Although most researchers on the
subject agree that playing violent video games appears to increase physical
aggression, a vocal minority continues to dispute this. To examine issues
raised by the counterclaims on this topic, Dartmouth researchers conducted a
meta-analysis of 24 studies from around the world from 2010 to 2017 with over
17,000 participants, ages nine to 19 years-old. The studies all examined how
violent video game play affected changes in real-world physical aggression over
time, ranging from three months to four years. Examples of physical aggression
included incidents such as hitting someone or being sent to the principal's
office for fighting, and were based on self-reports by children, parents,
teachers and peers.
Dartmouth's study examined three
specific critiques of the literature on video game play and aggression. In
addition to providing evidence that violent video game play is associated with
increased aggression over time, the study also reports that this effect appears
to be significantly different for various ethnic groups: the largest effect was
observed among white participants, with some effect noted among Asians and no
effect observed among Hispanics. Although speculative, the authors suggest that
this effect may reflect a greater emphasis on maintaining empathy toward
victims of aggression among Eastern and Hispanic cultures in contrast to an emphasis
on rugged individualism in Western cultures.
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