A Closer Look at Video-Game related Studies

I am sure that this is not the first time you’ve read of this and this certainly won’t be the last time you’ll read about it, according to a study, video gaming leads to violent behavior among kids aged 8-13. Another study revealed that video gaming has a connection to marijuana use, alcohol abuse, and even sexual promiscuity in males aged 18-21. It seems that everything wrong is attributed to playing video games. The studies say the same thing over and over again and the message is loud and clear – video gaming leads to deviant behaviors. But are these studies really true and do we have to believe them?

If you are not familiar with these studies, you can do a little research on the web and you would be surprise with the number of studies about this topic. The results of the studies is not that shocking anymore though and they seem to give a lot of firepower for videogame abolitionists. These studies have, of course received negative feedback from the gaming community, with some even saying that these studies are pathetic and such a big waste of time and benjamins.

Let me make a distinction here, I am not discrediting the studies tirelessly conducted by these scholars and researchers, but I believe that their are factors that are neglected by these experiments. There are just some things that could not be controlled in a lab.

One of those things is the fact that everything that we do – be it good or bad – is an internal matter. And yes, it is true that we are almost always influenced by societal factors, but in the end, the decision to do something, and be someone is up to us – and only us. If you get hook on smoking joints, it’s your fault, not GTA. If you took up kicking people’s behinds as a hobby, it is your fault, not Resident Evil 3. And if you are so sexually overactive, that’s your fault, not The Sims 2.

More of the article after the jump.

I am sure that this is not the first time you’ve read of this and this certainly won’t be the last time you’ll read about it, according to a study, video gaming leads to violent behavior among kids aged 8-13. Another study revealed that video gaming has a connection to marijuana use, alcohol abuse, and even sexual promiscuity in males aged 18-21. It seems that everything wrong is attributed to playing video games. The studies say the same thing over and over again and the message is loud and clear – video gaming leads to deviant behaviors. But are these studies really true and do we have to believe them?

If you are not familiar with these studies, you can do a little research on the web and you would be surprise with the number of studies about this topic. The results of the studies is not that shocking anymore though and they seem to give a lot of firepower for videogame abolitionists. These studies have, of course received negative feedback from the gaming community, with some even saying that these studies are pathetic and such a big waste of time and benjamins.

Let me make a distinction here, I am not discrediting the studies tirelessly conducted by these scholars and researchers, but I believe that their are factors that are neglected by these experiments. There are just some things that could not be controlled in a lab.

One of those things is the fact that everything that we do – be it good or bad – is an internal matter. And yes, it is true that we are almost always influenced by societal factors, but in the end, the decision to do something, and be someone is up to us – and only us. If you get hook on smoking joints, it’s your fault, not GTA. If you took up kicking people’s behinds as a hobby, it is your fault, not Resident Evil 3. And if you are so sexually overactive, that’s your fault, not The Sims 2.

I myself am a big fan of GTA: Vice City and The Sims 2. I like GTA because it mirrors my love of cars, on the other hand, I like The Sims 2 because I’m a closeted- control freak. Bad news for me (and most of you), these are just two of the videogames that Jack Thompson and others just like him loathe because it is violent and contained nudity. They have lobbied extensively to stop the production of these games. But even if I play them sporadically, I don’t smoke weed, nor do I drink till I pass out (trust me). I am just your average girl who happens to play video games to relax and unwind after a busy day at work. And in no way has these games influenced me to be violent or inconsiderate to the people around me.

I think the real issue that should be tackled is that people do not take responsibilities for their actions. Video-gaming is not being seen as a factor that leads to such behaviors, it is merely used as a scapegoat.

But it is undeniable that video game manufacturers are also at fault. According to another study, most video games rated “M” which is for mature audiences fail to disclose violent contents on their labels and can easily fall into the hands of children. The study found around 80 percent of M-rated games included sex, violence, profanity, gambling or drug and alcohol use, none of which was described on the labels.

So the question still remains, do we have to believe these studies? My answer is that we are not obligated to believe them, but we could consider them. But then again, that is what I think. What you think and feel about these studies, as I’ve said earlier, is an internal matter for you to ponder on. You may disagree with my views but at least you considered them.