A1-3: Weekly Written Analysis 1

Video game violence in many instances includes shooting, beating, or even mutilating other human beings. This is a topic that has been discussed by parental support groups in their weekly meetings to qualified medical practitioners in studies that involve actual test subjects. According to the University of Missouri-Columbia the concern lies with the difference in brain activity that violent video games cause (Houlahan, M., 2006, p.10). The University “measured brainwave responses in 39 experienced gamers (and found) the gamers had a diminished brain response to real-life violence… (which is) linked to aggressive behavior” (Houlahan, M., 2006, p.10). It begs us to answer the question what does it mean to society when people are no longer surprised or disturbed by violent behavior? The Universities findings are disturbing to the average person based on the common knowledge that video games are extremely popular at all levels of American society. It is worrisome to think people will exhibit violent behavior if this trend continues to occur. On the opposing side many sources contend that just because a person or young adult enjoys playing a violent video game does not mean that he or she is going to go out after playing the game and physically harm someone. “The US Surgeon-General in 2001 announced incidents of school shootings and school violence in general was more to do with the quality of home life” (Houlahan, M., 2006, p.10). So there is evidence to support that violent tendencies have more to do with what children are taught at home then a game they play for fun. Even from my childhood to the current time it is blatantly obvious that playing outside with friends has taken a back seat to current technologies. It has with no doubt become much more popular to be entertained by an Xbox then to go outside and play tag. No matter what side of the argument a person may be on there is one thing everyone can agree on and that is the fact that video game violence is a hot topic in popular culture.

References
Houlahan, M. (2006). Less violence in new videogames. The Press, 10. Retrieved January 7,
2008, from Lexis-Nexis.