New study: Japanese children just as aggressive after playing violent games

A new study out of Iowa State University points to videogames causing aggressive behavior in children regardless of their cultural surroundings. In other words, kids are kids.

A previous study, Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents, showed that kids aged 9-12 would be more likely to get into fights after playing violent games. The person who conducted this study, ISU psychology professor Craig Anderson, wanted to challenge the counter-argument that points to Japan’s low crime rate, even after playing the same game. 

He dug up research on violent games and kids from an associate professor of psychology at Ochanomizu University in Japan, says Edge. Not surprisingly, the study of Japanese children showed several parallels to the one of American children. 

“When you find consistent effects across two very different cultures, you’re looking at a pretty powerful phenomenon. One can no longer claim this is somehow a uniquely-American phenomenon. This is a general phenomenon that occurs across cultures.”

I say Duh. Kids are kids. I remember wanting to kick someone’s ass after watching Karate Kid. I can’t image having access to something like Gears of War when I was a pre-teen. I would have been throwing sock grenades at my brother constantly!