videogames and violence
Discussion
Was listening to Today in Parliament, which covered the PMB advocating reform of the BBFC (http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-02-29a.1352.3). Lots of silliness was said, in particular by Keith Vaz, who I have despised since the business with Filkin (I am surprised he has the front to come back into public life in the manner he has). Anyways, in replying to some intemperate comments elsewhere, I came across these two articles that may be of interest to those of you that think the idea that violent videogames make you rape hammers is silly:
Evidence for publication bias in video game violence effects literature: A meta-analytic review - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2007.01.001
"Violence in video games has come under increasing research attention over the past decade. Researchers in this area have suggested that violent video games may cause aggressive behavior among players. However, the state of the extant literature has not yet been examined for publication bias. The current meta-analysis is designed to correct for this oversight. Results indicated that publication bias does exist for experimental studies of aggressive behavior, as well as for non-experimental studies of aggressive behavior and aggressive thoughts. Research in other areas, including prosocial behavior and experimental studies of aggressive thoughts were less susceptible to publication bias. Moderator effects results also suggested that studies employing less standardized and reliable measures of aggression tended to produce larger effect sizes. Suggestions for future violent video game studies are provided."
and
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly: A Meta-analytic Review of Positive and Negative Effects of Violent Video Games - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11126-007-9056-9
"Abstract Objective Video game violence has become a highly politicized issue for scientists and the general public. There is continuing concern that playing violent video games may increase the risk of aggression in players. Less often discussed is the possibility that playing violent video games may promote certain positive developments, particularly related to visuospatial cognition. The objective of the current article was to conduct a meta-analytic review of studies that examine the impact of violent video games on both aggressive behavior and visuospatial cognition in order to understand the full impact of such games. Methods A detailed literature search was used to identify peer-reviewed articles addressing violent video game effects. Effect sizes r (a common measure of effect size based on the correlational coefficient) were calculated for all included studies. Effect sizes were adjusted for observed publication bias. Results Results indicated that publication bias was a problem for studies of both aggressive behavior and visuospatial cognition. Once corrected for publication bias, studies of video game violence provided no support for the hypothesis that violent video game playing is associated with higher aggression. However playing violent video games remained related to higher visuospatial cognition (r x = 0.36). Conclusions Results from the current analysis did not support the conclusion that violent video game playing leads to aggressive behavior. However, violent video game playing was associated with higher visuospatial cognition. It may be advisable to reframe the violent video game debate in reference to potential costs and benefits of this medium. "
Visuospatial skills are significantly correlated with driving skill (http://content.apa.org/journals/neu/18/1/85), so one may argue that by playing COD4, you are making the roads safer and saving lives.
In summary, Keith Vaz should go away and GTA4 will be awesome.
Evidence for publication bias in video game violence effects literature: A meta-analytic review - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2007.01.001
"Violence in video games has come under increasing research attention over the past decade. Researchers in this area have suggested that violent video games may cause aggressive behavior among players. However, the state of the extant literature has not yet been examined for publication bias. The current meta-analysis is designed to correct for this oversight. Results indicated that publication bias does exist for experimental studies of aggressive behavior, as well as for non-experimental studies of aggressive behavior and aggressive thoughts. Research in other areas, including prosocial behavior and experimental studies of aggressive thoughts were less susceptible to publication bias. Moderator effects results also suggested that studies employing less standardized and reliable measures of aggression tended to produce larger effect sizes. Suggestions for future violent video game studies are provided."
