Video Games (Essay Sample)

Is playing violent video games connected with actual acts of violence?
Antony Wainaina
Uvocorp Recruitment
Is playing violent video games connected with actual acts of violence?
Video games are an excellent form of entertainment for many people across the globe. Young people especially teenagers are the biggest consumers of video game products although a considerable number of adults do play the games too. Despite the success of video games, debates still linger on the subject of whether violent video games lead to actual acts of violence. Wide research has been conducted to try to establish whether indeed there is a link between the two entities. Even though playing violent video games may trigger aggressive behavior, research has not established a causal link considering that not all violent offenders play video games and vice versa.
A common notion among researchers and scientists is that video games indeed trigger some form of aggressive behavior. Alice Park, a Times magazine contributor argues that playing violent video games for a prolonged period triggers a level of psychological aggression (2014). The blood pressure rises and heart bit rate increases continuously thus creating room for aggression. However, the level of aggression does not entirely results in serious violent behaviors such as murder and robbery. Foster (2012) goes on to add that violent video games increases stimulation thereby increasing the chances of mood swings and short-term reaction. Nevertheless, research has not managed to establish a concrete link between actual acts of violence and playing violent video games.
Considering the popularity of video games, it would be wrong to conclude that violent video games contribute to actual acts of violence. There is no conclusive research or publications, which indicates that violent video games are responsible for violence in the streets. According to Layton (2010), the number of video games sold in the United States keeps on increasing every year. Interesting enough is the fact that the number of violent crimes seems to take the opposite trend. If indeed, violent video games cause actual acts of violence, then the world would be full of millions of violent criminals. There is insufficient research to establish a cause-effect relation between the two entities.
Another reason to dispel the claim linking violent video games and actual acts of violence is the fact not all acts of violence are committed by people who play these games and vice versa. According to Foster (2012), millions of video game fanatics are law-abiding citizens who shun violence. Statistics indicates that some of the worst violent criminals are not even fans of video games (Foster, 2010). Studies indicate that other factors such as family background and the way of upbringing are in a major way to blame for the increasing rate of violence in the world today. Furthermore, some serious acts of violence were recorded long before video games were discovered.
In conclusion, it is difficult to give a concrete verdict that playing violent video games contribute to actual acts of violence. Wha...