Crazy Researchers De-Link Aggression with Videogames
Crazy Researchers De-Link Aggression with Videogames
Posted 12/16/2010 at 8:13am
| by Paul Lilly
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We did a triple-take when we saw that U.S. researchers were trying to separate aggressive behavior from violence in videogames, yet that's exactly what Dr. Christopher Ferguson of Texas A&M International University and his research team claim. Hasn't Ferguson been watching the news or listening to political speeches during election runs?
As crazy as it may seem to those who wish to blame wicked behavior on violent videogames the way the townspeople in Footloose linked dancing to bad karma and all sorts of other ills, Ferguson says that depressive symptoms are a much stronger predictor of aggression.
The study focused on 302 youths ages 10-14, mostly Hispanic, and all living in a city on the border of Mexico. According to the study, 75 percent of the youths played games within the past month on PCs, consoles, or other devices, while 40 percent played violent videogames. After a year passed, 7 percent reported one or more criminally violent acts, and 19 percent reported one or more non-violent crimes.
Ferguson ultimately concluded that exposure to videogame violence, or even violence in television, failed to predict aggressive behavior 12 months later, but depressive symptoms did.
Image Credit: ICGamers
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alabasterdragon
December 16, 2010 at 10:30pm
I scoff at that idea! I say video games stem real world violence. More than once I've felt a deep seeded desire to use my conceal care weapon to shot some moron christmas shopper at Walmart. Instead I just went home and got on my PC and fired up some 3D shooter game and went wild. I get the satisfaction of shooting someone (even if they are fake) and the world remains a safer places for idiots.
But seriously, I found the violent video games give me a safe outlet for the urges I get dealling with stupid people. I'm sure that there are idiots that have plulled a 15 straight day streak of 23hour days of some violent video game and took it out on someone else. I say that person was screaming for someone to pay attention and wack them back to reality anyway. I found that most of the examples the believes in this screwed up idea present were either already prone to violent behavior, or just plain week minded individuals that would have fallen pray to anything or anyone, much like the Global Warming crowd.
Side Fact: The last major global cooling event in history coincided with the black plague. The last major global warming event coincided with the vikings trip to newfoundland. I wonder how just how many SUVs they took on that trip!?
someuid
December 16, 2010 at 8:33am
This guy better be careful lest he end up in a cell with Julian Assange. Delinking violence in video games with real world violence will give those hot-headed believers nothing to do and they may just riot in the streets!
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