Do you think violent video games encourage violent behavior?

[southerngale]

Do you think that violent video games encourage violent behavior? Notice I said encourage, not cause.
Comments welcome.

[yoda]

Depends really. Does it encourage it? IMO, yes it does to an extent. Some may wish to pretend the are just like the characters, or try to imitate stuff that goes on in the games in real-life.

[SouthernWx]

I don't know Kelly....IMO it varies from individual to individual.

I enjoy some playing violent video games (i.e.- DOOM), and have a spotless criminal record; am not a violent person. Saying that, there are definitely some who it would influence, especially children....I didn't play such violence filled video games as I grew up.

Of course, it's not just violent video games nowadays. There is so much violence on television and in movies, even I am disgusted at times by it. At one time, watching "pro" wrestling on tv was a weekly ritual for my dad and I....something we both enjoyed immensely every Saturday night. In recent years however, the WWE has become so outrageous with their violence & sex filled storylines I rarely even watch anymore...neither does my father.

[coriolis]

I didn't vote. Like Perry said, I'm sure it depends on the individual. I let my kids play shoot-em-up games, and I don't see a lot of role playing or violence that I would consider to be mimiking the games. They seem to be able to tell the difference between fantasy and reality. In some ways, it might be an outlet. I can go into some games in a bad mood, and after I'm done feel relieved of stress.
Undoubtedly, there are some who would be affected negatively, but I'd go so far as to say that they're the exception rather than the rule. Someone gave us the playstation game "Grand theft auto." The kids played it and got bored with it pretty fast. They are not going out and stealing things, and they know that police are good and not bad.

I think that anyone with their head on straight can play the games and not turn into a monster. As with many things, it comes down to the example that the parents live.

[streetsoldier]

The problem with video games is DESENSITIZATION to violent acts...some of the same technology is employed by the US Armed Forces and police departments for recruits for just that purpose.

[pojo]

IMO it depends on the child. My brother grew up with violent games and has a spotless record. He doesn't act out in violence towards anything. Some children think it is 'cool' to act like their superheros... ie, superheros from violent videogames. They did this to gain attention from the parents. They feel that they are not getting enough attention from their parents sot they need to act out.

[TexasStooge]

It depends.

[vbhoutex]

I think that anyone with their head on straight can play the games and not turn into a monster. As with many things, it comes down to the example that the parents live.

Parents and their positive role modeling and parenting are the biggest influence when it comes to any childs behavior associated with video games. Mine have always been allowed to play video games and were also reminded often that it is just a game and not the real world and that the type of violence they were seeing in the video is not acceptable in the real world we live in. Of course it also helps if they see "peaceful" parents even in times of stress. Yes I do think it can lead to negative role playing if the children haven't been brought up in a nurturing compassionate environment, but I don't think that the games make them commit violent acts or encourage them to. I feel that it would happen whether they were playing the games or not in most cases.

[alicia-w]

imho, it's a game. if a parent is involved in, they should be able to limit the amount of time they play any game, violent or not. What about all those cartoons we watched as kids? The roadrunner was not the harbinger of peace and goodwill. Foghorn Leghorn was not a nice guy. Tom and Jerry? Heckle and Jeckle? Someone has to know that cartoons and games arent real! But how many of us really did think Superman could fly. How many tablecloths were used as capes and worn when jumping off the garage??

I would worry more about the possibility of video games causing epilepsy before causing violent behavior.

http://www.epilepsy.com/info/family_kids_video.html

[vbhoutex]

Very good points Alicia and totally valid. As I said, most of it gets down to the parents being positively involved in their childrens lives, not the games they play. Some of the cartoons I watched as a kid were at least as violent as if not more violent than some I have seen on the tube in the last few years(few and far between since the my "kids" are 21 and 25.

[Rainband]

I think that anyone with their head on straight can play the games and not turn into a monster. As with many things, it comes down to the example that the parents live.

Parents and their positive role modeling and parenting are the biggest influence when it comes to any childs behavior associated with video games. Mine have always been allowed to play video games and were also reminded often that it is just a game and not the real world and that the type of violence they were seeing in the video is not acceptable in the real world we live in. Of course it also helps if they see "peaceful" parents even in times of stress. Yes I do think it can lead to negative role playing if the children haven't been brought up in a nurturing compassionate environment, but I don't think that the games make them commit violent acts or encourage them to. I feel that it would happen whether they were playing the games or not in most cases.

I agree

[Stormsfury]

Parents and their positive role modeling and parenting are the biggest influence when it comes to any childs behavior

Bingo...