For every activist-supported research study touting videogames as the root of society’s evils, there’s invariably a counterpoint study that points to a general lack of solid evidence to convincingly enforce such claims. This week sees the emergence of yet another.
Study reveals videogames do not influence real-world violence. Image: Logan.Fulcher/Flickr.
Specifically, Patrick Kierkegaard, a researcher at the University of Nottingham in England, has published a piece in the International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry in which he claims there is scant credible scientific evidence to suggest videogames directly influence aggressive behaviour.
According to Kierkegaard, existing research into the societal impact of videogames has treated the interactive entertainment genre with bias, and it is his conclusion that gaming as a pastime is “harmless” and in no way responsible for acts of violence carried out in the real world.
“Real-world violence statistics do not signal a link between video games and violence,” outlines Kierkegaard in his report. The academic also notes that instances of violent crime, particularly among the young, have decreased dramatically over the last 15 years, while the user popularity of computer and videogames has steadily increased.
“For example, in 2005, there were 1,360,088 violent crimes reported in the USA compared with 1,423,677 the year before,” he offers. “With millions of sales of violent games, the world should be seeing an epidemic of violence. Instead, violence has declined.”
However, Kierkegaard does concede that certain videogame genre types could potentially “affect emotions, views, behaviour and attitudes,” and perhaps even trigger aggression in those players “already predisposed to violence.” He adds that videogames, much like books, are able to “permeate a person’s life and will likely interact with numerous other factors.”
In asking the question: “Is there any scientific evidence to support the claims that violent games contribute to aggressive and violent behaviour?” Kierkegaard studied a range of related research papers, many of which have utilised brain scans to link videogame activity with everything from juvenile delinquency through to acts of violent crime.
To better understand the positive and negative effects of videogames, Kierkegaard has called for much more detailed studies to be carried out in order to better assess related psychological influences.
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