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The Effects of Video Game Aggression on Adolescence Aggression

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The Effects of Video Game Aggression on Adolescence Aggression

Adrienne Nichole Abercrombie

Research Methods PSY: 326

Prof. Jennifer Madsen

January 7, 2013

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of video game violence on adolescence aggression. Over the years, the gaming industry has become more advanced and influential. Video games in the past years have advanced with better graphics and more capabilities than ever before. The increasing growth of video game industry has left many of its customers questioning most of the contents of the games that are being purchased. The main concern of many of these customers is the violence that is associated with the games. There have been several studies that have examined the effects that violent video games have on aggression. Huesmann, (2010) conducted a study on violent video games. The studies from this meta-analysis found that violent video games stimulated aggression in the players in the short run and increased the risk for aggressive behaviors by the players later in life. The effects occur for both males and females and for children growing up in Eastern and Western cultures. Konijn, Nije, and Bushman, (2007) conducted a study to examine if violent video games increased aggression if the player identified with the violent game characters. The authors concluded that the most aggressive participants were those who played a violent game and wished they were like a violent character in the game. These results show that identifying with violent video games characters make players more aggressive. Gentile, Lynch, Linder and Walsh, (2004) conducted a study to examine the effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors and school performance. Adolescents that exposed themselves to greater amounts of video game violence were more hostile, reported getting

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