More "proof" that violent video games breed rage
By Darren Murph 
posted November 29th 2006 6:43PM
posted November 29th 2006 6:43PM
While we've already learned that television shows pull double duty as entertainment and a sedative, and that launching a console with a widely understood shortage hitting stores can cause all sorts of madness and criminal activity to break loose, the last thing we needed was one more "study" claiming that video games breed rage. But nevertheless, researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered that "teenagers' brains become fired up" (read: angered) after playing violent video games. A survey using 44 same-sexed humans with "similar IQs and age" showed that a half hour of violent gaming "increased activity within the amygdala (involved in emotional arousal)" while simultaneously decreasing activity in "parts of the brain involved in self-control" -- unsurprisingly, the opposite effects were seen when gamers were forced to play non-violent titles. However, when all the fMRIs were completed and reports were being compiled, the doctors still noted that "further studies were needed to determine whether these physiological changes actually make individuals behave more violently," so until that's proven absolutely, we're sticking to our (pixelated) guns.[Thanks, Nate W.]
Well, of course violent video games will lower your self control for a short amount of time...your natural morals tell you not to steal that car or shoot that cop, but hey, its GTA!
That pic looks sorta like a younger Ben Heck.
In order to play a violent game, you need to think violently, it doesn't mean you're going to be violent in real life.
So what... 30 minutes of sex causes me "emotional arousal" and decreases my "self-control" but you don't see me getting violent over that...
Killerspiele!
True, violent video games get people fired up but that doesn't mean that they are going to be violent. This is just another attempt to take down this industry. Big deal
These sorts of speculations always fill me with rage. Violent video games allow well adjusted (not psychopathic) people the ability to release anger in a controlled environment instead of letting it out in public where it can have a negative effect. This shouldn't come as a shocker to any gamer out there.
I play these games all the time, I don't get f'n angry. Who'se the siisy beetch that came up with this carp? Should pop a cap in his azz.
Well I don't know about rage but I do know this. After playing a couple of hours of Project Gotham Racing I caught myself on more than one occasion driving waaaaaaaay too fast and taking corners like a formula 1 racer :-)
I'm not agreeing with these guys cause after playing other 1st person shooters I sure as hell didnt feel like running around shooting anyone and I sure as heck wasnt feeling aggresive. If anything I was tired from the intense play....
it reminds me of bill hick talking about drugs, "weve all heard the tragic story of a young man who died on acid jumping out a window because he thought he could fly, what a tradegy... i say what a dick, if he were serious about this flying thing he would have checked it out at the ground first." maybe not the same but it seems that no one wants to be responsible for their actions looking for something to blame.
I totally want to burn down the building that houses the Medical News Daily servers. Oh wait..no. I could give a flying f... what they think. How's that for anger?
It's not only violent games that cause rage... Rockstar Table Tennis on 360 has seen me break a controler in rage.
Were the "non-violent" games stimulating in any way? If it was for example a really fast paced platformer, I imagine they'd be seeing the same brain activity.
I looked at the abstract, and I'd like to read the actual article. For one thing, they don't mention how well the subjects performed on the Stroop tasks. Did the violent game group with the lowered dorsolateralprefrontal cortex activity perform at a lower level? What were the games? How did they control the stimulation from the games? As it is, it sounds like sensational journalism. I do fMRI research, and the actual data must be seen before any conclusions can be drawn here.
so does paintball
Cool, now I have an excuse :D
-I'm blind because I used to masturbate with the passion of a college point guard (now I'm a retired pro, on course for the hall of fame)
-My face is cratered with acne scars because i'm addicted to chocolate
-Overnight I grow a new beard because I've shaved it everyday for the past 10 years.
-I'm a 40 year old virgin because I read blogs on gadgets... [i]ONLY GADGETS[/i]
Now, guess which one of those is true, and we can conduct a meaningless study using our [b]infinite[/b] federal funds!
i always love hearing about these reports most of the time its parents who need to complain about somthin because ther kids are messed up. If you have a child or someone whos like "kill, death, suicide" you should probably not allow him to play a game like that in the first place but dont tell game makers or evan the goverment to make more less violent games ok you cant restrict them from doing it and if you dont like it then you can move out of this country beacuse thats what this country was built upon on. I have played pretty violent games and i dont have an urge to go and kill a bunch of people or cut myslef or burn down a buiding or somthin, its not the game its the people themselves so great idea here it is "Dont let them play them!!!" that simple
being in psychology this is a pretty understood concept that electronic media (games /movies/tv/music) in general affect kids and adults. this test doesn't surprise me, what still surprises me is the attention it still gets(i saw something like this on yahoo too). studies like these by now are done by graduate students looking for experience so they pick a topic with results.
everyone knows that parenting is an effective counter to the violent effects of video games.
yes i mean if your a parent and you are freaked out by some video games then dont let them play it. From everything i have herd about kids or adult playing video games and then going and killing a bunch of people they have always had some deep phycological (sry if i miss spelled that) problem and yes mabye violence triggers that and gives them ideas but it dosent mean that they should blame game maker or musicians or tv networks. its simple you dont want your kid to grow up in that type of enviroment then just dont let them, and if you kid is messed up then you should probably get them some help.
It's all about conditioning, as well as being able to discern fantasy from reality. Of course, the same study can be taken by people who play GT4 and then drive just as fast in reality. ;)
Just because the amygdala is lit up, and self-control centers show less activity does not necessarily equate to increased rage and anger. When the emotional centers are lit up, it could represent many different emotions. If it could be conclusively shown that long-term game play changes brain chemistry and structure, maybe they wouldn't be talking smack and passing it off as science. Until then, I'm carjacking, fragging, hacking and slashing to my heart's content.