Violent video games

Name: University: Course: Tutor: Date: Violent video games and Violence The interaction between video games, violence and criminal activity has been a major source of heated debate among scholars and the public at large. Since the introduction of violent video games, social scientists and psychologists have conducted numerous studies in an attempt to determine whether video games have any effect on behavior. While some of these studies purport to have established that a connection exists between video games and violent behavior, other studies have rubbished these claims. The disparity in these scientific findings coupled with increased relevancy of the issue in the modern day society, has led to an even more intense public debate on the contributions of video games to criminality. As video games being released into the market become bloodier and more realistic, their popularity among youngsters across the globe continues to grow. Consequently, the public readily attributes incidences of violence and criminality involving youngsters to increased exposure to video game violence especially when it is established that the perpetrator is an avid fan of violent video games. Nonetheless, some scholars still maintain that no clear connection exists between violent video games and criminality. These scholars posit that violent video games alone are incapable of contributing to violent behavior and hence, violent gaming is only likely to affect behavior if the player has a mental condition. In contrast, a significant number of scholars are convinced that violent gaming contributes to criminality; where they cite numerous incidences of brutality and mass shooting involving people with a history of violent gaming CITATION Eri13 \l 1033 (Huey). Based on this background, it will be argued that violent video games do not contribute to criminal activity. Just like other mass media entertainment varieties, violent video games have aroused intense concerns with regard to the effect they are likely to have on the players. However, lack of credible evidence linking violent gaming and development of criminal tendencies is proof that this form of public hysteria is farfetched and that violent video games rarely contribute to aggression. Interestingly, of all the empirical and psychological studies that have been conducted to investigate this phenomenon, none has established a link between real-life aggression and violent video gaming. For instance, a research conducted by Christopher Ferguson on the effects of violent gaming on behavior established that players are likely to empathize with victims of real-violence. These findings attest to the fact that the available research has not established any connection between criminal activity and violent gaming. To further support his findings, Ferguson observes that other psychological factors have to be in play for a person who plays violent video games to resort to violence and other unlawful tendencies CITATION Chr13 \l 1033 (Ferguson). Therefore, absence of scientific evidence in support of the claim that violent gaming contributes to crime is testimony that violent video games do not cause criminal behavior. Beyond the studies are current trends in the global gaming industry. Today, the global gaming industry is worth billions of dollar, a figure that clearly depicts the rate at which the gaming business is expanding. Despite the continued growth in the popularity of video games, incidences of violent crime and aggression have dropped considerably. As such, the increase in video game sales hardly matches the current rate of violent crimes in the globe; developed countries with higher video game consump...