ArgumentViolence in video games is not responsible for the aggressive or violent actions of the individuals who play them

Jenny, Stephanie, and AJ

Background

● Revival in video games in late 80s/90s● 8-bit/NES (Nintendo Entertainment

System)● Technology advancement● Better graphics● Excessive playing vs. doing other

things in free time

Figure 1: “Super Mario Bros” Image depicts Mario jumping over enemies.

Figure 2: “Donkey Kong” Image depicts Donkey Kong throwing barrels at Mario as he attempts to jump over them to save the Princess.

Figure 3: “Turok” Image depicts player having shot the enemy and the enemy with a gaping wound hole in the middle of its torso.

Figure 4: “Arno vs Officer” Image depicts Arno, the main character, slicing into the enemy’s throat with his sword.

Media

● Influences● Over exaggerates● Points finger to video games as a

scapegoat● Uses ignorance

Figure 5: “Media Spoonfeeding ” This image depicts a television feeding a man.

Influence

Media constructs their sentences and representations to influence the watcher or reader’s mind so that it is shaped to the way that they would like for them to think, thus form somewhat biased opinions; what the media shows is not necessarily true to how life actually is because whatever the media creates was made to convey a message that is supposed to garner support (PBS.org).

Scapegoat“I don’t think we have enough science to suggest playing video games causes violence in children any more than watching violence on TV,” says Ryan Hall, a psychiatrist at the University of Central Florida, referencing a vast body of scientific literature that has failed to find any strong connection between violent television and corresponding behavior. “There is no indication at this time that violent video games are training killers.” (Keim)

Figure 6: “Video Games” The image depicts two chickens playing a game.

Third person Effect

In the process of forming public opinion formation few people have access to accurate information about the state of their social environment with respect to some issue. They rely instead on their receptions of the opinions of others to guide them in participating in public debate. (Mutz)

Negative Aspects of video games

Stakeholder: Parents

Distractions● An escape from the real world

o young players, children, have difficulty studying and keeping grades up

o players do not socialize with others face-to-face, instead sometimes. they may talk to others through a headset

Figure 7: “Video games offer distractions.” Young player is too focused on the video games he’s playing and giving attention to the school work behind him.

Health Issues● trouble of sleep/ lack of sleep brother example...yells in his

sleep, believes he is still playing the video gameo younger players have trouble sleeping after playing violent

video games

● epilepsyo players can develop seizure disorder due to the lights in the

video games, although there is a small percentage of this happening, it still does not defeat the fact that it is real

● obesityo players do not exercise as much as needed for a healthy diet,

instead they play video games for a long period of time

● eyesight trouble

Effects- Violent

● aggressive behaviorso Anger issues

● “dark” thoughts

● may lead to more violent actions on a larger scale, in the real world, a player might believe that since they were able to get away with the crime in the video game then maybe they can get away in the real world.

mom’s responses here

ernie’s interview responses

Figure 8: “Player depicts violent behavior.” Player becomes upset as a result of playing a video game.

Video Game ViolenceThe Proven and Potential Benefits

Age Groups That Play● From 8 to 70+● Different reasons:

o Younger for funo Older for therapeutic benefits

● Elderly can enjoy alone, without spouse● Some students use games for alertness

and focuso Bejewelled, RPGs, Shooters for attentiveness

training

Potential Benefits

● Games have vast educational potential:o Problem Solvingo Focus/Attentivenesso Social Networkingo Math/Science/Geography Skills

Statistical EvidenceAge Feel

SharperMemory Has Improved

Ability to See Patterns Has Improved

Can Perform Other Timed Tasks More Quickly

Feel More Confident

Total

18-29 598 (57.2%) 158 (15.1%) 74 (7.1%) 173 (16.6%) 42 (4.0%) 1,045

30-39 1,064 (56.4%) 224 (11.9%) 167 (8.8%) 383 (20.3%) 50 (2.6%) 1,888

40-49 1,202 (50.6%) 287 (12.2%) 247 (10.4%) 537 (22.6%) 104 (4.4%) 2,377

50-59 1,176 (48.6%) 272 (11.2%) 295 (12.2%) 556 (23.0%) 119 (4.9%) 2,418

60+ 517 (43.0%) 126 (10.5%) 223 (18.6%) 281 (23.4%) 55 (4.6%) 1,202

Total 4,557 (51.0%) 1,067 (11.9%) 1,006 (11.3%) 1,930 (21.6%) 370 (4.1%) 8,930

“Reasons for Playing Casual Video Games and Perceived Benefits Among Adults 18 to 80 Years Old”-Whitbourne, Ellenburg, Akimoto”

Compromise/Solution

● Encourage those who argue against violence in video games to play them, if they have not.

● Encourage parents to exercise more caution when buying video games for their children.

Work Cited

● Addis, Don. “Media Spoonfeeding.” Web Art. Smith, Ian Patrick. Applied Social Psychology. N.p. 7 Mar. 2013. Web. 7

March 2015.

● “Arno vs Officer.” Digital Art. Makuch, Eddie. GameSpot. CBS Interactive Inc, 23 June 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.

● Barrios, Ernie. Personal interview. 13 February 2015.

● “Donkey Kong.” Digital Art. Reparez, Mike. GamesRadar. Future plc, 23 October 2008. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.

● Hollingdale, Jack, and Tobias Greitemeyer. “The Effect of Online Violent Video Games on Levels of Aggression.”

EBSCO.com. Web. 27 March 2015.

● Keim, Brandon. “What Science Knows About Video Games and Violence.” NovaNext. PBS, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 9 March

2015.

Works Cited (cont...)● Mutz, Diana C. “The Influence of Perceptions of Media Influence: Third Person Effects and the Public Expression of

Opinions.” International Journal of Public Opinion Research 1.1 (1989): 3-23. Web. 7 March 2015. PBS. PBS.

Web. 7 March 2015.

● Napoles, Midalys. Personal interview. 10 February 2015.

● Savage, Doug. “Video Games.” Web Art. Savage, Doug. Savage Chickens. N.p. 5 Mar. 2008. Web. 9 March 2015.

● “Super Mario Bros.” Digital Art. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 19 March 2015. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.

● “Turok.” Digital Art. MapCore. IP Board, 16 December 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.

● Whitbourne, Susan Krauss, Stacy Ellenberg, and Kyoko Akimoto. “Reasons for Playing Casual Vido Games and Perceived

Benefits Amoung Adults 18 to 80 Years Old.” Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 16.12 (2013):

892-97. Web. 27 March 2015.