Video Games: Toxic To Children

Video Games: Toxic to Children

Video games have been criticized for many years due to their graphic nature and negative affects they have on children. Video games cause children to sit alone in a room for many hours, interacting with a machine, rather than playing outside where they can exercise and improve their social skills while playing with other children. Exposure to violence in video games is the general contributor to aggressive behavior, desensitization to real-life situations and emotional problems in children. The violence in video games affects children in many ways and in some cases, it has life-long consequences.

There are many powerful influences on a child's behavior. "Children learn to behave by watching people around them and by observing characters in movies, video games and television and often, violent behavior is learned early in a child's life" (Norcia 'Impact' 2). Children must be taught to distinguish real-life from fiction; as well as behavior that is appropriate and that which is not. The same applies when playing video games. Children are exceptionally vulnerable to negative behavior, especially that of video games. Playing violent games can increase a child's aggressive thoughts, behaviors and actions and often "kids who are immersed in violent video games are more likely to get into physical fights, argue with authority, or display anger and hostility" (Schaffer 1). Some children are drawn to violent games because of pre-existing problems or the development of new problems." Some kids use games as a way to vent anger or to distract themselves from problems. However, venting anger doesn't reduce aggressive behavior at a later time" (Schaffer 2). For example, children who have academic problems may use video games to escape from schoolwork or as a self-esteem booster. For other children, the smallest increase in excitement or arousal can trigger aggressive tendencies which also fuels pre-existing violent behaviors. "Many players strongly identify with violent characters portrayed in video games. This identification with characters increases the players ability to learn and retain aggressive thoughts and behaviors which can affect real-life circumstances" (Norcia 'Violent' 1). Although there could be a temporary increase in self-esteem or an escape from reality, the long term problems may worsen and cause other distractions.

Children develop most of their emotions from day to day experiences. " It is already well known that playing video games increases aggressive behavior and decreases helping behavior, but exposure to violent video games also diminishes a child's reaction to violent images"

('Violent Video Games Desensitize' 1). Amanda Schaffer, author of Don't Shoot: Why Video Games Really are Linked to Violence describes the connection between violent games and real violence. In playing violent games, kids are likely to become desensitized to gory images, which could make them less disturbing and easier to deal with in real life (2). In the same way a child's emotional behavior is effected, their moral development is impaired as well. Video games flaunt violent actions, demand violence, and provide no reaction concerning their actions. Most children are taught to take responsibility for their actions and are able to distinguish right from wrong. However, the child's behavior may be altered as a result of playing video