PSYC FPX 3002 Assessment 3 Argument Paper
Student Name
Capella University
PSYC FPX 3002 Developing a Psychology Perspective
Prof. Name
Date
Video Games and Social Behavior in Children and Adolescents
Video games can influence social behavior, particularly when children and adolescents are frequently exposed to violent game content. Research has found an association between violent video game use and increased aggression, hostility, and reduced prosocial behavior, although individual responses can vary based on factors such as age, gender, and existing behavioral tendencies (Burkhardt & Lenhard, 2021; Greitemeyer, 2022). At the same time, not all video games have negative social effects. Some games may encourage cooperation, communication, problem-solving, and other positive social behaviors. Therefore, understanding how video games affect social behavior requires considering the type of game, the player’s characteristics, and the context in which gaming occurs.
Video game use has become a common part of childhood and adolescence, making its potential influence on social development an important area of research. While some games may support cognitive and social skills, games that repeatedly portray violence can expose players to aggressive behaviors and normalize hostile responses. Research examining this relationship has produced evidence that the content of video games matters when evaluating their potential effects on behavior (Lischer et al., 2022).
How Video Game Content Influences Social Behavior
The effects of video games on social behavior are closely connected to their content. Research has particularly examined violent video games because these games frequently reward players for aggressive actions and portray violence as an effective way to achieve goals.
Burkhardt and Lenhard (2021) found evidence of a relationship between violent video game exposure and aggression over time. Similarly, Greitemeyer (2022) reported that violent video games are associated with increased aggressive behavior and reduced prosocial behavior. These findings suggest that the behaviors repeatedly practiced or observed within games may influence how players perceive and respond to social situations.
Social learning theory provides one explanation for this relationship. According to this perspective, people can learn behaviors by observing others and experiencing the consequences of particular actions. In violent video games, players may repeatedly observe aggressive characters, perform hostile actions, and receive rewards for those actions. Over time, repeated exposure may contribute to the development or reinforcement of aggressive responses.
Violent Video Games and Aggression
Aggression is one of the most frequently examined behavioral outcomes associated with violent video game use. A substantial body of research has investigated whether exposure to violent game content is related to aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Greitemeyer (2022) reviewed evidence involving more than 130,000 participants and reported a significant relationship between violent video game exposure and aggression. Other research has similarly identified associations between violent gaming and adolescent aggression (Shao & Wang, 2019).
The potential concern is not limited to immediate aggressive reactions. Repeated exposure to violent content may also influence how individuals interpret social interactions. For example, a person who frequently encounters hostile behavior in a gaming environment may become more accustomed to aggressive responses and perceive hostility as more acceptable in certain situations.
Effects on Empathy and Prosocial Behavior
Prosocial behavior refers to actions intended to benefit or assist other people, such as helping, sharing, cooperating, and showing concern for others. Empathy involves recognizing and understanding another person’s emotions.
Research suggests that violent video game exposure may be associated with lower levels of prosocial behavior. Greitemeyer (2022) describes evidence indicating that violent games can have effects that extend beyond aggression and may reduce behaviors associated with helping and social cooperation.
One possible explanation is desensitization. Repeated exposure to fictional violence may reduce emotional responsiveness to aggressive or harmful situations. If players become less sensitive to depictions of suffering, they may also show reduced concern or willingness to help in certain circumstances. However, the effects are not necessarily identical for every player, and individual differences remain important when interpreting the research.
Why Individual Differences Matter
The relationship between video games and social behavior is complex. Age, gender, personality, previous levels of aggression, and the type and amount of gaming can influence how an individual responds to video game content.
For example, a child who already demonstrates aggressive tendencies may respond differently to violent game content than another child with fewer aggressive behaviors. Likewise, playing a cooperative or prosocial game may produce different behavioral experiences from repeatedly playing a game centered on violence.
This means that video game exposure should not be viewed as the only factor responsible for changes in social behavior. Family environment, peer relationships, personality, parenting, school experiences, and other social influences can also contribute to behavioral development.
Arguments Supporting a Link Between Violent Games and Aggression
The strongest argument for a relationship between violent video games and social behavior comes from research using different types of study designs. Experimental, correlational, and longitudinal studies have examined whether violent gaming is associated with aggressive outcomes.
Social learning theory supports the possibility that repeated exposure to modeled behavior can influence future responses. When players repeatedly practice aggressive actions and receive rewards for those actions within a game, aggressive responses may become more familiar or reinforced (Greitemeyer, 2022).
