Effects of realism on extended violent and nonviolent video game play on aggressive thoughts, feelings, and physiological arousal

Abstract

Previous research has shown that playing violent video game exposure can increase aggressive thoughts, aggressive feelings, and physiological arousal. This study compared the effects that playing a realistic violent, unrealistic violent, or nonviolent video game for 45 min has on such variables. For the purpose of this study, realism was defined as the probability of seeing an event in real life. Participants (N 5 74; 39 male, 35 female) played either a realistic violent, unrealistic violent, or nonviolent video game for 45 min. Aggressive thoughts and aggressive feelings were measured four times (every 15 min), whereas arousal was measured continuously. The results showed that, though playing any violent game stimulated aggressive thoughts, playing a more realistic violent game stimulated significantly more aggressive feelings and arousal over the course of play. Aggr. Behav. 35:213-224, 2009.

The influence of strategy video game and its background music on cognitive control

“…Nelson et al [41,57,58] found that short-term game exposure did appear to produce strategy changes [10]. But some researchers claimed that they offered solid evidences that the video game had an increase in cognitive performance both in short term and long term [6,51]. This is an important question that should be made clearly in the future.…”

“…Much of the research on video games so far has mainly focused on their negative effects, such as the addiction [2][3][4][5][6][7] caused by games violence. There are now many studies looking at what is called pathological gaming or video game "addiction".…”

“…Many researchers defined pathologic use of video games just as pathological gambling, focusing on damage to family, school, occupation, and psychological functioning [8]. Other a large number of researchers concentrated their attention on the influence of violent video games on the aggressive behavior [6,7]. Findings of experimental, correlational, and longitudinal studies claimed that video game violence can significantly increase aggressive thoughts, emotions, and behavior over both the short term and the long term [9,10].…”

“…However, some other researchers conducted their research about the influence of video games on cognitive control ability based on the proactive or reactive modes of cognitive control from the Dual Mechanisms of Cognitive Control Theory [6,23,33]. The diverse focus to the cognitive control ability would concededly lead to divergent results.…”

Psychological Fitness in Young Adult Video Game Players

“…In adults, interestingly, the more the game pertains to the real life situation, the more the players display aggressive thoughts and attitudes, and physiological arousal. Such effects are seen as quickly as 45 min into the play (Barlett & Rodeheffer, 2009). The studies which pertain to the detrimental influence of games on behavior are however riddled with controversies stemming mostly from inadequate methodological issues.…”