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Zombieguy1987

Ever since the first video games in the 70's the debate about violence and video games has been interesting to say the least, but is it true?

WordsMatter

Cause violence no. However I think some games foster toxic subcultures. Instead of a video game creating a violent group, I think certain video games can be more attractive to violent people

funperson

The only way to know would be through an experiment. Have a control group that doesn't play video games for a year and have an experimental group that does. Make sure you block for variables like family income, gender, family history, etc. Until then we can only speculate. It is also possible that the causal relationship is backwards; maybe violent people are attracted to violent video games.

MayCaesar

Everything can cause violence in the right (or wrong, depending on your perspective) individual, and video games are no exception. However, it is hardly a compelling reason to regulate them. Among other things, they provide an outlet to potentially violent people to satisfy their inclinations in virtual worlds.

Just like porn gives sexually frustrated people with a potential to rape someone a way to release tension without hurting anyone, video games can serve the same purpose with regards to people with a potential to kill someone. Let them kill virtual monsters in the latest Doom game (incredible game, by the way) and feel good about it.

MajoMILSdlGMGV

I don't think that violent video games by themselves cause people to become aggressive or violent. I think that violent video games in combination with a number of other psychological and physiological factors do contribute to or trigger violent and aggressive behavior. In many cases, video games do not contribute to violence but they do attract violent people and at some point video games will not be or are not enough to release their violent or aggressive tendencies. 

Ampersand

funperson said:

The only way to know would be through an experiment. Have a control group that doesn't play video games for a year and have an experimental group that does. Make sure you block for variables like family income, gender, family history, etc. Until then we can only speculate. It is also possible that the causal relationship is backwards; maybe violent people are attracted to violent video games.

It wouldn't specifically have to be for a year - you'd want a variety of experiments investigating it in different ways for different time periods - but basically yes.

Funny story - these experiments have been and continue to be conducted! The findings are basically that violent video games, not videogames overall, do increase violent/antisocial behaviour. Here for example is a metaanalysis that states "The evidence strongly suggests that exposure to violent video games is a causal risk factor for increased aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, and aggressive affect and for decreased empathy and prosocial behavior". I could probably pick out softer analyses, for instance this one calls the effect 'minimal' but even then concedes the effect does exist.

So in summary, yes, video games do cause violence but only a subset (violent videogames) and it's also worth bearing in mind that this isn't unique to videogames and the strength and nature of the effect isn't exactly pinned down yet with a huge amount of certainty.

AmericanFurryBoy

I think, that there’s a big difference between fortnite and real life. But, that’s not to say that video games cause violence. I believe it depends on the age. If, say a 5-6 year old was playing COD II with all the gore, their impressionable mind MIGHT take it the wrong way.

averyapro

I personally think that violence in video games does not create a violent person. I think people look at the wrong way. For example, people look at it as the video game makes someone violent but the real truth is that it's the violent people playing the video games. This being said there have been many things done to try and ban video games from minors and such but in reality, it's just people that are violent that go to the video games to escape doing it in the real world. Also, I strongly believe that playing COD won't make you violent just because you play a couple games. Everyone sees blood, guns, gore, etc. throughout their life and COD is literally that.