Violent video games remain
hotly debated, very popular
borne argue the games
incite violence but others
say they can’t be censored
Jan Tobias Montry
Managing Editor
Whether it's stealing cars and shoot
ing thugs or lopping off heads with a
sword, violent video games have been
a point of contention for years among
various interest groups in America.
At issue is whether explicitly violent
video games — most recently games
like "Grand Theft Auto," in which a
player can steal cars and pick up prosti
tutes — influence people to mirror the
actions and whether these games
should be restricted.
In 2000, the American Psychological
Association released a study that sup
ported the behavioral theory.
According to the study, which in
cluded examinations of the classic
games "Doom," "Wolfenstein 3D"
and "Mortal Kombat," playing violent
video games could potentially in
crease aggressive behaviors, feelings
and thoughts.
"One study reveals that young men
who are habitually aggressive may be
especially vulnerable to the aggression
enhancing effects of repeated exposure
to violent games," psychologists Craig
"One study reveals that
young men who are
habitually aggressive may
be especially vulnerable
to the aggression
enhancing effects
of repeated exposure
to violent video games."
Craig A. Anderson & Karen E. Dill
psychologists/Ph.D
A. Anderson, Ph.D., and Karen E. Dill,
Ph.D., said in a press release. "The other
study reveals that even a brief exposure
to violent video games can temporari
ly increase aggressive behavior in all
types of participants."
Others say analyses like the APA
studies are inherently faulty, however.
The Free Expression Policy Pro
ject, a think tank that provides re
search about censorship issues, filed
a brief in 2002 along with 33 univer
sity researchers that criticized stud
ies showing the violence correlation,
according to Wired magazine.
"Seemingly common-sense notions
do not always turn out to be correct,"
the brief stated. "And researchers who
attempt to reduce the myriad effects of
art and entertainment to numerical
measurements and artificial laboratory
experiments are not likely to yield use
ful insights about the way that viewers
actually use popular culture"
While the scientific debate appears
in a stalemate, the legal debate about
violent games peaked last month
when "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City"
created an uproar in Florida.
Officials decried the game
Courtesy
The American Psychological Association connects video games such as “Grand Theft
Auto" with an increase in aggressive behavior due to violent content.
because it instructs players at one
point to "kill the Haitians."
Responding to the perceived threat,
the mayor of Miami, a I laitian Ameri
can, proposed a law that would restrict
violent video games from children.
"If you say Tall the bad guy' I have no
problem," he said of the Haitian threat
in the game.
In January, the North Miami City
Council passed an ordinance that
would fine video game retailers $500
per day if they fail to get written
parental approval before allowing
teenagers younger than 17 to buy or
rent violent video games.
On the West Coast, California As
semblyman and child psychologist Le
land Yee proposed limiting violent
video game sales. His method: add the
games to other laws that regulate mi
nors from obtaining "harmful matter."
But while the legal challenges are pil
ing up, many agree that these measures
are unnecessary censorship at best and
an overstep of governmental power at
worst.
"Have they ever watched Cartoon
Network?" North Miami video store
owner Bob Richardson told the Miami
Herald. "It's the most violent network
on television."
Video Software Dealers Associa
tion President Bo Andersen had sim
ilar sentiments.
"What you have is government tiying
to step in and take control of what is a
parental responsibility," Andersen told
USA TODAY. "We don't ever get com
plaints from parents that the rating sys
tem is broken."
Still, opponents of violent video
games are loyal to the cause, with no
sign of letting up any time soon.
"This is not about censorship, it's
about inciting violence," Miami Mayor
Joe Celestin told CNN. "We're going to
take it all the way."
Contact the managing editor
at janmontry@dailyemerald.com.
r
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