Violent video games don't fuel teen aggression, study finds
- 5 years ago
OXFORD, UNITED KINGDOM — Violent video games have long been blamed for triggering aggression in teens, but a new study from the University of Oxford finds that that's not actually the case.
A comprehensive new study published in Royal Society Open Science has found no evidence that playing violent video games can make teens more aggressive.
Researchers surveyed 1,000 British 14 and 15-year-olds on their gaming habits and behavior, with in-game violence assessed using UK and US ratings.
They then interviewed parents and guardians to see if they thought their child had become antisocial or displayed any aggression.
As it turns out, playing bloodthirsty games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, or Grand Theft Auto doesn't make your kid more angry or prone to violence than one who doesn't.
Lead researcher Andrew Przybylski told Sky News that a lot of things feed into aggression. Gender and a person's background have some effect, but it's personal frustrations, family or life circumstances that fuel it more than the actual video game."
That's not to say games don't provoke angry outbursts, but they're more of a reaction to certain gaming situations and mechanics, and less a behavior that's cause for concern.
So next time someone warns you that video games will make you violent, tell 'em that myth's been busted.
A comprehensive new study published in Royal Society Open Science has found no evidence that playing violent video games can make teens more aggressive.
Researchers surveyed 1,000 British 14 and 15-year-olds on their gaming habits and behavior, with in-game violence assessed using UK and US ratings.
They then interviewed parents and guardians to see if they thought their child had become antisocial or displayed any aggression.
As it turns out, playing bloodthirsty games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, or Grand Theft Auto doesn't make your kid more angry or prone to violence than one who doesn't.
Lead researcher Andrew Przybylski told Sky News that a lot of things feed into aggression. Gender and a person's background have some effect, but it's personal frustrations, family or life circumstances that fuel it more than the actual video game."
That's not to say games don't provoke angry outbursts, but they're more of a reaction to certain gaming situations and mechanics, and less a behavior that's cause for concern.
So next time someone warns you that video games will make you violent, tell 'em that myth's been busted.