Games under attack: Addiction and Violence

Violence is not a new thing in this era. One might think that debate about violence would be over be it in video games, movies, television, newspapers and so forth but no, it would still be going.

Children today are generally being exposed to video games at a very young age. Most parents now are secured with jobs and have relatively large income which made spending time with the children become limited. Some children prefer spending time outdoors without adult supervision so parents are somewhat worried about this fact and eventually opt for video games just so that the children would stay indoors even though they know the unpleasant side of video games.

Addiction starts to build up from this. When the children start to be addicted, it would be hard for them to focus on something else like for example, their chores.

Children spend a great deal of time with violent video games at exactly the ages that they should be learning healthy ways to relate to other people and to resolve conflicts peacefully. Because video games are such good teachers, it is critical to help parents, educators, and policy-makers understand how to maximize their benefits while minimizing potential harms.

Although there are video games for educational purposes, children nowadays tend to buy the ones that are not suitable for their ages and this is due to the peer influence from the ones older than them. Parents should always monitor what their children are playing and if can, play along with them so that they could feel comfortable. Monitor here doesn’t mean watching them over 24/7 but rather talk it through with them if you think they are going to the wrong side of the road.

Studies by psychologists such as Douglas Gentile, PhD, and Craig Anderson, PhD, indicated that violent video games may have even stronger effects on children's aggression because (1) the games are highly engaging and interactive, (2) the games reward violent behaviour, and because (3) children repeat these behaviours over and over as they play.

Of course, violent games are very highly engaging and interactive even to me but its best just to leave the violence in the games rather than bringing it to life. Actually not only children repeat those violent behaviours outside the gaming life, adults do it too. An example is a very close friend of mine. He would kiddingly perform those dragonball/street fighter punching moves to me followed by sound effects. I know he’s just playing practical joke on me but this is also an example of violence although not a serious one. Another example is my little cousins. They would run around the house, leaping from one couch to another, tugging out every cushion there are, throwing the cushions to one another and sometimes hitting the ones who are not in the game plus their imaginary guns with annoying sound effects.

In conclusion, parents should be responsible for what their children are playing. Don’t let your children play something without adult supervision. Parents should know what’s best for their children. Try to butt in every once in a while even though you know you are busy. And one thing, let them choose what they want to play but as parents, you know they have their limits so gently remind them what is right or wrong for them.

http://www.psychologymatters.org/videogames.html