and
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly: A Meta-analytic Review of Positive and Negative Effects of Violent Video Games - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11126-007-9056-9
"Abstract Objective Video game violence has become a highly politicized issue for scientists and the general public. There is continuing concern that playing violent video games may increase the risk of aggression in players. Less often discussed is the possibility that playing violent video games may promote certain positive developments, particularly related to visuospatial cognition. The objective of the current article was to conduct a meta-analytic review of studies that examine the impact of violent video games on both aggressive behavior and visuospatial cognition in order to understand the full impact of such games. Methods A detailed literature search was used to identify peer-reviewed articles addressing violent video game effects. Effect sizes r (a common measure of effect size based on the correlational coefficient) were calculated for all included studies. Effect sizes were adjusted for observed publication bias. Results Results indicated that publication bias was a problem for studies of both aggressive behavior and visuospatial cognition. Once corrected for publication bias, studies of video game violence provided no support for the hypothesis that violent video game playing is associated with higher aggression. However playing violent video games remained related to higher visuospatial cognition (r x = 0.36). Conclusions Results from the current analysis did not support the conclusion that violent video game playing leads to aggressive behavior. However, violent video game playing was associated with higher visuospatial cognition. It may be advisable to reframe the violent video game debate in reference to potential costs and benefits of this medium. "
Visuospatial skills are significantly correlated with driving skill (http://content.apa.org/journals/neu/18/1/85), so one may argue that by playing COD4, you are making the roads safer and saving lives.
In summary, Keith Vaz should go away and GTA4 will be awesome.
If your a big enough retard to want to re enact a video game then your a big enough retard to re enact what you see on the news. Your also a big enough mug to then think because you have a cock the size of a 30cm high puppet, buying a vauxhall corsa will get you a fit bird on a bike.
Keith Vaz..... what a plum.
Keith Vaz..... what a plum.
The average age of a 'gamer' is around 25 a fact often forgotten when people start getting hysterical about computer games!
I remember buying Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox a few years back only to find that it was massively censored so I bought the US version instead, I'm hoping that the sequel won't suffer a similar treatment as I'll have to buy an import console too!
I remember buying Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox a few years back only to find that it was massively censored so I bought the US version instead, I'm hoping that the sequel won't suffer a similar treatment as I'll have to buy an import console too!
Vaz is to computer games what Monbiot is to cars. Never lets logic and reason get in the way of his argument, hence his ridiculous assertion that the press are sponsered by the videogames industry (yeah right) http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=93...
A friend of mine with a degree in Psychology and Criminology once told me that he'd never, ever seen an unbiased objectiove report on the videogames and their effects on people.
IMO if its allowed in a film then it should be allowed in a videogame ot it it banned in a film and banned in a videogame. Just stop the double standards.
A friend of mine with a degree in Psychology and Criminology once told me that he'd never, ever seen an unbiased objectiove report on the videogames and their effects on people.
IMO if its allowed in a film then it should be allowed in a videogame ot it it banned in a film and banned in a videogame. Just stop the double standards.
johnph said:
IMO if its allowed in a film then it should be allowed in a videogame ot it it banned in a film and banned in a videogame. Just stop the double standards.
There is an important distinction, in that games are interactive, the player has motivated themselves to kill virtual opponents. Not that i'm backing Vaz and his loony viewpoints or anything.Edited by scorp on Tuesday 4th March 17:30
Mattygooner said:
If your a big enough retard to want to re enact a video game then your a big enough retard to re enact what you see on the news. Your also a big enough mug to then think because you have a cock the size of a 30cm high puppet, buying a vauxhall corsa will get you a fit bird on a bike.
Keith Vaz..... what a plum.
Ah crap, I didn't consider my height when I bought the wee corsa as my runaround, I've been wondering why the fit birds on bikes don't jump in when I shout C'mon Keith Vaz..... what a plum.
baz7175 said:
Mattygooner said:
If your a big enough retard to want to re enact a video game then your a big enough retard to re enact what you see on the news. Your also a big enough mug to then think because you have a cock the size of a 30cm high puppet, buying a vauxhall corsa will get you a fit bird on a bike.
Keith Vaz..... what a plum.
Ah crap, I didn't consider my height when I bought the wee corsa as my runaround, I've been wondering why the fit birds on bikes don't jump in when I shout C'mon Keith Vaz..... what a plum.
