Do video games make people commit violent crimes? Who's responsible, parents, the game makers or government?

Question

Or do violent games tend to appeal to violent personalities?

Answer 1

I've seen no convincing evidence that video games make people commit violent crimes. It seems reasonable to me that they would have this effect only on a gamer who is predisposed to violence and lacking respect for others, and for society -- likely from unsatisfactory parenting and/or some kind of brain dysfunction.

But there are articles at my second and third links, below, which do show a connection between violent video games and children's aggression. At least one of them, however, does say the effect can be mitigated by parental guidance.

These are arguments I've discovered in the time it's taken to answer this question. I'm becoming increasingly aware, therefore, that I am not especially qualified to give a definitive opinion.

Having said that, I do feel comfortable letting my sources speak for themselves. My most trusted of them--Skeptical Inquirer, via the LiveScience link--concludes, from a scientific perspective, that "the effects of violent entertainment and video games on behavior is very much an open question."

And at reason.com (see the link), the June 2005 article states, "...if violent video games are producing hordes of kids desensitized to death and destruction, it is not at all evident in our crime statistics." I saw this point made elsewhere, too.

As for responsibility, I strongly feel that the parents should be at the top of the list. They are the child's biggest influence regarding right and wrong, reality and fantasy. And maybe they are doing a better job than some of us would believe, if both arguments are true: that unsupervised kids *are* affected, and that crime statistics don't paint a gloomy picture.

Another argument for parental supervision, vs. just business or government regulation... though parents can't be around at all times, government and game makers can't be around *at all*. Oh, they could stop, entirely, the manufacture or sale of games with violent content. But to do so for the sake of keeping that stuff out of a child's hands seems to me a cop-out solution. It ignores the real issue of parents teaching personal responsibility and other values, and hurts adult gamers who, arguably, have every right to play those games, by virtue of their advanced sense of social responsibility.

Game makers are trying to make a buck and, assuming it's true that their products aren't inspiring violence, they have a right to do so.

It's hard for me to imagine government intervention without mucking up everything. But that's based more on a gut feeling than on any hard facts.

Speaking for myself, I grew up with violence on TV and in the movies. Though there are a few memorably disturbing moments from those shows, they certainly haven't turned me violent. But the interactive nature of games (discussed in the articles) is justifiably argued to be another stimulus.

According to the data presented, below, it's still unclear whether today's youth are motivated to violence by video games.

Answer 2

No. They don't. It's just a way for detectives and police to pin a reason onto a crime. I have been playing video games since I was 3 and I have never actually committed a violent act. Never been in a fight, never killed anybody or never shot anybody. Basically, all this is spawned from the ignorance of a few people in Washington and the police department. So if anyone is to blame for these crimes, it would be the person who came up with the ludicrous story in the first place.

Answer 3

That's truly an excuse. Because if you think about movies should be a bigger influence as far as violence. That's a big excuse, video games does not make or force people to go out commit violent crimes.

Answer 4

I have been playing video games for years and they have never lead me to to commit a violent crime.

Answer 5

video games do not make people commit crimes. however, if it is in the persons nature to commit the crime, then the game (if inhumane and violent enough) may prevent their concenience from kicking in so hard.
war games were origionally devoloped by the united states army to help their soldiers overcome their fear of killing the enemy (a big problem in the army).

Answer 6

no, irrisponsible parents make kids commit crimes and play bad video games

Answer 7

no, video games dont make ppl commint violent crimes

Answer 8

the parents are resopsible. they need to check the ratings on the vidoe games just like watching movies.

Answer 9

yeah if they're stupid! or if their neglectful parent(s) don't teach them the difference between right and wrong!