- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
ahem...im 16, 10th grade and this is a report i did for my 9th grade english honors class last year. feel free to use it and send it to the "maternal wards" over there.
Whenever a school shooting incident happens, the columbine incident for instince, the usual scapegoats of society are the childrens music,television programs watched,an the video games they play.But just because we point our fingers towards video games, are they really to blame? there are many affects and theorys and i will name a few. In 1967, a study says if a person sees a violent image on screen or life, then that person will have a greater tendency to become violent-this is called the weapons affect. If a person sees violence, they will wish to repeat it-this is called the social learning theory.If a player is naturally angry, video games will make them even more so-this is called the arousal theory. Video games activate related cognitive stuctures and future input might be processed into an aggressive state of mind-this is the primary theory.Video games are an outlet for more violent thoughts-catharsis theory.But remember, these are theorys.If we based our beleifs on theorys and unproven thoughts, we could still beleive in Zeus and Hermes. Some studies say video games increase ones hostility, while other say just more violent thoughts.In a study released in 1996, after a period where 20 kids underwent a video game study. those 20 kids scored higher on listening skills and hand eye co-ordination than 20 others whom did not play video games. Video games are also said to be a helpful outlet, where one might release anger/aggression out on a mythical fantasy world rather than on the real one we all share.Many scientists say playing video games cause less anger in a person, due to the fact that they released it in a game, and not the world.It also has many great social benefits. A player may be a "loner", one who does not interact with others. but if they were to go to an LAN party or to anothers house to play games, it is a very real possibility that they will make new friends and increase ones social life.In a study done a few years back, 18 teenagers played video games. But they did not play all the same ones. 9 played Medal of honor, a WW2 action game. the other half played tetris, a puzzle solving game. before playing either, the students took a visual test. all scored average. Affter wards, the 9 whom played medal of honor, scored significantly higher than those playing tetris. The researchers say this has to do with the fact that players have to "juggle" multiple tasks(like detecting enemies, track existing ones, and avoid getting hurt) Due to this, the action game increases perephial vision and normal visual skills. Remember, all of the studies stated are just that, studies and theories. none are proven.Just because you play grand theft auto doesn't mean you will want to kill cops or deal drugs. Aggression and hostility are two different things. Aggression doesn't mean you want to go hurt someone.And hostility means you think mean thoughts. Thank you for your time.
Someone send that to those "people" over there, and ask for responses. pm me if you get any.