Do videogames turn kids into killers?

Video games turn kids into killers? Not so, says new book
Just because you play as a criminal doesn't mean you'll become one.

By Ben Silverman

While their digital pastime is often credited with eroding the state of contemporary literature, gamers have found an unlikely ally within the pages of a new book.

Penned by Harvard Med School researchers Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olsen, "Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do" refutes common conceptions about the causal relationship between violent video games and violent behavior.

In other words, playing a few hours of GTA IV will not result in your kid stealing a car, careening through traffic and gunning down civilians.

"What I hope people realize is that there is no data to support the simple-minded concerns that video games cause violence," Kutner told Reuters News Service in an interview.

Their findings are a result of a two-year study of over 1,200 middle-school students. Unlike most studies set in sterile lab environments using psychological triggers, much of their data was collected by -- brace yourself -- actually talking to their young subjects.

The researchers did note a link between mature-rated titles and aggressive behavior, as a significant number of both boys and girls who played M-rated titles reported getting into more fights over the past year than kids who didn't play M-rated games.

However, Kutner and Olson point out that this simply demonstrates a correlation between violent games and aggression, not that one causes the other, suggesting the possibility that the kids attracted to mature-rated games were naturally aggressive to begin with.

Ultimately, "Grand Theft Childhood" advises parents concerned about their child's behavior to consider a wider range of factors than just their interest in violent games, including bad grades, too much fighting and, of course, obsessive gaming, so you might want to start trimming down those marathon sessions of Halo 3 when mom's around (or better yet, get her to play along with you).






if ur mom/dad tells u violent games will make u more aggressive, show this article to them.

YEASH.

Excellent, I shall use this

i wrote a paper on this for my English class. here was my standpoint: yes the games can desensitize us but the game never has any control over you. if you don't like what your kids are playing take it away or turn it off. the game cannot argue with you.

I agree. Has anyone ever noticed that no one cares when a character dies, but when a dog dies, they all try? I agree that video games may increase aggression, but they do not kill people.

"but when a dog dies, they all try?"

what the f**k is that supposed to mean?

"to say its bad?" idk.

did he mean "Cry"

thats what i thought maybe.

im sure thats what he meant

ok? i dont care?