Psychologists push for less violence in games

[Phlegm]

From Associated Press:

WASHINGTON - Violence in video games is bad for children's health. So says the American Psychological Association, which is calling on the industry to cut it back.

Research indicates exposure to violence in video games increases aggressive thoughts, aggressive behavior and angry feelings among youth, the association said in a statement issued Wednesday.

In addition, the APA statement said, this exposure reduces helpful behavior and increases physiological arousal in children and adolescents.

The statement said that studies of video games and interactive media show the perpetrators of violence go unpunished 73 percent of the time.

"Showing violent acts without consequences teaches youth that violence is an effective means of resolving conflict. Whereas, seeing pain and suffering as a consequence can inhibit aggressive behavior," psychologist Elizabeth Carll, co-chair of the APA Committee on Violence in Video Games and Interactive Media, said in a statement.

Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade group that represents the U.S. computer and video game industry, charged the APA with disregarding credible research and analysis which challenge claims that video games cause aggression or crime.

"This resolution is hardly surprising since the APA has made it clear over a long period of time that it believes violent video games are harmful and thus justify enactment of unconstitutional restrictions on First Amendment freedoms," Lowenstein said in a statement.

The APA recommendations included:

* Teach media literacy to children so they will have the ability to critically evaluate interactive media.
* Encourage the entertainment industry to link violent behaviors with negative social consequences.
* Develop and disseminate a rating system that accurately reflects the content of the video games and interactive media.

[Gungan]

Makes you wonder if they have read the back of video game boxes. I don't know if they disagree with the T, MA, or whatever system but in the box it also says stuff like Blood, Violence, Sex, Langauge...I think thats pretty accurate.

As for showing violent acts w/o consequence, well, they say it shows youth its an effective means of resolving conlfict..the whole idea of most violent games is that it is a violent conflict to begin with..I dunno.

I'm rambling, I am surprised I didn't see GTA mentioned in that article.

[Minrott]

* Encourage the entertainment industry to link violent behaviors with negative social consequences.

wtf is the point of a video game if it doesn't let you do shit you'd get punished for in real life?

[Yamori]

wtf is the point of a video game if it doesn't let you do shit you'd get punished for in real life?

For real.

Violent games are a good outlet for angry teens with aggressive impulses.

I wouldn't be surprised if violent games actually lowers violence... kids can blow off steam shooting nazis and stomping hookers to death instead of vandalizing or what not.

[Captain Insano]

wtf is the point of a video game if it doesn't let you do shit you'd get punished for in real life?

For real.

Violent games are a good outlet for angry teens with aggressive impulses.

I wouldn't be surprised if violent games actually lowers violence... kids can blow off steam shooting nazis and stomping hookers to death instead of vandalizing or what not.

My god what I would give for a video game that was about stomping hookers to death. That would be sweet.

Teaching violence to children is good. At least they will know how to whoop some ass when they are grown up and it is called for such as fighting off bats or terrorists or terrorists with bat wings that can fly.

I don't believe in any censorship at all. If you don't have the time to watch what your fucking brat is doing then you shouldn't have become a parent in the first place.

[Narrock]

wtf is the point of a video game if it doesn't let you do shit you'd get punished for in real life?

For real.

Violent games are a good outlet for angry teens with aggressive impulses.

I wouldn't be surprised if violent games actually lowers violence... kids can blow off steam shooting nazis and stomping hookers to death instead of vandalizing or what not.

My god what I would give for a video game that was about stomping hookers to death. That would be sweet.

Teaching violence to children is good. At least they will know how to whoop some ass when they are grown up and it is called for such as fighting off bats or terrorists or terrorists with bat wings that can fly.

I don't believe in any censorship at all. If you don't have the time to watch what your fucking brat is doing then you shouldn't have become a parent in the first place.

So, basically you are admitting that a video game can have an effect on a child even after they stop playing the game. You have also just proved that censorship, to some degree, is very important.

[Langston]

Whatever happened to parenting?

Why does it need to be the government's job?

[Captain Insano]

wtf is the point of a video game if it doesn't let you do shit you'd get punished for in real life?

For real.

Violent games are a good outlet for angry teens with aggressive impulses.

I wouldn't be surprised if violent games actually lowers violence... kids can blow off steam shooting nazis and stomping hookers to death instead of vandalizing or what not.

My god what I would give for a video game that was about stomping hookers to death. That would be sweet.

Teaching violence to children is good. At least they will know how to whoop some ass when they are grown up and it is called for such as fighting off bats or terrorists or terrorists with bat wings that can fly.

I don't believe in any censorship at all. If you don't have the time to watch what your fucking brat is doing then you shouldn't have become a parent in the first place.

So, basically you are admitting that a video game can have an effect on a child even after they stop playing the game. You have also just proved that censorship, to some degree, is very important.

You can actually pretty much disregard my entire post as smart ass angst ridden drivel.

I don't care if kids have access to video games starring Hitler and the Gestapo Kids in which they run around putting people in ovens in exchange for bratwursts...

If you don't want your kid playing with a certain game, try spending 2 seconds on the internet reading a review on the game and DON'T fucking buy the damn thing. ie: Be a fucking parent.

[Zanchief]

Gamer nerds are the most violent people in the world.

[kaharthemad]

yeah...how may Cheetos have been needlessly killed in the name of Video games and Dungeons and Dragons? Can you imagine what the populaytion of Mountain dew would be?

[Zanchief]

yeah...how may Cheetos have been kills in the name of Video games and Dungeons and Dragons?

HIDE YOUR CHILDREN THEY ARE MORBIDLY OBESE AND PISSED OFF ABOUT MOVIES!

[kaharthemad]

yeah my typing sucks as usual. I fixed the kills to killed sorry bout that.

[araby]

we can put bulletin boards on the sides of the road with half naked chicks on them but our kids can't play video games.

[Tossica]

Video games have saved many ex-GF/wife from throttlings. If anything they need to be more gratuitously violent and pornographic.

[Harrison]

It's already been proven this is all a crock of shit pushed by pussies blowing it up in the media.