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Week 4 [01-07.04] An impact of video games on people's behavior

An impact of video games on people's behavior


How often do you play games? And how often did you hear as a child (or anytime) that video games are bad, have harmful influence on young people and lead to aggression? I bet quite often. These beliefs are so widespread that most of a society believes in them. But should video games be so demonized? Are they really as evil as they are presented in the media and by other people? In this presentation I will introduce you to the most up to date study done by researchers from the Oxford Internet Institute that brings up the mentioned subject.


(source: http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2019-02-13-violent-video-games-found-not-be-associated-adolescent-aggression)


The topic of games’ impact on people's behavior is the most often raised when it comes to a tragedy with video games in the background. In the past there were indeed some cases when people from “the games world” did commit a crime and we could neither deny it nor turn a blind eye on such cases. But according to the University of Oxford’s newest research published on 13 February 2019, adolescents' aggression was found not to be associated with violent video games.



(source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ixUGwk6IC8)


The sample group for the research consisted of 2008 people in total including British children in the age between 14 and 15 and their parents. Teenagers had to answer questions about their personality and gaming habits in the last month. Parents on the other hand answered questions about the latest aggressive behaviors of their children. Games’ violence level was evaluated according to official standards – PEGI in Europe and ESRB in the US. Results of the study show there is no link between playing violent games and teenagers' aggression.  




Nevertheless, a source of aggression could lay in other aspects of video games like trash-talks on chats or trolling in multiplayer games, which is considered to be an antisocial behavior. We should also mention the simplest aspect that could lead to aggression, which is competitiveness - as it is in other sports, it also appears in games. These aspects were also raised in the research.




All in all, we should also remember that people face violence not only in the game industry but also while e.g. watching movies, watching some of martial arts or browsing dark alleys of the Internet. The thing is that we can’t be biased and stick only to one conviction. Remember to be open-minded and always have your own opinion.

Not to mention that there are counter studies (to those which demonize gaming) which have proven that playing video games have a beneficial impact on our brains and it, among others, improves our reaction time. In addition, some time ago in a “Świat Wiedzy” magazine I’ve read that video games are used to heal people with movement disorders resulting from e.g. a stroke.




To sum up, I believe that in some time the world will see that video games could be beneficial for people. That it is not only a good way to spend your free time and relax but also it could help people in ways no one would ever imagine. But as always – we should keep using everything in appropriate doses and should not exaggerate.


Questions:
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?   
2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life?  (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)
3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?
4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?


Sources:

Comments

Nataliya Tkach said…
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?
It is very individual,it all depends where the youth grows. If do they have the awareness that this is a video game.

2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life? (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)
Often seen in the news as in the US teenagers shot their schoolmates or did suicide.

3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?
There are special age limits for PEGI 5 13 16 18 games. But no one in online stores doesn't ask for a passport to confirm the age. The more forbidden, the more you want

4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?
Why only in medicine? Now a lot of where to use, but it's more like a simulator,not a game.
There were numerous studies proving that games have no effect on violence and behavior whatsoever. Although, they have on eyes, posture and time, that is true. Nevertheless, if a person can be driven mad by a game, then, he can be driven mad by everything.
1. It makes children lazy, addicted to the computer and terribly restricts learning about the real world.
2. My colleague from the gymnasium threw a chair at his brother as he did not play it on the computer.
3. Yes, but on the same principle why pornography is from the age of 18 and not from the age of 2. I would think more about limiting the time that they can play.
4. Of course it is useful but in my opinion these are more simulators, testers or training devices than games, just in a nice form like gyms with TV.
You are gamer, who denies the fact, that you are getting mad because of games. Typical situation
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?
I'm against violent video games, i had such as bad experience playing video games and getting mad after loosing. It's true.
2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life? (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)
Yes, here is the example of my younger brother, who was addicted with bets, he stole money from me and parents, and we we found out what was the problem, he threated with a knife parents
3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?
Sure, that's what i'm thinking of when i will be an influencer in our poor world. I don't think that it would be easy, but at leas i will try and maybe, change the world, leave it without violence.
4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?
No way, i don't think that video games have future in medicine, i can't imagine it right now.
Bartosz Barnat said…
1. I think that young people think that they can do anything in video games and it will not have any consequences, the other thing is that young people tend to be more aggressive when they play a lot of video games but it might be just because of a bad player that they had to play with.