PSYC FPX 3002 Assessment 3 Argument Paper
Shao and Wang (2019) also found a relationship between violent video game exposure and adolescent aggression. Their findings contribute to the broader research examining how individual characteristics may affect the relationship between violent gaming and aggressive behavior.
Research by Greitemeyer (2019) further suggests that the effects of violent video game exposure may extend into a person’s social environment. This possibility is important because social behavior does not occur in isolation. Changes in aggression or prosocial behavior can potentially influence interactions with friends, classmates, family members, and other people within an individual’s social network.
Counterarguments About Violent Video Games
Despite the research linking violent games with aggression, alternative explanations and counterarguments have been proposed. One argument is based on the catharsis theory, which suggests that expressing aggressive feelings through fictional activities may reduce aggressive impulses and therefore decrease real-world violence.
However, the evidence summarized by Greitemeyer (2022) does not provide strong support for the idea that violent video games reliably reduce aggression. Instead, the broader body of research reviewed in the literature has identified an association between violent game exposure and aggressive outcomes.
Another argument is that players understand the difference between fictional games and real-world events. From this perspective, individuals may recognize that violence occurring within a game is imaginary and therefore should not influence real-world behavior.
Although people can distinguish between virtual and real environments, recognizing that a game is fictional does not necessarily eliminate the potential influence of repeated behavioral exposure. Research has continued to identify relationships between violent game consumption, aggression, and prosocial behavior across different studies and populations (Greitemeyer, 2022).
Do All Video Games Have Negative Social Effects?
No. The research should not be interpreted as meaning that all video games negatively affect social behavior. The content and design of a game are important considerations.
Some video games encourage cooperation, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Prosocial games may provide opportunities for players to practice behaviors that support positive social interactions. Greitemeyer (2022) distinguishes between the effects associated with violent games and those associated with prosocial video game content.
Therefore, discussions about gaming and social development should focus on what children and adolescents are playing, rather than simply how much time they spend playing games.
What Parents and Educators Should Consider
Parents and educators can consider several factors when evaluating video game use among children and adolescents. Rather than treating all games as equivalent, attention can be given to the content and context of gaming.
Important considerations include:
- The level and type of violence portrayed in the game.
- The age appropriateness of the game’s content.
- Whether the game rewards aggression or cooperation.
- How frequently and for how long the child plays.
- Whether gaming interferes with school, sleep, family relationships, or other activities.
- Whether the child displays noticeable changes in aggression, empathy, or social interaction.
These factors can help adults make more informed decisions about children’s gaming experiences without assuming that every player will respond to video games in exactly the same way.
Conclusion
Research indicates that violent video game exposure is associated with increased aggression and reduced prosocial behavior, although the strength and nature of these effects can vary among individuals. Studies using experimental, correlational, and longitudinal approaches have contributed to evidence that violent game content can influence behavioral and social outcomes (Burkhardt & Lenhard, 2021; Greitemeyer, 2022).
The potential effects of video games are best understood by considering content, individual characteristics, and the broader social environment. Violent games differ from games designed around cooperation or prosocial behavior, meaning that video gaming should not be treated as a single type of activity.
The evidence also provides limited support for the catharsis theory as an explanation that violent gaming reduces real-world aggression. For parents, educators, and other adults involved in children’s development, paying attention to game content, age appropriateness, and changes in social behavior can provide a practical approach to managing gaming experiences.
References
Burkhardt, J., & Lenhard, W. (2021). A meta-analysis on the longitudinal, age-dependent effects of violent video games on aggression. Media Psychology, 25(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2021.1980729
Greitemeyer, T. (2019). The contagious impact of playing violent video games on aggression: Longitudinal evidence. Aggressive Behavior, 45(6), 635–642. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21857
Greitemeyer, T. (2022). The dark and bright side of video game consumption: Effects of violent and prosocial video games. Current Opinion in Psychology, 46, 101326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101326
PSYC FPX 3002 Assessment 3 Argument Paper
Lischer, S., Jeannot, E., Brülisauer, L., Weber, N., Khazaal, Y., Bendahan, S., & Simon, O. (2022). Response to the regulation of video games under the Youth Media Protection Act: A public health perspective. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9320. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159320
Shao, R., & Wang, Y. (2019). The relation of violent video games to adolescent aggression: An examination of moderated mediation effect. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 384. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00384