Police are hot on the trail of Vauxhall Ripper, a man reported to the police as inviting attractive young women who ride cycles to "C'mon" and get in his car for leude sexual hatchback acts.
The police are very worried that this man may have something against cycalist's and have asked all female cyclists to take a can of mace and whistle with them and to not approach a Vauxhall corsa, Women in Basildon were said to be releived the ban was not extended to the nova.
The police believe the man is attempting to copy what the actions of the dirty puppets in the Vauxhall Advert, following this revelation, Keith Vaz commented "I told you so"....
More news to follow.
Next week...... COD 4 is the reason for the war in Iraq explains Keith Vaz....
From the research I have seen, it has been shown that a reasonable proportion of the human brain does not differentiate from 'virtual reality' and reality.
A similar effect is that sports psychologists have discovered visualisation does actually help and fire impulses to the muscles used in the visualisation.
There is no doubt as I can see that with the wrong psychological makeup a violent video game could lead to thoughts of reenactment. However, I think this does not override the needs and rights of the rest of the populace to enjoy whatever media they wish.
A Clockwork Orange was banned on first release on the basis that copycat crimes would occur. When Natural Born Killers was released there was a couple who were said to have used the film as inspiration.
The director, Oliver Stone's comeback was quite succinct in that if these protestors to such media really want to make a difference the first two things that should be banned would be two books, the Bible and the Koran. The reading, reciting and literal meanings taken from them has incited religious violence and hatred over a thousand years and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
However, it is easy to look over that when you are trying to stop under 18's playing Doom.
A similar effect is that sports psychologists have discovered visualisation does actually help and fire impulses to the muscles used in the visualisation.
There is no doubt as I can see that with the wrong psychological makeup a violent video game could lead to thoughts of reenactment. However, I think this does not override the needs and rights of the rest of the populace to enjoy whatever media they wish.
A Clockwork Orange was banned on first release on the basis that copycat crimes would occur. When Natural Born Killers was released there was a couple who were said to have used the film as inspiration.
The director, Oliver Stone's comeback was quite succinct in that if these protestors to such media really want to make a difference the first two things that should be banned would be two books, the Bible and the Koran. The reading, reciting and literal meanings taken from them has incited religious violence and hatred over a thousand years and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
However, it is easy to look over that when you are trying to stop under 18's playing Doom.
I've played FPS games since graphics looked vaguely messy (Doom) and haven't yet gone on the rampage.
People who are f
ked in the head are going to do things irrespective of whether FPS games exist or not. Did Michael Ryan play Doom? No, he went mental before that. I can't see today's teenagers being BF2 knife fans (requires far too much dedication) but seem happy to go around stabbing each other to death. (Is this a bad thing?)
People who are f
ked in the head are going to do things irrespective of whether FPS games exist or not. Did Michael Ryan play Doom? No, he went mental before that. I can't see today's teenagers being BF2 knife fans (requires far too much dedication) but seem happy to go around stabbing each other to death. (Is this a bad thing?)I do believe it's time for the Marcus Brigstock quote:
"If Pacman had affected us as kids we'd be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive music."
If you are interested in the subject, I forwarded the thread on Kotaku to Dr Ferguson. He did a thorough job of taking apart the research that shows the link between violent videogames and actual violence - http://kotaku.com/362953/the-violent-gaming-book-t...
FWIW, there's a big difference between a videogame eliciting a twitch or sweating, and us being unable to distinguish between games and reality, which we are very able to do.
"If Pacman had affected us as kids we'd be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive music."
If you are interested in the subject, I forwarded the thread on Kotaku to Dr Ferguson. He did a thorough job of taking apart the research that shows the link between violent videogames and actual violence - http://kotaku.com/362953/the-violent-gaming-book-t...
FWIW, there's a big difference between a videogame eliciting a twitch or sweating, and us being unable to distinguish between games and reality, which we are very able to do.
seems u got bonus points for driving over people and dogs...Gassing Station | Video Games | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff