Violence and Video Games.

desensitization
de•sen•si•ti•za•tion [dee-sen-si-tuh-zey-shuhn]
—noun
1. the act or process of desensitizing.
2. Physiology, Medicine/Medical . the elimination or reduction of natural or acquired reactivity or sensitivity to an external stimulus, as an allergen.
3. Psychiatry. a behavior modification technique, used especially in treating phobias, in which panic or other undesirable emotional response to a given stimulus is reduced or extinguished, especially by repeated exposure to that stimulus.
— vb
1. to render insensitive or less sensitive: the patient was desensitized to the allergen ; to desensitize photographic film
2. psychol to decrease the abnormal fear in (a person) of a situation or object, by exposing him to it either in reality or in his imagination

In psychology, desensitization (also called inurement) is defined as the diminished emotional responsiveness to a negative or aversive stimulus after repeated exposure to it. It also occurs when an emotional response is repeatedly evoked in situations in which the action tendency that is associated with the emotion proves irrelevant or unnecessary. Desensitization is a process primarily used to assist individuals unlearn phobias and anxieties and was developed by psychologist Mary Cover Jones. Joseph Wolpe (1958) developed a method of a hierarchal list of anxiety evoking stimuli in order of intensity, which allows individuals to undergo adaption. Although medication is available for individuals suffering from anxiety, fear or phobias, empirical evidence supports desensitization with high rates of cure, particularly in clients suffering from depression or schizophrenia.

Desensitization also refers to reduced responsiveness to actual violence caused by exposure to violence in the media. Desensitization may arise from different sources of media including TV, video games and movies. Violence can prime thoughts of hostility with the possibility of affecting the way we perceive others and interpret their actions. Research shows that initial exposure to violence in the media produces a number of aversive responses such as increased heart rate, fear, discomfort, perspiration and disgust. However, studies conducted show that prolonged and repeated exposure to violence in the media reduces or habituates the initial psychological impact until violent images do not elicit these negative responses. Eventually the observer becomes emotionally and cognitively desensitized to media violence. In an experiment to determine the effects on violent video games causing physiological desensitization to real-life violence, participants played either a violent or non-violent video game for 20 minutes. After that, they watched a 10 minute video containing real-life violence while their heart rate and galvanic skin responses were being monitored. The participants who played violent video games previously to watching the video showed lower heart rate and galvanic skin response readings compared to those who had not played violent video games displaying a physiological desensitization to violence. To understand the effects of repeated exposure to violence, researchers have suggested that viewers become comfortable with violence that is initially anxiety provoking, much as they would if they were undergoing exposure therapy.

I can find study after study which shows violence in video games desensitizes the individual. I have seen firsthand how people react when they see violent videogames when they are not usually exposed to violence. There is a difference!

What I am getting from the overall tone is that it is okay to alter how we perceive things so long as we have someone around to guide us if we are a minor, and that adults should be able to handle it.

Now this will probably annoy some people… It’s like alcoholism. One of The first signs of being an alcoholic is denial. So does that mean that everyone that says they’re not an alcoholic is in fact an alcoholic? Hahhahahhaha

That's a good poinbton desensitization. I'm on a phone and can't look, s please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought your original post had little tif anything to do with desensitization, but rather to violent videogames cause violent acts.

Which. I am on record with. A 'no'.

As far as desensitization, I am personally pretty desensitized to it, after over a decades worth of uncorrected chronic neck pain, among other things. Does this mean I am more likely to hack my own arm off cuz its not that big a deal anymore or what ? Displaying less emotion about something is not always a bad thing, believe me. One being desensitized to violence, as I guess I am by definition, makes it no more likely that I will actually BE violent. I think the same can be said for my son (I hope).

Back to walking the dog.

As the Devil’s Advocate, I’m looking into the possible causes of violent acts. Would it not stand to reason that if one were desensitized to violence, then would it not (in the mind of the individual) be more tolerable to behave with more violent acts?

Example: Greece was known throughout the world as a place of knowledge and learning. Over time and constant exposure to military conquest, the citizens of Greece may have become “desensitized” to violence and hence the acceptance, which turned into love, of the gladiatorial games. True the Gladiatorial games came from the Romans and their influence, but the Greek games were the Olympics and wrestling (barbaric by many people’s standards) was the height of the violence in those games.

Nowhere that I can think of better shows this than where the Gladiatorial games came from… Rome. Originally it consisted of framers and headers and sea goes; trading with all her neighbors.

True, this is an over simplified example dealing with over a thousand years of history to go from one point to another. It’s just an example that could be used to demonstrate how desensitization could affect what a group of people consider acceptable levels of violence in entertainment.

Desolous wrote: As akkarin pointed out some time ago, your study does not prove causation. It is more likely that violent kids sought out violent games and bought them. I remember when one of the GTAs came out, and the game store in town was not selling it to anyone under 18. Direct notification that some games are not for children, just like some movies.

