Playing violent video games for just 20 minutes a day can encourage aggressive behaviour

University students were asked to play a violent video game or a driving game over three days

They were then set a couple of tests to see how they reacted to the outside world

Those who played shoot-em-ups like Call of Duty were more likely to assume the world was hostile and react aggressively

[iamnsuperman]

A little disclaimer to the Non UK readers. This is the Daily Mail so it is unlikely this study was that significant. Its the DM after all. Also mind the comments. They tend to be idiotic.

"We would know more if we could test players for longer periods of time, but that isn't practical or ethical." Well there you go. There may not be a long term impact

[Gazondaily]

Listen to this man, the Daily Mail is a long running joke here in the UK.

They once had the headline "Murder by PlayStation" because apparently, a kid played Manhunt and then proceeded to take a hammer to to his mates head and kill him.

As it turns out, the game was actually played by the victim not the assailant. The police repeatedly tried to clarify that point but would the Daily Mail listen? Nope. No apology was ever published or even clarification issued. The damage was already done.

So, don't take this so called study to heart because if you do, and you happen to see a violent gang of thugs beat someone to death, then you have no option other than to believe that there is a high probability that you witnessed clan xNoScopezx take out their frustration after playing COD twenty minutes earlier.

(I approved this by mistake- for that, I apologise).

[mafiahajeri]

I remember that manhunt incident it happened in a park if I'm not mistaken and I also remember that it was the victim that played the game. I loved manhunt and these guys were one of the big reasons were probably never getting manhunt 3 or bully.

This also reminds me of That incident were this guy commited a grotesque murder and blamed in on resident evil!! Lol the article was here on n4g.

[Anon1974]

It may be the Daily Mail is nothing short of a tabloid, but the study exists and the Daily Mail didn't misrepresent it's findings as far as I can tell.

Those who read to the end will find that researches believe the effects would hit a ceiling and then level off. People wouldn't become more and more aggressive the more violent games they play.

This shouldn't surprise anyone. There have been numerous studies since the 60's that showed a link between television violence and an increase in aggressive behaviour. Why would videogames be any different?

The end result of those studies was to recommend moderating aggressive TV programs for children under 8 while the brain is still developing. They found an important link between heavy, aggressive TV viewing habits and serious criminal behaviour much later in life. Apparently, kids under 8 "have not yet developed enough abstract thinking to be able to evaluate what they see and measure it against reality." They're still in the "sponge" stage of brain development.

Kids into their adolescence showed increased aggressive behaviour like anyone else but no long term effects. That's pretty much what we're seeing reflected in this study as well. So, if there's any parents of kids's under 8 out there like me you might want to do a bit more research.

I can't think that anyone else would care. Except those looking for an excuse to demonize videogames for corrupting our youth. Like they did with comic books. Then D&D. Then morning cartoons. Then heavy metal. Then rap. Then videogames. Won't someone please think of the children?

[RickHiggity]

If it's any kind of mainstream publication, you can expect a lot of bias.

[Myst]

Hearing Christmas music for eight hours a day at work makes me a tad edgy. Doing that for 5 days makes me...psychotic perhaps is the best word? Or maybe just very annoyed. The games help take the edge off.

[Nitrowolf2]

"Hearing Christmas music for eight hours a day a"
TELL ME ABOUT IT
Worse thing ever at Work really, and very annoying when you get off and go someone, just to hear the same stuff again.

[Myst]

Yep! just got off and that's pretty much all I hear. So now I have to drown my ears in other things to prepare for tomorrow.

[00001]

masturbating with death grip might be harmful too, yet well never know...

[OneAboveAll]

Good, let the hate and aggressive behaviour flow through me. Video Games are an outlet to let off steam. Would you rather me kill people on a video game? Or run through the streets?

:p

[Hellsvacancy]

Watching day time tv for 20 minutes can also encourage aggressive behaviour, how about driving your car through London? that really does "encourage aggressive behaviour"

Iike it reads it the title, "can" encourage aggressive behaviour........"if your a weak minded individual"

[Moncole]

Studies show seeing a mugger killing your parents at a young age will make you a super hero that works at night when you are older. But this study only shows if your are a super rich.

[Sleebs]

Breaking news: Playing The Sims will make you more human.

[Zodiac]

This is old news. Who doesn't know this stuff already?

This is basic psychology. Cannot wait to read about how you never killed anyone in the comments. Because everyone knows that you are either calm or you killed someone. Admitting the in between exists seems to be a taboo among gamers for one reason or another.

[SageHonor]

If you're not mature enough sure. I've played GTA, Manhunt, Dead space, etc. All kinds of violent games yet I am a pretty calm person in life

[Series_IIa]

Just go to the Daily Mail website...

I want you to find a sensationalist headlined article with at least 3 spelling mistakes, 4 wrong facts and 2 quotes taken out of context.

How to cheat: Click on any article on the entire Daily Mail site.

[ShaunCameron]

In other words, playing "violent" video games allows men to be themselves, and it is an affront to feminist (read: modern) societal values thus must be discouraged and stopped at all costs.

[kma2k]

Wouldnt this apply to all things being done for a period of time for multiple days. I mean hell watching a cooking show on tv usually adds up to people eating something. Or watching a kids movie where the hero has a cape on leads the small child to wanting to put a cape on. Serisouly this is human nature who gives a flying f**k

[Lazyeye79]

Well if after 20 minutes encourages aggressive behavior, then after 20 years I must be a psycho killer bent on destroying the world. That sounds like just the violent video game I want to play.

[Treian]

OMG NO ONE CARES

[thebudgetgamer]

I love playing shoot-em up type games, but I am a very passive person.

[Bathyj]

I hate people that say videogames make you violent. I just want to smash their faces in.

[Bradicas]

Smash their faces you say sounds like you need a break I recommend playing for 19 minutes.

[Bathyj]

Nice. I see what you did there.

[Rumplebumpkin]

Sounds like you need to have some sense beaten into you with bars of soap wrapped in towels.

[Bathyj]

Well, you sound like a comedian to me.
We'll call you Private Joker.

[Bradicas]

Haha nba2k makes me wanna hit the court.

[Max-Zorin]

Jack Thompson wrote the article.

[pompombrum]

Seriously, who in god's name would submit a Daily Mail article? Even IGN have better journalists than these jokers. Half their funds go on idiots to write idiotic fancy titles to attract the attention of more idiots.

[Holeran]

So there was a total of 70 students that took part in this? An idea, get a real measure of people so that personalitys have less affect on a random test. And another idea, say how many showed more aggressive behavior, was it 2 people that showed violence aftre playing violent game as upposed to only 1 of the control subjects? Dumbest article i've read in a while.

[Donnywho]

There might be some truth to this. I don't remember killing anyone on the days I've played 19 minutes or less of violent video games. heh

[Commandar_Shepard]

Video Games do make you violent. After playing a few games of Halo 4, somebody bumped into me on the street and I took out my Spartan Laser and blasted them to bits.

And don't even get me started on God of War 3.....

[BlaqMagiq24]

I play fighting games almost all the time but I don't go around trying to smash someones face in or picking fights. What a BS research study.

[isarai]

It's called getting pumped up, the same effect comes form cearing, working out, listening to music, partying, and training, should we stop doing these things as well?