2. I knew some people that were really dangerous and threatened others just because they killed their character in a video game and it wasnt just threats but there were fights, knife stabbings and choking almost to death. Some people can be really serious because of video games...

3. I think that really violent games should be banned for children and games having erotic stuff in them too. But as we all know its hard to control who is playing a game that is not for a specific group of players, and we all know that method involving selecting your date of birth is not enough.

4. I don't think that games right now can be used in medicine. I saw some games where you can control a car by your mind and its good to learn control but I don't think that it really works.
Some young people play far too much. Games can have a positive impact on creativity, learn English, develop thinking. They also have negative effects such as aggression, depression and self-closeness. I do not know any person mentioned in question 2 and it seems to me that I have not heard about such a person.

Many games should be banned for children and adolescents. Unfortunately, there is no possibility of effective ban, because people are smart about being able to bypass bans.

If the games can help in medicine, they should definitely be implemented as soon as possible. I am a big fan of this idea and I keep my fingers crossed for him.
I don't think that games has much of influance over young people, children are used to distinguish what is reality and what is game. Of course we can't let them play whole day, I think setting a daily limit will do the job.
Not really, me and my friend sometimes 're getting furious over some video game but I don't think it is really dangerous, I've heard that about 10 yers ago ( god, times runs so fast :D ) there was a kid who was playing Tibia and his mum, turn of the electricity to stop him, and she got hit by a chair. I don't think banning any game is good for teenagers.
1. I think that there is no correlation between aggression and video games. If someone is aggressive, then he has a bunch of different problems than games. In my opinion everyone has a mind of his own and should be able do find the difference between good and evil, and video games don’t change that. I could agree that games can have a negative influence on very young children, but definitely not the teenagers who are morally responsible for their actions.

2. No, I have never witnessed such situation.

3. Yes, I would consider banning some games for very young children, but not for the teenagers. In case of children, there are age rating systems already, and parents can use them to control the exposure of particular content to their children. In case of teenagers – as I said before – I think that there is no place for banning anything for people who should already know how to behave. It is a parent role to raise up children in a proper way, not the government or other organisations which can allow or ban something.

4. Yes, if something can help to recover after the accident or to stimulate the brain, then why shouldn’t we use it? Video games are able to engage a significant amount of brain activity, so it could become an effective way of dealing with brain disabilities.
Maciej Sadoś said…
Thank you for your comment. I agree that this is a very individual aspect. The point you made about not adhering to age limits is also crucial and often forgotten.
Maciej Sadoś said…
That's also a good point Kyrylo, we should remember about our health and take care of it in the first place. I understand what you are talking about with being mad - some people indeed don't realize that this is only a game and they possibly shouldn't take it so serious.
Maciej Sadoś said…
Thank you for your comment. I see that you have had some close experience with people who were impacted in a bad way and it certainly influenced your view on the topic. I wouldn't be so radical according to the first answer but I appreciate your point of view :)
Maciej Sadoś said…
Wow, Andrii, I feel really sorry for you and I hope it got better now with your brother. Take care and good luck with your commitment!
Maciej Sadoś said…
Thank you for your comment Bartek. I definitely agree that people sometimes have a hard time to differentiate a real world from a video game and it's a really big problem nowadays. And of course selecting our date of birth to get a permission is hilarious.
Maciej Sadoś said…
Thank you for sharing your point of view Hubert, I agree with you.
Maciej Sadoś said…
I agree that we should use an accurate dosing of time for a video games to not let children loose themselves permanently. And I also remember the story with Tibia ;D
I think that it is not video games that hugely impact people, just read something about times when there were no videogames, if honest people became much more chill. Bu of course it's not angry people, parents who do not spend time with thier children, aggresive social environment, no it's games that make people angry. About banning though, i personally believe that banning anything (even if it is harmful) can make precedent for banning anything, and that is a sure way to end up in some autocratic distopian place. I don't think videogames can be used as medicine, just like i mentioned before if social environment is ok people would not even play games so much.
Maciej Sadoś said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maciej Sadoś said…
This is a perfect summary, right to the point. Thant you Marcin!
Maciej Sadoś said…
That's certainly a good find about that authocratic situation. And like Marcin also said above, people should have a choice and they should differentiate good from evil. Maybe, like you have pointed out, we deal with some bigger, global social environment issue here, who knows
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?

