*edit* I have to leave to go get some errands done, but I wil return in a few hours to answer anyone's questions etc

DISCLAIMER: This is a discussion based thread; meaning this OP will have a variety of info that serves to generate discussion and not necessarily state an opinion. I will include info from several different sources that stand on both sides of the fence. The general topic of the discussion thread is violence in video games; so any sub topics that you want to bring up in the thread (aggressive behavior in adolescents, the ERSB, effects on at risk youth, modeling behavior after video game characters etc) are welcome and encouraged. If you have peer reviewed sources you would like added to the OP, please feel free to say so. All right, here goes.

Violence in Video Games

This is a hot topic nowadays. I see a lot of misinformation in the media ("who care if this mass murderer had mental problems; he played GTA!") and anecdotal evidence in the forums ("well I turned out allright and I played GTA as a kid") about what kind of effect violent video games has on people. I decided that it would be a good thread idea, so here we are! Here are some example questions I would like to see answered.

• Does playing violent video games cause an increase in aggressive behavior in adolescents?
• Do adolescents strongly model themselves after characters in video games? Does the adolescent brain strongly identify with violent characters?
• What effect does the increasing realism of video games have on the desensitization of real life violence?
• What effect does violence in video games have on at risk youth (depression/anxiety etc)?
• Is this an issue to contemporary society, or are we completely wrong about exposing youth to M rated games?

Some peer reviewed sources that relate to the topic:

• Barlett, C.P., & Rodeheffer, C. (2009) Effects of realism on extended violent and nonviolent video game play on aggressive thoughts, feelings, and physiological arousal. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19280624

Abstract: The results showed that, though playing any violent game stimulated aggressive thoughts, playing a more realistic violent game stimulated significantly more aggressive feelings and arousal over the course of play.

• Ferguson, C. & Olson, C. (2014) Video Game Use Among Vulnerable Populations: The Effect of Violent Games of Delinquency and Bullying Among Children with Clinically Elevated Depression or Attention Defecit Symptoms. http://www.christopherjferguson.com/Clinically%20Elevated.pdf

Abstract: Our results did not support the hypothesis that children with elevated mental health symptoms constitute a “vulnerable” population for video game violence effects

• Moller, B Krahe. (2009) Exposure to violent video games and aggression in German adolescents: A longitudinal analysis. http://www.vfa-ev.de/fileadmin/File/Moeller_Krahe_AB2009.pdf

Abstract: Cross-sectional results at T1 showed a direct relationship between violent game usage and aggressive norms, and an indirect link to hostile attribution bias through aggressive norms. In combination, exposure to game violence, normative beliefs, and hostile attribution bias predicted physical and indirect/relational aggression. Longitudinal analyses using path analysis showed that violence exposure at T1 predicted physical (but not indirect/relational) aggression 30 months later, whereas aggression at T1 was unrelated to later video game use. Exposure to violent games at T1 influenced physical (but not indirect/relational) aggression at T2 via an increase of aggressive norms and hostile attribution bias.

• Konijin, E. Bijvank, M. N., & Bushman, B. J. (2007) I Wish I Were a Warrior: The Role of Wishful Identification in the Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggression in Adolescent Boys. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17605534

Abstract: These results show that identifying with violent video game characters makes players more aggressive. Players were especially likely to identify with violent characters in realistic games and with games they felt immersed in.

I tried to include the full online PDF when possible. I'm eager to see what everyone has to say on the matter! Please remember to be civil.

Anything you have to say that relates to violence in video games is welcome and encouraged!

I will at a poll later on if I can think of a good question to ask

Is any of these studies taking into consideration that violent people tend to play more violent games?
I doubt non-violent people will become more violent by playing violent games. People who are already violent(aka fucktards) may as well be even more desensitized. But what won't desensitize these fucktards.

Video games (it doesn't matter which genre) can shape a person's personality. However, the media takes it a bit too far. If everybody who played CoD would be a mass murderer we'd have a serious problem. This personality shift won't make a person confuse real life with games. Causing violence in a video game isn't the same as causing violence in real life either. Death in games doesn't have consequences, but in RL it does and people are usually aware about that.

This obviously doesn't apply to everybody but I think that's how it usually is.

One could argue that at risk or vulnerable youth are more likely to be violent, and I did include a study that looked at them playing violent video games. Funnily, the study found that the games had no effect on them.

Yep the media is generally a bunch of idiots I agree with that. They like to include excerpts about a mass murderer playing video games even if he is a schizophrenic to begin with. The Video Game vs Real Life thing is why I included a study on the effects of realism vs desensitization in real life. You are right; we can't paint all with the same brush

There tend to be a lot of problems with the studies that show a link between video games and violence such as:
-Showing short term effects only
-Using bizarre mechanisms to detect "aggression"
-Highly flawed methodologies
-Large leaps of logic
-Coorelation vs causation
-General effects of competition

While all of these are not the case in every study, more often than not, these studies have fairly blatant holes somewhere.

Overall, more often than not the research is just straight up bad, whether or not it is peer reviewed (peer review is not the end all be all of validity). Additionally, there are often very strong counterpoints to these publications, including those from Dr. Christopher Ferguson who has published numerous papers on the positive effects of video games.

I think a very easy and radical way to prove this once and for all is to confront these people with actual real life violence.

You can let someone play GTA for months straight, killling hundreds of innocents, but show them one actual victim being shot to death in close proximity and most would faint or vomit and either way be scarred for life.

Because video game violence is so far removed from actual real life violence.

Video games take quite a part in lifes of many people in modern world. Video games teach people things, just like every other media does. Even if there is no direct effect after playing a game which allows to drive down realistic pedestrians in realistic urban environment found by some "studies", it's still an opportunity to teach something valuable lost.

Sure guys who make another call of duty won't bother thinking about what their game teaches and what it fails to teach, but people whose opinion have weight on decision-making process of publishers should think about it.

Both Jim Sterling and Penn and Teller did good videos about this a while ago

Jim Sterling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wh9QrPDnv0

Penn and Teller Bullshit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SgM_acEsqw (shortened version)

Yep, I saw the Jimquisition one. And guess what, I skipped the violent part. I can't stomach that shit and being as often on the Internet as I am I'm constantly vigilant to avoid seeing any kind of gruesome real life footage. I'm not even visiting 4chan for that very reason even though I'd like to.

But give me control of Kratos and I will giggle as I impale that Chimera with its own horn, while blood and guts are flying everywhere.