Violent Video Games

and Aggression
OR
Why cant we all just get along?
Jessica Stahl, MD
July 21
st
, 2014
Disclosure
I am a gamer.
The Question
What causes more
aggressive behaviors?
Violent video games
Research about violent
video games
www.ctrlaltdel-online.com
The Key Players
Ferguson, Christopher J. and
John Kilburn
The Public Health Risks of Media
Violence: A Meta-Analytic
Review
Journal of Pediatrics 2009, Vol.
154, 759-763
Much Ado About Nothing: The
Misestimation and
Overinterpretation of Violent
Video Game Effects in Eastern
and Western Nations: Comment
on Anderson et al. (2010)
Psychological Bulletin 2010, Vol.
136, No. 2, 174178
Anderson, et. al.
Longitudinal Effects of Violent
Video Games on Aggression in
Japan and the United States
Pediatrics 2008;Vol 122; e1067-
1072
Violent Video Game Effects on
Aggression, Empathy, and
Prosocial Behavior in Eastern
and Western Countries: A Meta-
Analytic Review
Psychological Bulletin 2010, Vol.
136, No. 2, 151173

Mudslinging
Texas says:
Publication bias
No standardized
aggression measures
Inconsistent best
practice qualifications
No youth violence
rates
Iowa says:
Small inclusion group
Improper selection
methods
No unpublished
studies
Limited to after 1995
Trim and fill analysis
for correcting factor
Redundant meta-
analyses

The Results

Effect size = 0.15

Small effect size, r = 0.1 0.23
Medium effect size, r = 0.24 0.36
Large effect size, r > 0.37
(Cohen, J (1992). "A power primer". Psychological Bulletin 112: 155159)


Comparing Effect Sizes
Time Out
Yes Wii Can!
Nintendo Wii video-gaming ability predicts laparoscopic
skill. Surgical Endoscopy, 2010
20 double-unskilled participants

Yes Wii Can!
Use of a low-cost,
commercially available
gaming console (Wii) for
rehabilitation of an
adolescent with cerebral
palsy.
Physical Therapy, 2008
13yr. male with spastic
diplegic CP
Attention deficits
Low IQ
PT 3 x weekly, OT
biweekly
Wii Sports 11
sessions/4 weeks
Yes Wii Can!
Figure 3.
Ambulation distance with forearm crutches measured during physical therapy
sessions. The single peak of walking 150 ft (45.7 m) achieved 21 weeks prior to
training was not replicated or sustained until after intervention with the Wii. I-
intervention, CS-close supervision, CG-contact guard assistance, A-minimal
assistance, Pre-prior to training, Post-after training.
Improvement in:
Postural control
Visual-perceptual processing
Functional Mobility
Feel the Burn
Multi-modal distraction. Using technology to
combat pain in young children with burn
injuries. (Burns 2009)

Or Not?
Prosocialization
Effects of Prosocial Video Games on
Prosocial Behavior (Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, 2010)
Pilot study: Game validation
Experiment 1: Spontaneous helping
Experiment 2: Solicited helping
Experiment 3: Active helping
Experiment 4: Thoughts and spontaneous
helping
MMORPG
The effect of social support derived from
World of Warcraft on negative psychological
symptoms (Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 2009)
High use = 45-82 hrs per week
Low use = 44 hrs or less per week

Other Goodness
Psychotherapeutic support
Exercise and obesity
Rehabilitation
Hand
Neurologic damage
Brain training
Taking medications

Physiology?


We found no indication that
violence events were directly
rewarding for the players.

Mathiak, et. al., Reward system and
temporal pole contributions to
affective evaluation during a first
person shooter video game. BMC
Neuroscience 2011, 12:66
13 Germans playing FPS with fMRI
So What?
Amount
<2yrs discouraged
3yrs : <1-2 hr/day
Where?
Meals
Bedroom




Pay attention!
Content
violent/prosocial/non
violent
Structure learning
environment
Context reward
systems
Mechanics physical
gameplay


ESRB Ratings
EARLY CHILDHOOD - 3 yrs. Contains no material that parents
would find inappropriate.
EVERYONE - 6 yrs. Titles in this category may contain minimal
cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild
language.
EVERYONE 10+ - 10yrs. Titles in this category may contain more
cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal
suggestive themes.
TEEN - 13 yrs. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive
themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or
infrequent use of strong language.
MATURE 17 yrs. Titles in this category may contain intense
violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
ADULTS ONLY - 18 yrs. Titles in this category may include prolonged
scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
RATING PENDING

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp
Other Concerns

Attention
School performance
Addiction

Parent Resources

http://www.media-awareness.ca
http://www.parents-choice.org
Extended References
Surg Endosc. 2010 Jan 28. [Epub ahead of print] Nintendo Wii video-
gaming ability predicts laparoscopic skill. Badurdeen S, Abdul-Samad
O, Story G, Wilson C, Down S, Harris A.University of Cambridge School of
Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Box 111, Hills Road, Cambridge,
CB2 2SP, UK
J Pers Soc Psychol. 2010 Feb;98(2):211-21.Effects of prosocial video
games on prosocial behavior. Greitemeyer T, Osswald S.School of
Psychology, University of Sussex, Pevensey 1, Falmer BN1 9QH, England.
t.greitemeyer@sussex.ac.u
Burns. 2009 Nov 2. Multi-modal distraction. Using technology to
combat pain in young children with burn injuries. Miller K, Rodger
S, Bucolo S, Greer R, Kimble RM.
Cyberpsychol Behav. 2009 Oct;12(5):563-6.The effect of social support
derived from World of Warcraft on negative psychological symptoms.
Longman H, O'Connor E, Obst P.
Phys Ther. 2008 Oct;88(10):1196-207. Epub 2008 Aug 8.Use of a low-cost,
commercially available gaming console (Wii) for rehabilitation of an
adolescent with cerebral palsy.Deutsch JE, Borbely M, Filler J, Huhn
K, Guarrera-Bowlby P.
Thank You!