Video games and gun violence. Is there a correlation.

**DuDDy** · 01-16-13, 01:44 PM

Based on the link I provided in this thread: http://www.teamplayergaming.com/news...ml#post1710928

Obama is going to urge congress to support a $10 million study to see if there is a correlation between violent video games and gun violence.

Continue this discussion here please, leave that thread to the NY gun legislation that was passed.

**SmokenScion** · 01-16-13, 01:57 PM

What a mess.

OPINION BASED ARTICLE ALERT:
Guns, Violence, Video Games, Irrationalism and the NRA’s Tedious New iOS App | TIME.com

**SmokenScion** · 01-16-13, 02:03 PM

The question: Should we be offended that an organization whose CEO just indicted violent video games as one of several media-related culprits responsible for shootings like Sandy Hook, is now itself in the business of licensing video games?

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id584567057?mt=8

**CivilWars** · 01-16-13, 02:06 PM

I guess we should be offended by that if we are also offended that the government that is attempting to restrict our access to weapons is also the single greatest owner and creator of weapons.

**Ranger10** · 01-16-13, 02:08 PM

As someone with a graduate degree in video game development, I've had to study all, if not most of the studies created at the time which tried to link violence and video games.

The studies I've read conclude there is a small correlation between the two. Obviously, game companies wish it didn't exist at all. On the other hand, the correlation is so minuscule, that you could argue other mediums such as television, a violent novel, or even a strongly worded speech from either clergy or a secular activist engender far more violence than a video game.

Obviously, many proponents of gun violence and their link to games cite the idea that video games are used to teach as well. It's hard to make the argument that guns don't teach violence, yet they teach children about the wild west, or other genre based learning games. But I think they are overlooking one key element; video games inspire what is already there. If there is violence, abuse and anger in someone's past, then video games could theoretically give an outlet for those thoughts, or they could inspire action. Children learn though games because they have an innate, natural desire to learn and explore the world around them.

That's why video games can be used to teach children learn, but not necessarily cause someone to act violently in the world around them. The only way someone commits and act of violence is if it was already on their mind to begin with. Which points to a far deeper problem, one that video games didn't cause in the first place.

This is fundamentally why I think banning guns is a foolish idea. Because by the time someone comes to the conclusion that violence is the answer, they will carry out that violence if guns are present or not.

Now the real question will be, since we aren't banning graphic and violent movies, its stands to reason that even if some new study finds that games DO correlate to violent acts, are we going to make people get mental check ups to play games?

**Warprosper** · 01-16-13, 02:10 PM

I believe that video games can enhance the thought process of the already mentally ill. Games like GTA can setup virtual scenarios similar to how the military flight simulators emulate a real flight. Another thing to bring to the table is the reality of the game world. Lets take GTA as an example along with it's setting of NYC. Someone who intends to run around the streets of NYC shooting up people now has the chance to partake in a virtual setting of the same city they're going to shoot up.

While different to you and I; it may be just practice for the mentally ill.

**Jambi** · 01-16-13, 02:53 PM

correlation ≠ causation

**space.cowboy** · 01-16-13, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Jambi

correlation ≠ causation

Tell that to the chart proving that the decline in sea faring pirate population is causing global warming.

That's the most pure, most hard science available. Graphs.

**Morningfrost** · 01-16-13, 04:07 PM

I think there is most definitely a link between video games and violent crime. To deny that is to deny evidence. But I don't think it's the link that politicians, the media and the NRA are talking about.

The link between violent video games and violent crimes is a very simple one. People who are predisposed to violence seek out things that contain violence. People who are predisposed to violence are also predisposed to weapons, martial arts, etc. None of those factors is the CAUSE of a person's predisposition to violence, but instead those factors are a result.

I feel it should also be mentioned that in many cases, things such as violent video games can help prevent some types of violent crime. I know what you're thinking, "How can a video game PREVENT crime?" In the cases I'm talking about, a person who is predisposed to violence may in fact use the video games as an outlet for their aggression. They need an outlet, crave an outlet, and there are many different activities that can be that outlet. Video games, shooting ranges, contact sports and a whole host of other activities can be considered outlets. If there's not a convenient outlet there for them though, or if there is and it's not used, than that aggression and violence bleeds out as violence, such as curb stomping some random person on the street. Instead they're able to bleed off their aggression and satisfy their thirst for violence against pixels rather than people.

Obviously that doesn't happen in all cases. In cases where someone is very much predisposed to violence, outlets like that just don't satisfy them and they eventually work their way into violent crimes anyways. But outlets such as these do help reduce the amount of violent crime. At least that's what I believe.

~Morningfrost

**deathgodusmc** · 01-16-13, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Morningfrost

I think there is most definitely a link between video games and violent crime. To deny that is to deny evidence. But I don't think it's the link that politicians, the media and the NRA are talking about.

The link between violent video games and violent crimes is a very simple one. People who are predisposed to violence seek out things that contain violence. People who are predisposed to violence are also predisposed to weapons, martial arts, etc. None of those factors is the CAUSE of a person's predisposition to violence, but instead those factors are a result.

I feel it should also be mentioned that in many cases, things such as violent video games can help prevent some types of violent crime. I know what you're thinking, "How can a video game PREVENT crime?" In the cases I'm talking about, a person who is predisposed to violence may in fact use the video games as an outlet for their aggression. They need an outlet, crave an outlet, and there are many different activities that can be that outlet. Video games, shooting ranges, contact sports and a whole host of other activities can be considered outlets. If there's not a convenient outlet there for them though, or if there is and it's not used, than that aggression and violence bleeds out as violence, such as curb stomping some random person on the street. Instead they're able to bleed off their aggression and satisfy their thirst for violence against pixels rather than people.

Obviously that doesn't happen in all cases. In cases where someone is very much predisposed to violence, outlets like that just don't satisfy them and they eventually work their way into violent crimes anyways. But outlets such as these do help reduce the amount of violent crime. At least that's what I believe.

~Morningfrost

What evidence would it be denying? Every study i saw that looked like it was a respectable third party concluded there is no link. I also resent your statement that people who are predisposed to violence seek out things that are violent. I love violent video games, movies, bug bunny, and the 3 stooges but i have not one time ever gone out looking to start violence. I have on many occasions was ready for it if it broke out but that isnt the same. I think your making some assumptions on the link between watching/playing things that are violent and it making them violent or searching for a new level of violence.