Also, I almost resent your dim view blanket statement on those who join the military, for whatever . I say almost because such a statement is clearly meant to be inflammatory, as you are otherwise too intelligent to believe that the millions of vets and active duty servicemembers actually just want to murder people or whatever BS you said.

Nice try, dude.

“When critics say, ‘Well, it’s probably not video games, it’s probably how antisocial they are,’ we can address that directly because we controlled for a lot of things that we know matter,” said Matt DeLisi, a professor of sociology at Iowa State University and lead author of the study, in a statement.

“Even if you account for the child’s sex, age, race, the age they were first referred to juvenile court — which is a very powerful effect — and a bunch of other media effects, like screen time and exposure. Even with all of that, the video game measure still mattered,” DeLisi added.

So did church attendance. Meth usage. Childhood abuse and or trauma. Movies and internet usage. And on and on.

None of these can directly prove causation. However, all of them can have an effect on achilds development. One of my favorite examples is mike tyson. He always says thta before his trainer cus got him in the gym. And boixng, he was headed for prison as a young street tough. This is way before violent video games, tho oops, he does have one named for him. Go figure.

Violence has always existed, as long as humans have, there have been violent humans of all ages. Attempting to scapegoat ths or that is nothing new. The bottom line is without strong support and role models, kids will go bad if they live in a country with no electricity, much less video games. Yes, there are violent children worldwide, the majority not having access to videogames.

Hmmm...I don't know what to make of that almost accusatory statement that every kid that played violent video games and joined the military did so just to legally kill....part of me is deeply offended and part of me wants to shrug it off as an ignorant statement made by someone that has obviously not served....I volunteered during war time, not to kill, but to defend...my family has served in a military capacity dating back to the 1100's...for us it's a matter of honor and pride....not of sating some childish bloodlust....

I think a history of a violent real world would pip a violent video gaming upbringing. Computer games though continue to try and increase realism and immersion so it might get to a point where violent games do become a problem for kids. One thing to consider is that most violent games are of adults doing things... aren't they?

Imagine a computer game where it was kids being violent in the game, go to school, gang up with buddies, and shoot your classmates type of game!!! By making it about them it could be something they can relate directly into the real world. Its human nature to experiment and a child often learns by trial and error.

I do not see any benefit to it for children. Anything positive they could get out of it could be delivered in a non-violent game.

RyuJin wrote: Hmmm...I don't know what to make of that almost accusatory statement that every kid that played violent video games and joined the military did so just to legally kill....part of me is deeply offended and part of me wants to shrug it off as an ignorant statement made by someone that has obviously not served....I volunteered during war time, not to kill, but to defend...my family has served in a military capacity dating back to the 1100's...for us it's a matter of honor and pride....not of sating some childish bloodlust....

Yeah I was just referencing my own reasons for joining(to kill people and break things). I'm sure other people have different reasons and during conscription people didn't have a choice at all. I grew up surrounded by a culture that glorifies killing. We had GI Joe toys, toy tanks, toy grenades, camo clothing, GI Joe cartoons, infinite movies about war, DoD propaganda, recruiters, etc. Everyone was so proud when they heard I would be going into the military and going overseas to protect the oil interests of the US in the middle east.

Peace

Adder wrote: I think a history of a violent real world would pip a violent video gaming upbringing. Computer games though continue to try and increase realism and immersion so it might get to a point where violent games do become a problem for kids. One thing to consider is that most violent games are of adults doing things... aren't they?

Imagine a computer game where it was kids being violent in the game, go to school, gang up with buddies, and shoot your classmates type of game!!! By making it about them it could be something they can relate directly into the real world. Its human nature to experiment and a child often learns by trial and error.

I do not see any benefit to it for children. Anything positive they could get out of it could be delivered in a non-violent game.

I remember being a kid and playing games where people's blood splatters all over. In the newer games you can rape women, kidnap people, run over people, etc.

Desolous wrote: So did church attendance. Meth usage. Childhood abuse and or trauma. Movies and internet usage. And on and on.

None of these can directly prove causation. However, all of them can have an effect on achilds development. One of my favorite examples is mike tyson. He always says thta before his trainer cus got him in the gym. And boixng, he was headed for prison as a young street tough. This is way before violent video games, tho oops, he does have one named for him. Go figure.

Violence has always existed, as long as humans have, there have been violent humans of all ages. Attempting to scapegoat ths or that is nothing new. The bottom line is without strong support and role models, kids will go bad if they live in a country with no electricity, much less video games. Yes, there are violent children worldwide, the majority not having access to videogames.

I think we all agree that violence breeds violence. It's not the video games, it's the violence that's depicted in certain games. Same thing with movies, internet, etc. And it's not just kids who are affected, it's adults too. Sad but true. Wish we had less violence.