Home video game consoles have been around for 36 years. Since the introduction of the first home video game system in 1972, the consoles have evolved through 7 generations. The 7th generation is currently being sold around the world. 7th generation consoles include the Sony Playstation3, Microsoft’s XBOX360 and the Nintendo Wii. Through the advancements of the video game consoles, the games have also become more advanced. Life-like actions portrayed by video game characters are capable due to higher technology graphic and sound cards. Of these actions, violent behaviors are commonly portrayed realistically in video games. With the violence of some video games increasing, people have tried to make connections with acts of violence from teenagers, mostly males, to what they do and see on video games. Instead of trying to ban certain material, it may be more helpful to determine why violent games appeal to the adolescent male age group.
In Jansz’ article, he defines five elements to a video game that attracts people to play them. Those five elements are interactivity, the rule-based nature of the game, the variable outcome, the effort required to play a video game, and the attachment of the player to the outcome. In sum, video games are an example of lean forward media. Enjoying a game requires effort, which may result in the experience of presence. This feeling of being there may be rewarding in itself because it enables gamers to distance themselves from ordinary life (Jansz 2005, p. 221). Violent video games produce the same reactions and can also increase one’s physiological arousal which may contribute to the satisfaction of needs for excitement (Jansz 2005, p. 224). In violent games or any video games, players will experience a variety of emotions ranging from happiness and pride to fear and anger. The anger emotion is what concerns the public view of video games the most. In Jansz' research, he found that players will tend to play the video game longer when he feels a sense of anger. With the power to turn off the system or keep playing, gamers said it is more gratifying to keep playing.
Due to the changes in their life pattern, adolescent males tend to play violent video games more. Adolescents must adjust to physical growth, increasing sexual feelings, and to changes in their emotional and social relations with their parents and peers (Jansz 2005, p. 230). Adjusting to these changes can result in conflicts and insecurities, making it hard to express their feelings. Violent video games then become a getaway where males can pick their player and be who they want to be and confront his emotions by playing the game. In the virtual world that they are playing in, they can act out emotions that may be problematic in real life (Jansz 2005, p. 235). In other words, the violent games allow for them to escape the real-world and confront emotions that would not seem suitable to confront in the presence of parents or friends.
Jansz, Jeroen. (2005, August). The Emotional Appeal of Violent Video Games for Adolescent Males. Communication Theory. Vol. 15 Issue 3, 219-241. Retrieved November 15, 2008 from journals.ohiolink.edu.
5 comments:
I do not believe that video games cause teens to be more violent. I have had this conversation with a lot of people and even though many people have tried to change my views I still stand by what I believe. I think the video games are an outlet like the blog said. People use video games to distract them from everyday stress and worries. I agree with the blog when it says that male adolescence have a lot of anger and emotions built up and cannot express them in way that is socially expectable. But just because the games they choose to play are violent does not mean that they are going to grow up and commit crimes.
orr.166@osu.edu
Violent video games in my opinion are not the reasons for people acting a fool. People need to take some responsibility in their own actions. If you don't understand right from wrong, that is your problem. I think it can be an avenue to take out some dark issues people have inside them. If it makes them feel better about themselves to shoot people on a video game, then more power to them. I like playing football games, do I think I am going to play for the Browns or be a General Manager because I sign players on video game. No.
null.30
I think this is such an interesting topic. Although I'm not entirely sure of my stance on video games, I do think they're is a problem with all of the violence and reality in them. Violent video games have become so gory and disgusting to many yet players are rewarded when violent acts are made. Obviously players need to realize the difference between reality and the video game world. It's not OK to shoot someone in the face outside, but when your playing a game, its perfectly acceptable and even encouraged. Video games are definitely an outlet to take out anger and dark feelings, but so is lacrosse or football. When your older, people may realize sports aren't the place for them. But younger and impressionable kids don't know this yet. Don't give up on actual physical activity to release endorphins and anger and turn to video games.
Samsel.6@osu.edu
I feel that video games are for mere entertainment. I do not think that they truly influence what people do. I think it depends on the person and their maturity level. People could argue that violent video games cause teens to be more violent, but I think it depends on who is judging them. Women go through many changes in their adolescence as well as men. By saying that playing violent video games are their escape from reality, many women would argue that watching soap operas would be their escape from reality since soap operas are as far from reality as violent video games are.
chung.286
First of all, I like the pink page a lot. Second of all I’m a big fan of psychology and I am a big believer in the concepts of nature and nurture. Therefore, I don’t believe that violent video games cause children to be violent. I believe that children who have a violent nature and those who grow up in a violent environment are more likely to be drawn into these games and relate to them more. Many kids act out violently and when something as awful as columbine or Virginia tech happens people need someone to blame. And it’s easier to put blame on the video game companies than on a parent that everyone can relate to. So even though violent video games may not help these violent kids, they certainly don’t cause the violence. (townsend.671)
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