,178 children in the U.S.,
almost 9% of child gamers are pathologically or
clinically addicted to playing video games.
More than 70% of American teenage boys have played
the violent and adult-rated Grand Theft Auto video
game, and those teens are more likely to have been in
a fight than those who have not played, according to a
Gallup poll quoted in the Washington Post.
3. Article 1
“Video and Computer Games: Effect on Children
and Implications for Health Education”
Discusses the health risks associated with spending too much time
playing video games
Risks include:
Cardiovascular implications: from not getting enough physical
activity
Video game induced seizures: Video games may provoke a
seizure response more easily than television because video
games usually consist of geometric figures and they are played
with the participant sitting closer to the screen
Nintendinits: a severe pain in the extensor tendon
Aggression
4. Article 1: Continued
Aggression Theories
General arousal theory: implies that children when aroused most
likely will behave in a manner most recently observed. Hence, the
arousing nature of video games may increase aggressiveness
regardless of the game content.
Social learning theory: suggests children behave in a manner
reinforced by a significant other.Accordingly, playing a video game
allows children to practice aggression and be rewarded for successful
aggression.
Catharsis theory: holds that experiencing a specific emotional drive
reduces the likelihood of behavior related to that emotional drive.
Video games, then, offer children opportunity to act out their
aggressive behavior on the game or fantasy, resulting in lower levels of
actual aggressive behavior.
5. Article 2
“Is Aggression in Children with Behavioral and
Emotional Difficulties Associated with Television
Viewing and Video Game Playing?”
Looked for associations between vide game
playing and children’s aggression.
Three experiments were conducted with children
with behavioral and emotional problems found
increased aggression after playing aggressive
video games opposed to non aggressive.
The majority outcome was that children are
influenced by video games with violent behavior.
6. Article 3
“Violent and Nonviolent Video Games
Differentially Affect Physical Aggression for
Individuals High vs. Low in Dispositional Anger”
Investigated wether video game content
differentially influences aggression as a function of
individual differences in trait anger
Participants of the study were randomly assigned to
play violent or non violent video games before
completing a task in which they could behave
aggressively.
Results showed that participants who exhibited a
trait of higher anger where the most aggressive
after playing a violent video game.
7. Conclusion
All articles show a connection between violent
video games and an increase in aggressive
behaviors
But, children with the trait of high anger react
more aggressively.
8. Sources
http://www.diyfather.com/content/interesting-statistics-about-video-games
http://www.lionlamb.org/media_violence_video_games.htm
Dorman, Steve M. "Video And Computer Games; Effect On Children And
Implications For Health Education." Journal Of School Health 67.4 (1997):
133. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 May 2012.
Mitrofan, O., M. Paul, and N. Spencer. "Is Aggression in Children with
Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties Associated with Television Viewing
and Video Game Playing?" Child: Care, Health, and Development (2008).
Web.
Engelhardt, Christopher R., Bruce D. Bartholow, and J. Scott Saults. "Violent
And Nonviolent Video Games Differentially Affect Physical Aggression For
Individuals High Vs. Low In Dispositional Anger." Aggressive Behavior 37.6
(2011): 539-546. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 May 2012.
