Can video games make children more violent?

1. 89

   jpcmcposted 12 years ago

   Can video games make children more violent?

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2. 84

   M. T. Dremerposted 12 years ago

   It's a complicated question. Growing up I was exposed to Mortal Kombat, which is arguably one of the most violent franchises in video game history. Yet, I wasn't a violent kid, nor do I have violent tendencies as an adult. So it comes down to that debate of, should we blame the video game, or should we blame the parents that didn't take the time to teach the kid the dangers of violence? I do believe that violent games and movies can influence certain children, but I feel like it's only a certain type of child that is susceptible to that kind of influence. And, if that game or movie didn't exist, they would just be influenced by something equally damaging.

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3. 60

   sooo Grimposted 12 years ago

   i think that video games have verry little influence of how violent a child may be or grow to be. i believe that violence is something a child or even adult will develop due to environmental issues?

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4. 59

   jackofspadeposted 12 years ago

   Playing scrabble or tetris will definitely not make you violent, I think the question should be more does violence in video game make children more violent.
   There are some game that I would not let a 6 years old play, but other that would let them. 
   Violence depend on a lot of factor but I don't think playing video game is one of them. It come more from the environment they grew in, the presence (or lack of) of there parent, there friend, etc.

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5. 60

   Leonhartposted 12 years ago

   It depends. By the time the child is, say, ten years old, it should realize that hurting people is always a bad, destructive thing. That understanding should prevent it from becoming violent.
   
   I often don't agree with the age restrictions on games. Usually, whenever bloodshed is shown, the game is considered too violent for teenagers, and gets an 18+ rating.
   
   I saw Mortal Kombat being played when I was eight or nine, and I knew that what the characters were doing was a bad, disgusting thing. If anything, it's made me less squeamish about blood, and less easily shocked by violence in games.
   
   Blaming violent behavior on video games is often a convenient way to shift the blame from the parents' inadequate parenting and the environment.

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6. 0

   TrinityCatposted 12 years ago

   It depends. I believe that if parents explain to their kids that the violence they see should not be followed in real-life, they wouldn't become as violent as one can expect. However, if they leave their children playing all sorts of games that use foul language, violence, sexual innuendos... it is a possibility that they can become more violent, because that's what they've always seen thanks to the parents being negligent.

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7. 59

   freemarketingnowposted 12 years ago

   Yes, but I think it depends on their age. I would say adults have better judgment. They're not going to watch a violent movie and go out an reenact it. However, children that are young sometimes can't make the distinction between what they see/read and reality.

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