Learning to blast a way into crime, or just good clean fun? Examining aggressive play with toy weapons and its relation with crime

Abstract

The act of pretending to be aggressive in childhood thus plays little role in predicting later criminality after other factors, such as gender, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or depression, have been taken into account. Involvement in imaginative play with toy gun use in early childhood is unlikely to be useful as a risk marker for later criminal behaviour. Play fighting and war toy games may even be considered necessary components within the frame of normal development. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Examining homicides and suicides cross‐nationally: Economic factors, guns and video games

“…For example, boys both play more violent video games and are more physically aggressive (Kutner & Olson, 2008), so any correlation between them could be affected by gender differences. In longitudinal studies on the effects of video game violence, it has been noted that the more careful and comprehensive the controls, the weaker the evidence of an effect (Ferguson & Wang, 2019; Furuya‐Kanamori & Doi, 2016; Smith et al, 2018a, 2018b). Furthermore, evidence at the population level finds that playing violent video games is associated with reduced violent crime (Beerthuizen et al, 2017; Markey et al, 2015).…”

“…Studies have shown that impoverished youth who have been victims of violent crime are significantly more likely to carry a gun (Spano & Bolland, 2010) and that income inequality and a lack of social trust are strongly correlated with firearm homicide (Kennedy et al, 1998). Additional research has suggested that childhood poverty is a significant predictor of Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder (Nikulina et al, 2011) and that depression and other early childhood mental health symptoms can predict criminal behaviour later in life (Smith et al, 2018a, 2018b). Despite these findings, other studies have found no support for the hypothesis that youth with elevated mental health symptoms who also play violent video games are at a greater risk for delinquent behaviour (Ferguson & Olson, 2014), or that children who played shooter games as children are more susceptible to criminality later in life (Smith et al, 2018a, 2018b).…”

“…Additional research has suggested that childhood poverty is a significant predictor of Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder (Nikulina et al, 2011) and that depression and other early childhood mental health symptoms can predict criminal behaviour later in life (Smith et al, 2018a, 2018b). Despite these findings, other studies have found no support for the hypothesis that youth with elevated mental health symptoms who also play violent video games are at a greater risk for delinquent behaviour (Ferguson & Olson, 2014), or that children who played shooter games as children are more susceptible to criminality later in life (Smith et al, 2018a, 2018b). However, research has suggested that participants playing games using a realistic firearm controller reported increased feelings of immersion and realism (McGloin et al, 2015).…”

Alles nur Spielzeug? Eine Untersuchung verschiedener Geschossspielzeuge hinsichtlich ihres Gefahrenpotenzials

“…Schwerwiegende Verletzungen am Auge können auch ohne Perforation des [23]. Kämpfe und Kriegsspiele seien normal für Kinder und Teil einer ausgewogenen Entwicklung [24]. Auf der anderen Seite steigt womöglich im Umgang mit Geschossspielzeugen die Toleranz für Waffen i.…”

The use of aggressive toys in schools: Insights and experiences of school-based play therapists.

“…School-based play therapy has been found to decrease disruptive behavior in at-risk preschool students (Taylor & Ray, 2021), improve positive emotional responses from students with disabilities (Shen & Hudspeth, 2016), help elementary students increase their academic achievement (Massengale & Perryman, 2021), enhance creativity and reduce aggression in Iranian preschool students (Jarareh et al, 2016), aid students in developing positive self-concepts and problem-solving skills (Winburn et al, 2017), and improve empathy, self-confidence, and responsibility in African American students (Baggerly & Parker, 2005). While play therapy has proven to be an effective approach in schools, there is still debate on the inclusion of aggressive toys (e.g., weapons) as encouragers of aggression or appropriate means of expressing anger, hostility, and frustration with students (Cheng et al, 2003; Drewes, 2008; Landreth, 2012; Smith et al, 2018).…”