Aggression Caused by Video Games Essay
Video games have become one of the most recurrent themes amongst the youth especially. More than 150 million Americans play video games, which is a significant percentage. Video games are largely associated with causing aggression as they have immense power of influencing minds.
Over the last couple of centuries, video games have drastically diversified. There are several different themes of video games that have become popular. One of the most popular themes is based on violence. Several video games are built on underlying themes of wars and violence. Consequentially, they become the causal factors which strategically cause violent thoughts and behavioral patterns amongst people. This is one of the major factors which can be considered as creating dysfunction in society.
Video games have the capacity to significantly alter the exact nature of reality for people who consume it. One of the most dangerous consequences of video games is to alter existing definitions and concepts regarding normal behaviors. It has the capacity to alter behaviors and thoughts that are inclined towards empathy and sympathy (Research). Similarly, it can cause people to consider aggressive thoughts and actions as not aggressive, rather socially acceptable. In this perspective, video games have altered the previously accepted norms of behavior and made aggressive thoughts and actions acceptable. Consequentially, there is a ripple effect in society, which makes aggression more acceptable and suitable for others. The bandwagon effect consumes even those who do not consume video games, which is a serious cause of concern.
To conclude, video games have the power to shape perceptions and are largely associated with violence. They have structurally caused alterations in socially acceptable behaviors, making violence more appealing to many.
Works Cited
Research, National. “Violent Video Games and Aggression | National Center For Health
Research”. National Center for Health Research, 2019, http://www.center4research.org/violent-video-games-can-increase-aggression/.