I've been working for a few years in YouTube field, and especially there is the damaging impact of not only games but also social media on young people. I am not an opponent of games with violence, but I am not for sharing them with more and more young people. I believe that games, in addition to wasting time, are not negative for us, provided we dose them in reasonable quantities.

2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life? (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)

Yes, I used to know a person who for a week could not calm down by a computer game, so that to relieve tension, he beat a friend.

3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?

Of course, in my opinion it is necessary. Same as limiting and controlling the time that young people spend in front of a computer or looking in the screen of a smartphone. Where are the times when young peoples went out into the yard to meet, or simply have fun.

4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?

Of course, simulations of operations are already carried out where possible and needed in heavy operations. 3D printing is also often used. However, these are not typical computer games, but specialized software that allows us to do exercises and learn.
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?
I think that games are quite neutral for young people. They will not make them maniacs or geniuses. Also all games have thing called PEGI, which says min age for specific game. So when parents are buying 18+ game for 8 yers old kid, then well... it's not game fault :P

2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life? (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)

I mean yeah, but it's same thing with Snapchat or Facebook or Intagram. Everything that allows you to interact with other person could lead to some kind of fraud or something. But again, that's not fault of a game, but of game community.

3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?

As I said before - it's done already. It's called PEGI.

4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?

I do not think that games will be great achievement in medicine haha, but who know what future will bring.
Yana Lytvynenko said…
I believe that the game can have a positive impact if this way relaxes a little (especially, a small discharge is needed after a big brain activity). But when a person is develops procrastination, then this is a certain minus.
Since I know a lot of people who completely absorb the games, and they just do not want to do anything else. Then you need to solve this problem. Whet all is good in moderation. And it turns into a dependency, and not a way to relax and get a little distracted.
I believe that there should be a restriction on certain games (in principle, is usually written from what age you can play one or another game). After all, many games are connected with murder and cruelty. Hardly this is what children need to show as a normal phenomenon. There are enough games for children that have a developing meaning.
Well i think you can't just answer it with yes or no. Its much more complex. I'd say it is not games itself that harm younger gamers but all marketing and aura around it. Also i think big problem is that many parents are not watching if game is targeted for their kids age. Niether they are looking if kids are not geting addicted or just spend too much time just playing. Other thing are social media and stuff like youtube that create much more mess then game alone. When it comes to medicine hmmmm. I think it could work. Not sure how but i guess it could. It already works for antiterrorists, drivers, pilots etc so why not.
Answering your questions:

1. In my opinion, some games have a really positive effect on young people. For example, in survival games, where you have to think, plan everything, depending on situation in game. And all of this, what we met in games, can happen in real life. And if we have "experience" in that, we can survive.

2. Unfortunately, no, I haven't met person like you say. But maybe it's good?

3. I wouldn't ban any game, I think, because in my opinion, every game every game usually has a good effect on us, more or less.

4. Video games in a medicine? I wouldn't say that, more as augmented reality. This is the most certain, even it is used in some US hospitals.
Anna Koca said…
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?

