Harvard researchers: Violent video games OK for kids

(Credit: Simon & Schuster)

Two Harvard researchers have concluded that there's no data to support the notion that violent video games cause the kids who play them to act out violence in real life, contrary to the vast majority of media outlets that would have the public thinking otherwise. The $1.5 million study, which began in 2004, closely examined 1,200 children after bouts with violent games like Grand Theft Auto and not-so-violent titles like The Sims.

Psychologists Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson found that for most kids, playing these games was nothing more than a stress reliever. Sure, some children displayed a playful aggressiveness after hours spent with a violent game, but this was no different than what children experience after seeing a martial arts action movie.

Some researchers, including the Harvard psychologists, even suggest that video games have a positive effect on the brain. Steven Johnson explores this concept in his book Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today's Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter.

Kutner and Olson have documented their findings in Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games, where they stress the importance of parental education and awareness. In a society where children who don't play games are considered to be socially inept, it is important for parents to understand what their kids are playing. In addition, they need to be able to block out the seemingly endless attacks on the video game industry and use the scientific evidence available to make judgments for themselves and their family.

(Source: TG Daily)

[krustykanuck]

Are there any studies that look at the effects of these games on children as they approach adulthood after years of use? Or are they just focused on the reaction of children shortly after playing the game? What of all the parents who are working 10+ hours a day and don't have the time to watch children all the time - or end up using tv and video games as a babysitter? In other words what are the effects of these games long term on someone being desensitised to violence versus being a full out suicidal murdering maniac. Any studies?

[rfelgueiras]

I would check the study, I'm sure it's more in-depth than this mere blog posting.

I think, in the end, we should just use our best judgement. Whether a study or the media tells use there are repercussions or not, I think if you don't want your kids to be constantly exposed to these violent games (or movies or music or comics....) just keep an active role in their lives as much as possible. Get to know what they are doing with there spare time as much as you can, with the understanding that you cannot catch everything. I guess if you are going to rely on media as a babysitter, just like in real life you have to get to know the babysitter. How violent is it? Is it at an acceptable level for their age? Did you research it before buying it. It's our kids we should be willing to do the work.

If anything this study tells us that if our child has minimal exposure to a violent game at a friend's house, we shouldn't "freek out" but it could be worth starting a discussion and find out what they thought about it.

[friday04]

I suppose that question can be answered by the army of us 30-somethings who have been playing video games since we were in our single-digit years. Many, many, many of those games have been violent in nature yet I've never even been in a fist fight, much less gone on a suicidal murdering rampage.

This study points out the obvious. Parents, even those who work long hours, need to talk to their kids and help teach morality. But I think it takes much more than violent video games and movies to push someone into killing people. I think the truth is that it takes a deep-seeded psychological problem and the right combination of extenuating circumstances to push someone into murder.

[bpob1977]

True, but the video games those of us 30-somethings grew up with were _FAR_ less realistic than the games of today. Suppose that long term exposure to violent video games leads to aggressive behavior in 1 out of 50 people, is this a problem? What about 1 in a 1000? Certainly some people are much more susceptible to external influence than others. I would tend to suspect there are a lot of factors at play here that far exceed the playing of violent video games.

[brimtown]

@ krustyknauck - Your post points out the far biggest influence on kids, their parents. There are millions of kids who play violent games like GTA every single day - yet how often do you hear about one of them committing a violent crime? People who have violent tendencies will usually seek out violent entertainment - could be a game like Doom, a movie like Pulp Fiction, or a CD from the group Hatebreed. But so far, there is no evidence whatsoever that simply playing a violent videogame will cause an otherwise normal adolescent to engage in violent behavior.

[krustykanuck]

Video games have been popular for over 30 years, but now the genre allows you to imitate the worse in humanity and get the full effect (blood, screams, whatever..) - not just shoot cartoon objects or gobble dots on the screen. I am not saying they are pushing people to kill others, but rather how far does the addtional violence desensitise a child to violence to the point where murder and violence no longer would shock or concern anyone.

[cybernetsurfer]

I personally don't get why they spent $1.5 million dollars to do this research. I do not understand why there is this huge argument about violent video games. It does not matter what the boys at Harvard say. I believe that violent video games, while not necessarily causing people to go out and murder, does put a certain message out there that aggressive behavior is, on some level, acceptable. The discussion should not be on the science but on the ethics of it. Is it right to have violent video games period? For young or for old? Is it right to, even though it's fake, go around and shoot people? These are questions you must consider. They are correct that it is the parent's job to facilitate moral grounding. The moral core of the following generations will not be determined by video games, but by the parents letting their children fall away from sound morals. I would stress to anyone willing to read this that violent video games should be removed from children but from the parents. This should include an explanation of why they are keeping them away from them. Communication is the important part. I do not believe that violent video games are a good thing because it's unnecessary. There are lots of ways to provide enjoyable entertainment for all audiences without being crass or violent. But think about it. It's for the individual to choose.

