Video games causing shootings??

From the first violent sin when Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy, Man has had a violent history.  Look at many of old history manuscripts of the Romans or the Greeks and even fictitious writing like Homer’s Iliad, they are all riddled with violence.  Look at how “entertaining” it was for the Romans to take people and put them in the ring and watch them fight to the death (2).  Is there a correlation between violent video games and violent behavior? It seems a little far-fetched considering Man has always been fascinated with violence.  There is not enough evidence to directly support the relationship between violent video games and violent behavior.

This is not the first time violent behavior was thought to have been brought about through entertainment.  In the 50’s there was a study done on the correlation between bullying/ violent behavior and comic books (1).  That may sound ridiculous but 50 years from now it may sound ridiculous that something on a screen provoked a young adult to go shoot up a school or a theater.  Movies have come up time and time again (increasingly so) that are labeled as “violent provoking”.  There was a big scare when Halo (first person shooter game) first came out about the subliminal messages and effects of shooting a bunch of aliens.  That was just an alien game!! Today, taking combat missions involving the shooting of bystanders and citizens is a common place in video games.  Does this mean video game development is getting darker? I can’t imagine what someone who didn’t want their kids reading comic books would think if they saw today’s video games. 

The testing of psychological effects video games have on adolescents is very difficult to assess with any accuracy.  Each test and study done has had different parameters, length of trial periods, and, most importantly, subjects (1).  Each person has their own chemical make-up that makes them individual.  Just like all physical features of a person, chemical make-up of a person is just as diverse.  One person is out-going and loves socializing and group projects while another is reserved and shy and can go through all of school without one group project, yet another likes a lot of friends but is very individualistic and does things their own way.  All of these traits are a result of each person’s chemical makeup.  Now do not misunderstand and think just because someone has a certain chemical make-up that they are excused from consequences.  Absolutely not!   

There are just so many things to take into consideration when conducting psychological experiments.  That is why it is a difficult yes or no to whether video games induce violent behavior.  But society seems perfectly happy with blaming problems on shallow and empty factors.  Why does society pin these problems on something that is not only tangible but barely skin deep? Why is that?  Is it because someone just wants a reason that terrible things happen and something like violent video games is visible, tangible, and changeable? Unfortunately the problem is much deeper than the visible which is why it is so hard for people to accept.  There is something else going on and no one wants to admit it.  There is a little evil and a little good in everyone and they are always at war with each other.  The part everyone is responsible for, themselves, is the side they choose to take.

1)      http://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2013/sep/19/neuroscience-psychology

2)      http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inside-out-outside-in/201212/violent-video-games-and-movies-causing-violent-behavior