I am not entirely sure if they promote violence, however they may cause sense of alienation among younger audience, detaching them from the real world as they get deeper in the online world of games. As a result, they may get worse at social behaviours, which is not exactly violence, but not beneficial either.

2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life? (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)

No, I have never stumbled upon such example in my life or heard about anyone from my circle of friends and acquaintances.

3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?

Only if it could be controlled in any way. With online instant access and no real control over the games that children can buy/download/play, any game-banning policies are just pure theory and no effect, and there are no point in introducing them.

4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?

I think it will be the future since we are inevitably heading down that road that will digitalize all aspects of our lives.
Anton Medvediev said…
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?
I am started play in computer games when i was 6, and i can say that the games give me a lot of worlds to live, some interesting stories, friends in real life. I disagree with influence, if you are not psychologically stable it’s not because of game
2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life? (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)
Yes, but that people can triggered because of people, teacher in school, alcohol, of anything that can you make angry.
3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?
We have for that Pan European Game Information (PEGI), but why is a parents by a GTA(grand theft auto) with 18+ years for children 12-16 years ?
4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?
I knew some experiment with VR then people with problem can feel better.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maciej Sadoś said…
Thank you for your comment. I agree with dosing a video games time for children. And it's a pity that people sometimes can't control their behavior and act in such way.
Marta Kowalczyk said…
I personally believe that video games can have a bad influence on young people. Firstly, young people are more likely to get addicted to them which can create an isolation, poor social skills, depression. It happens sometimes that parents do not control how much time their children spend on computer / smartphones and are not able or willing to capture how they are becoming unhappy. Of course, it does not man that video games are evil, but, especially when talking about young people, too much can cause some serious damage.
Maciej Sadoś said…
That's a good point Andrzej with the aspect of parent's fault.. In many cases parents do not pay attention to what they buy for their children or they simply don't care which is possibly even worse. Thank you for a comment.
Video games have no bad influence on young people as long as they aren’t interfering too much with daily homework and housework. I can’t argue that games aren’t cause of aggression, but I can tell that they may push many significant things like school to the background. Also I would certainly ban inappropriate games for children e.g. those with nudity. It’s remarkable that games may be used to fight some serious health problems, I hope they will be rapidly developed.
1.This topic has been discussed many times, it seems to me that games do not have a negative impact on a young person. I am very nervous about the fact that sick units are coming
who commit crimes and messages throw it on games because he played gta yesterday. Returning to the topic, games can develop a young man, teach logical thinking and dexterity

2.I have not met

3.Games that I would not banned but certainly voice communication in young people. Sometimes, by such people, a gamer is more nervous than losing in the game

4.Currently, games reduce stress, can cure depression, and can be a remedy as much as possible. For sure playing on the pad we practice joints
Illia Lukisha said…
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?

I think it's overrated, and can influent only people with already broken psychics to commit a crime. The same result can be achieved without video games at all, just give this people access to internet.

2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life? (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)

I heard about guy from United States who actually tracked down abuser from video game by IP dress after several month of searching.

3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?

I think games already have enough restriction and parents should care more thinking why their child has so much free time to spend it in games instead of education, sports, healthy entertainment.

4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?

I think that it is prominent technology that can help people.
Peter Clemenza said…
1. What is your opinion about an influence of video games on young people?
When I was young I once heard about child jumping out of the window because of spider man stuff. It might be on point. but so do i like spider man and I never tried web-swinging out of the window.

2. Have you ever met or heard of someone who was truly, dangerously triggered by a video game in real life? (Except for a standard arguments on a text/voice chat)
Some says that breivik was playing call of duty, so do I however.

3. Would you consider banning some games for children and teenagers?
No. Today's games are too childish.

4. What do you think about using video games in a medicine? Could it be a future?
I think it might be helpful for vet soldiers with those post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD)
Maciej Sadoś said…
Yes I also think that a situation on YouTube sometimes even doubles the problem. Children often don't know how to filter advantageous content from all available.
Maciej Sadoś said…
Nothing to add, thank you for sharing your opinion.
Adam Nguyen said…
It depends what type of game, every genre affect people differently. There are video games that helps surgeons do quicker operations. Strategy games could help you with analytical thinking, but dose makes the poison. Lack of exercise could cause diabetes and constantly spending time in front of computer could cause worsening of their vision.

