Are violent video games harmful?

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Several lines of evidence suggest that there is a link between exposure to violent video games and aggressive behaviour. However, methodological shortcomings of research conducted so far make several interpretations of this relationship possible.

Thus, aggressive behaviour may be a consequence of playing violent video games, an expression of hostile traits that existed before exposure to these games, and/or it may be a result of several possible combinations of these and other factors.

Mental health professionals need to be aware of these potentially negative effects of violent video games when assessing patients who present with aggression. There is a need for prospective, long-term studies similar to those evaluating the effects of television and film violence on children and adolescents.

Keywords: aggression; computer; trait-hostility; video game

Authors: Guy Porter; Vladan Starcevic
Affiliations: 
Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Discipline of Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Department of Psychological Medicine, Nepean Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

DOI: 10.1080/10398560701463343
Publication Frequency: 6 issues per year

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