Full record(s)

Record no:

1 of 1

Author:

ADACHI Paul J. C.; WILLOUGHBY Teena;

Title:

The effect of violent video games on aggression: is it more than just the violence?

Reference:

Aggression and Violent Behavior, 16(1), January/February 2011, pp.55-62.

ISSN paper:

1359-1789

Abstract:

Previous research has shown that playing violent video games produces higher levels of aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and short-term aggressive behaviour than playing non-violent video games. This article argues that there are 2 major limitations with these studies. First, the majority of experimental studies that have compared the effects of violent versus non-violent video games on aggression have failed to equate these games in terms of competitiveness, difficulty, and pace of action. Thus, although the common finding is that violent video games produce higher levels of aggression than non-violent video games, it may be that the violent video games are also more competitive, difficult, and contain more fast-paced action. Consequently, it is unclear whether the violent content is responsible for the elevated levels of aggression. Second, previous experimental studies have tended to use a measure of aggression that may also measure competitiveness, leading to questions about whether violent video games are related to aggression or competitiveness. This article elaborates on both these limitations, and discusses how and why future research should address these gaps in the violent video game literature.

Journal home:

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Format:

article;

Topics:

aggression; computers; play; videogames; violence; young people;

Content Type:

research;

Record ID:

www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/profile.asp?guid=7cbb746c-b2ea-4240-9187-ad2d7c097091