Some people would say that brutally games trigger aggression, but I don’t think that’s the case. The games don’t make people angry, but the loss. For example Tetris incenses level of aggression, but if someone thinks that Tetris its brutal game then I would not even argue with that person.

There are PEGI limitations for games, but when you are playing online no one would ask you for your ID. Its parents job to monitor their child what games shouldn’t play.

As I mention earlier playing certain types of video games in the right doses might help in medicine.
Anton Medvediev said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maciej Sadoś said…
Some games are indeed designed in a way they can help develop certain skills. I also agree that a voice chat is a nightmare in a lot of games.
Maciej Sadoś said…
I can say I have a similar experience with games from times when I was a child.
That kind of people you mentioned certainly shouldn't be allowed to play games. Yeah, parents definitely should care more about what their children do in their free time.
Maciej Sadoś said…
I appreciate your humoristic approach Peter! Thank you for your comment. I also agree that soldiers could benefit from such an innovative medicine.
1. All depend what type of game they are playing and how much time they spend on them. Games can increase problem-solving abilities, quick thinking and accuracy, hand and eye coordination but also increase aggression, lead to addiction to gaming and effects the health. Too much of anything is bad.
2. I only heard about them in tv especially like people that stab someone because he stole some item in game or died because he didn’t eat or drink when playing for 2-3 days. Some people loose contact with reality because in games life is easer and you can be anyone.
3. When I see some new games that are created of course I would ban them. I mean games whose only purpose is madness, destruction and bloody slaughter without anything else.
4. You mean like simulators or normal games? If it’s simulators there are some already and it’s good idea it’s beater to train on virtual patient than on real patient.
I think that games themselves can’t have a bad influence on people. Sometimes people who play games are more sensitive when it comes to competition and loosing, but this is about their characteristics, not bad influence of the games. Personally, I’ve never met someone who was triggered by games, but in the Internet we can see a lot of young children that are truly triggered by them. I think that it’s parents failure in educating their children. It’s common that a lot of games are banned for children due to pornographic content, gore or foul language, so we should maintain it, because it’s not suitable for young audience. Simulators can be useful in rehabilitation as you mentioned in the article.
Video games are differentiated from other media by one defining factor: commitment. In any game a player stands to win, lose or simply win better and that makes them engaged, eager to improve in the presented circumstance. Video games are the most powerful medium for conferring a message. The quality of the message however depends on the quality of the game. The gaming world like most every other aspect of modern popular culture is dictated by an industry: aimed at profit rather then quality. The same can be said about film but it had a century to develop over video games. Hence truly valuable video games seem to be more of a rarity. Kids are attracted to vulgar material for the sake of entertainment, i.e. a harmless waste of time. Leisure is of course healthy, in moderation.
Now that I have ranted a bit, as for the distribution of video games: ratings exist. When kids get their hands on media they shouldn’t be able to enjoy someone is failing at their duties. Usually their parents.
In my opinion influence of video games is similar to other entertainment buisnesses. They all tend to addict people.
Many years ago on holidays I went to internet caffe and witness situation in which kid destroyed headphones becose he was killed in a game.
To be honest I dont see the point. The more things will be prohibited the more influance they will have. In my opinion we should raise awarness by educating people.
Maybe to some point. They could propably become part of treatment.
1. I believe video games can make us antisocial but I also don't think they're bad. Anything can be bad when we spend too much time on it.
2. No, not really. I was actually curious if there was a study on that.
3. No, it's good to have age regulations like we do now but I would not ban any games.
4. I believe that video games could be extremely helpful in some areas like PTSD therapy for example.
mmoTony2017 said…
You actually said that exceptionally well.
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