[linadragon]

Games will cause no more violence in a child then any form of media its just one of the new "scapegoats" The parents that agree with games being to violent are usually the ones that are somewhat lacking as parents and dont partake in their children's lives or watch what they are doing at all. The fact of the matter is the parents are usually the ones buying these games. The ESRB ratings are there for a reason period.

Games can be developed not to be violent yes... But at the same time alot of games premises make no sense without some form of violence. If you pull violence out any physical contact etc all you are left with is puzzle games, even some children's movies and games use comedic violence. The fact is a child with no pre existing problems will not become more violent from games. If they do i guarantee you there were clear signs already there that were ignored.

Yes it should be up to the individual but parents need to pay attention to ESRB. They rate the games according to what they are appropriate to (they are strict to...) If a parent goes and buy a 10 year old a rated M game its on the parent if they find the game to violent not the game makers when the game is clearly meant for those 17+. People need to stop equating games with kids.... The average gamer is 16-35 not 5-12...

[cybernetsurfer]

That is a great point to consider. Should we be sensitive to murder? Should it shock us when we see it and hear of it? Same for many other things. If we become desensitized to things like that, will we take the needed steps to stop them?

[linadragon]

One could argue the opposite here as well..... They may be more inclined to intervene when they see violence happen because they are less afraid of retaliation. They may act more responsibly and notice violence going on as well.. Alot of people wont take the steps to stop violence because of fear and thats a key factor. There are people that may not even call the police out of fear of being a witness (in case the guy gets off) due to said fear and its understandable to a degree... Its hard to point and say it desensitizes anyone as Its likely not to at all...

[stillhopeful]

Notice how the "study results" are carefully worded "Two Harvard researchers have concluded that there's NO DATA to support the notion that violent video games CAUSE the kids who play them to act out violence in real life."

A maverick criminologist, Lonnie Athens, has documented years of research based on interviewing hundreds of violent criminal now in prison. (Ref: The Creation of Dangerous Violent Criminals). From this empirical data, Athens constructed a 4 Stage model of the "violentization process" He concluded if you subject a young person to violent subjugation (repeated physical or emotional abuse, bullying, etc.), and then provide a "violence coach" - someone /something that has a significant influence on the youth and teaches them that a violent response is the appropriate response, the youth has completed Stage 1 of the violentization process. Before the youth shows up in the headlines, there are at least one or two more stages they must move through. But what if video games and violence in movies portrayed by the "hero" , etc. did serve as a "violence coach?" We can agree that watching a violent movie or playing a violent video game does not CAUSE a normal youth (one who has not been subjected to repeated violent subjugation) to go out and shoot someone - BUT do these visual images serve as a "violence coach" and give violent responses more credibility and CONTRIBUTE to the violentization process of youth who have already had some pretty brutal life experiences? This requires a whole different study that probably hasn't been conducted - therefore there is NO DATA to indicate violence in the media / video games even CONTRIBTE to violent behavior in later years.

[linadragon]

I don't think they do without other conditions being factored in.... Most people can separate reality and games and those that cannot have probably had other factors that drove them to it. A violent household is far more likely to make someone have violent tendencies then a video game will. As will peer pressure and psychological disorders.... I think the stages think is a load as with most things This is people not wanting to place blame squarely on themselves or their children. The people that continually run around saying games are violent are usually lazy parents that just plop their kids in front of a TV and buy them games without looking at them. Frankly i think its time that parents start acting like parents again plain and simple. Working 10+ hours a week isnt an excuse to not be involved in your child's life at all and those that think its a valid excuse should change jobs if its really that unmanageable. I for one think the generation of people that grew up on games will probably be much better parents and will know what their kids are doing.

[neutrality_is_bliss]

Take that in your pipe and smoke it, Jack Thompson!

[neutrality_is_bliss]

Take that in your pipe and smoke it, Jack Thompson!

[GhostBirdofPrey]

Just playing a violent video game won't turn you into a murderer otherwise there would be a school shooting every day. It takes serious psychological problems to cause someone to murder a bunch or people. As for children getting into fights that is perfectly normal behavior and so long as the parents do their job it should pass.

The problem here isn't the video games the problem is parents who leave their children to play them alone rather than spend time with them teaching them values ad making the ramifications for their actions clear.

Another thing to realize is that if violent video games has an effect of desensitizing people to violence then TV and movies would have the same effect so then it isn't the games themselves is the act of seeing violence.