The Sess from X-Play got the chance to interview the authors of the new research book, Grand Theft Childhood. The authors, Doctors Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson, reveal to us a shocking truth: Videogames are not to blame for violent behavior in kids and teens. This research that took place in Grand Theft Childhood lasted several years and was financially backed by the U.S. Department of Justice with the help of over 1250 kids and 500 parents involved in the research.
The results show that there is NO evidence at all that videogames influence violent behavior. Violent crimes in the constantly targeted age range have gone down while videogame playing has risen significantly. The interview also reveals how opposing research that seems to always get mentioned by nut jobs is poorly conducted.
We're also told of an interesting aspect of the Grand Theft Childhood research. Some research was conducted among two groups of boys and the group that DIDN'T play videogames got into more trouble than those who actually played violent videogames.
This video really is some fascinating stuff. There's finally some well-done research and it's BACKED by the U.S. Government. You must watch this video and check out the book if you can.
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Contest:
4:47 AM on 04.17.2008
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The basic gist of this and all the crack pot studies performed before it is that researchers are looking for short-term effects over a long period. They obviously found evidence of behavioral change when the kids were exposed for extended periods of time to these games.
I've always carried the assumption that anything in moderation is fine, and apparently this is the case with video games as well. I'd like to read this book, and perhaps browse their data sets. It seems that this study reeks of media agenda, but I'm always skeptical of studies published in books instead of psychological/sociological journals.
* Thats So Raven for Game Boy Advance - Amazon Marketplace"
Lol
In spite what you'd all like to believe, videogame research is at best inconclusive and at worst, scant.
I mean, what makes us think people like Jack Thompson, FOX News, and anyone else who decry violence in videogames are going to listen to this kind of reasoning?
Also, I just found my next book purchase.
Great stuff.
My last comment came out wrong, sorry.
good post
Lol at the God Mode comment
Any media--be it movies, television, and music, has the potential to increase aggression in certain people. So can playing sports such as football and wrestling. What we want to know is whether video games merit any particular scrutiny. I think the debate needs to be reframed as, "How does the possibility of increasing violence in video games compare with already socially accepted media and activities?"
This is a much more sensible question, and it allows reasonable discussion. Of course, I believe researchers will find that there is no real special link between video games and violence, even as this report bears out.
Besides, video games keep kids inside, doing nothing. Whereas if we were to release them into the real world, who knows what might happen. The next children of the corn might occur!
unless you can find a bible passage with the same info, JT still has a leg to stand on.
When I was around 13, my parents were too poor to buy me a console or anything, so I never got to play video games.
So what did I do for an activity? Illegal things. Breaking into cars, fighting, etc.
Then my dad started working for himself, making much more money per year, and I worked for him for a couple weeks and made enough for a PS1...Immediately, I stopped (and haven't since) doing illegal things, and started playing games.
I was playing GTA at this age, mind you.
Games probably helped me not become a fucking criminal, so Jack Thompson and other 'tards really piss me off.
I thought their parallel between playing too many violent or M rated games vs. none at all was very interesting, and did make sense. Just goes to show that moderation is key, something others and myself have been saying for quite some time.
That said, it is nice to see research that suggests video games don't have the kind of effect on behavior that so many politicians and pundits want it to.
I am expecting awesomeness in my mail come next week.
HA!
I was righ all along you bustards... Eat shit JT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and the.. the mass effect one minute fame psych/writer....
Ha.. Ha!!! (so excited :) )