Is There a Link Between Playing Video Games and Social Violence?

Abstract

Research evidence is examined in this chapter for a general relationship between the aggressiveness of players, the extent to which they play video games, and the type of video games they play and like the most. This evidence derives from survey studies, including one-off surveys and longitudinal surveys, that follow and collect data from the same sample of video game players on more than one occasion. Much of this evidence has purportedly found a significant statistical relationship between reported video game playing habits and social behaviour. Heavier players of violent video games have been found to report greater personal aggressiveness. A critical look at the evidence, however, reveals that we should not rush to conclusions about the effects of video games on the basis of this evidence. Many survey studies have used problematic measures of aggression and video game exposure. Many have failed to adequately control for other variables that might influence aggression as well as video gamer preferences and habits.