The influence of violent and nonviolent computer games on implicit measures of aggressiveness

Abstract

We examined the causal relationship between playing violent video games and increases in aggressiveness by using implicit measures of aggressiveness, which have become important for accurately predicting impulsive behavioral tendencies. Ninety-six adults were randomly assigned to play one of three versions of a computer game that differed only with regard to game content (violent, peaceful, or abstract game), or to work on a reading task. In the games the environmental context, mouse gestures, and physiological arousal-as indicated by heart rate and skin conductance-were kept constant. In the violent game soldiers had to be shot, in the peaceful game sunflowers had to be watered, and the abstract game simply required clicking colored triangles. Five minutes of play did not alter trait aggressiveness, yet an Implicit Association Test detected a change in implicit aggressive self-concept. Playing a violent game produced a significant increase in implicit aggressive self-concept relative to playing a peaceful game. The well-controlled study closes a gap in the research on the causality of the link between violence exposure in computer games and aggressiveness with specific regard to implicit measures. We discuss the significance of importing recent social-cognitive theory into aggression research and stress the need for further development of aggression-related implicit measures.

Implicit cognitive aggression among young male prisoners: Association with dispositional and current aggression

“…This disposition is thought to play a key role in aggression tendency, particularly with impulsive aggression (Bluemke et al, 2009), a notion supported by both the GAM and the Integrated Model. Using a student sample Bluemke et al (2009) found it correlated with stable trait aggression measures.…”

“…This disposition is thought to play a key role in aggression tendency, particularly with impulsive aggression (Bluemke et al, 2009), a notion supported by both the GAM and the Integrated Model. Using a student sample Bluemke et al (2009) found it correlated with stable trait aggression measures. Bluemke et al (2009) noted a positive correlation between implicit cognitive aggression and overall trait, physical and angry aggression but not in relation to verbal aggression and hostility.…”

“…They can impact on emotions and behaviour (Koole, 2009), with the latter including a range of challenging behaviours, such as aggression in general, student and workplace samples (e.g. Todorov & Bargh, 2002;James et al, 2005;Bluemke, Friedrich & Zumbach, 2009;Frost, Ko & James, 2007), and extending to emotional aggression between partners (Ireland & Birch, 2013).…”

“…The impact of implicit cognitive processing on aggression has been of particular interest, with a considerable proportion of aggression thought to occur in the absence of cognitive resources (Bluemke et al, 2009) and not always in line with conscious thought (Banse & Greenwald, 2007;Perugini & Banse, 2007). The General Aggression Model (GAM) attempts to capture this by distinguishing between impulsive behaviour and thoughtful action (Anderson & Bushman, 2002), describing aggression as influenced by the former and demonstrated in the absence of considered deliberation.…”

Testosterone reactivity and identification with a perpetrator or a victim in a story are associated with attraction to violence-related cues

“…electro shocks, cold water), or insults from the experimenter (Anderson & Bushmann, 1997;Richtelin, Richardson, & Mason, 2010). Other experiments have used media vi olence to induce aggression, such as computer games (Bluemke, Friedrich, & Zumbach, 2009) and violent films (Bushmann, 1995;Linz, Donnerstein, & Adams, 1989). Although these potentially stimulate appetitive aggression, they do not distinguish subtypes of aggression, complicating outcomes.…”