Comprehensive study shows that playing video games does not make you violent

[MaxSmarties]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar...ransmission, in,predisposition to violence (6

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Predispositions exist (still a hypothesis however Genetic Predispositions occur often) and anything can be a trigger. It's how some people who smoke weed might go down a darker path and weed being that trigger point. This applies to pretty much anything.

Those are merely hypothesis, and almost every study concluded that “ A specific variant of the MAOA gene (VNTR 2R MAOA) was a risk factor of violent delinquency, but only when the boys suffered some other stress, such as family issues, low popularity and failing school.”.
Cultural and education are the real culprit here. A well educated boy from a good family in a good school (good doesn’t mean rich or expensive, to be clear) with good friends won’t be violent just because he’s playing CoD and had a specific gene.

 

[Mister_K]

Those are merely hypothesis, and almost every study concluded that “ A specific variant of the MAOA gene (VNTR 2R MAOA) was a risk factor of violent delinquency, but only when the boys suffered some other stress, such as family issues, low popularity and failing school.”.
Cultural and education are the real culprit here. A well educated boy from a good family in a good school (good doesn’t mean rich or expensive, to be clear) with good friends won’t be violent just because he’s playing CoD and had a specific gene.

This comes down to nature vs nurture. I think Dr. Robert Sapolsky talked about this in Zeitgeist but also has few lectures publicly available on YouTube. I am not denying that surroundings don't have a play at causing addictions (I certainly agree with you on that) and other mental problems but so could nature. Violent behaviour is merely chemistry in your brain. So an imbalance of your biology (this make it sounds like the imbalance is temporary ie dietary/physical health) would play a role in being predispositioned to violent behaviour and games could be the trigger, just like strobing effects are a trigger for someone with epilepsy. We certainly know that genes have a role in addictions so I do not see how it's any different for other behaviours like violence, kleptomania, anxiousness or being introverted/extroverted etc. We also know that violent behaviour takes place in the hypothalamu region so could an underdeveloped region of brain cause this predisposition?

Gene therapy will fix a lot of problems that are in our genes and of course everyones genes are different and react differently to stimulants.

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The Neurological Roots of Aggression

Recent findings shed light on the brain deficits that underlie aggression and could aid in the development of preventative treatments.

www.technologyreview.com

"It’s not yet clear how these brain abnormalities come about. Previous research has shown that genetics predominately accounts for the size of the prefrontal cortex. But abuse in infancy and childhood may also contribute. Shaken baby syndrome, for example, seems to primarily affect the orbital prefrontal cortex, one of the brain areas implicated in Raine’s study."

 

[ET3D]

Playing games doesn't make you violent. Lag does.

I think that's a good point. While gaming doesn't make you violent, it can lead to frustration, addiction in those susceptible to it, and so on. There are violent crimes linked to gaming, where a gamer killed another gamer due to frustration (losing, having someone steal their digital stuff, etc.). So even though playing games with violence and gore might not make someone more violent, people who have violent tendencies might have them triggered by playing. (Of course, they could be triggered by other things, but my guess is that reading a book or even watching TV is less likely to trigger them.)

 

[MaxSmarties]

I think that's a good point. While gaming doesn't make you violent, it can lead to frustration, addiction in those susceptible to it, and so on. There are violent crimes linked to gaming, where a gamer killed another gamer due to frustration (losing, having someone steal their digital stuff, etc.). So even though playing games with violence and gore might not make someone more violent, people who have violent tendencies might have them triggered by playing. (Of course, they could be triggered by other things, but my guess is that reading a book or even watching TV is less likely to trigger them.)

Many many aspects of live can lead to frustration and are far more relevant than video games.

 

[axiomatic13]

I'm old. I was there when computer games started and I still play. If games caused me to become violent I should effectively be Hannibal Lechter by now. Still just a nerd.

 

[Mister_K]

I'm old. I was there when computer games started and I still play. If games caused me to become violent I should effectively be Hannibal Lechter by now. Still just a nerd.

I think the point being primarily to people that are more prone to this. But as @ET3D said, other forms of violent content could do the same.

A lot of variables are at play and human behaviour is not down to just one thing but a multitude. I think it's totally ignorant to say that violence in games = violent humans. That's just moronic. As long as you are raising your kids "morally right" then you should be good. Everything in moderation right?

 

[Nestea]

More likely a bunch of ex-gamers turned scientists cover for their fellow men. gg

 

[ET3D]

Many many aspects of live can lead to frustration and are far more relevant than video games.

That's a good question. I'd say, not many. Though I'm not sure what you mean by "more relevant".

Games certainly are geared to frustrate. That's part of the design, offering challenges that are hard to overcome, and technical issues can add to that. I think that they are a unique entertainment medium in that.

Other challenges in life are rarely condensed in this form.

 

[LoriR]

I don’t think it promotes violence I think it takes away apathy. I can’t watch a game where people get killed I get upset. My grandson says It’s just a game!

 

[Nestea]

I don’t think it promotes violence I think it takes away apathy. I can’t watch a game where people get killed I get upset. My grandson says It’s just a game!

I think you mean empathy. or w/e the antonym to apathy is

 

[LoriR]

I think you mean empathy. or w/e the antonym to apathy is

Yes your right. Thank you. I could not think of the word I wanted. I’m old so please forgive me.