Parents say violent video games cause their kids to be more violent, do you agree or disagree?

Question

I find this interesting, simply because violent video games have always been blamed for increase in violence. In teens especially, the idea that a violent game caused a rise in violence is laughable. Overall what do you think, do you agree or disagree?

Answer 1

I disagree completely. I believe it is the parental neglect or example that leads to violence in children. Video games may bring about the idea of violence, but primarily bad parenting leads to bad behavior in kids/teenagers.

I grew up playing violent video games as did my husband. We are probably the most laid-back, quiet people you'll meet. Not to say our parents were perfect in raising us, but those values were instilled in us.

Answer 2

Too many parents these days let their kids do almost anything they want. They don't want to be their children's parent, but their friend. And that is the wrong attitude. I know my sister let her kids watch R rated movies at a very young age, listen to music with bad language and play violent video games. The kids are good kids, but they do also have some issues as well. Had my sister taken steps to keep them away from this material, then they might not have had some of their personality issues. Unfortunately, a lot of parents have become lazy. It is much easier to plop a kid down with a video game and let it be the babysitter. I can't tell you how many times I have watched a young kid drag their parents over to the video game section begging for a certain M rated game and their parents buy it without batting an eye. I also can't remember the last time I saw a parent say no because a game was M rated. But, I do not believe that video games are what is causing the violence. I know when I was growing up, my parents paid careful attention to my moods, friends and habits. If they saw anything out of the ordinary, they would sit me down to talk about it. They weren't mean, just concerned. But now, parents are not taking as much of a role in their children's lives. I know though, when I have a child who wants a certain video game, I will only buy them age appropriate games. But I also want to be more of a parent than many today.

Answer 3

This is a very hot topic for debate. My answer is no they don't. A video game is not going to make a kid or teenager violent. Its the life they choose to live that makes them violent. Parents just want to blame video games because its an easy out for them. They don't want to take the blame (god forbid you tell them its there fault) so of course they place the blame else where. "People need to open there eyes to reality, theres more violence on the news then there is in video games."

Answer 4

Many environmental factors contribute to violent behavior, but I say with absolute confidence that the most important single factor in a child's development is his or her parents. If I had a child and never disciplined him, paid attention to him, monitored his grades, and checked up on his friends, then he could very well turn out to be an unhappy adult. But whom should I blame in that scenario? Bad teachers? Media? The neighborhood? The friends? Yeah, they all helped make the kid who he is, but as the parent, I allowed that to happen.

What I'm saying is that parents like to blame a lot of proximate causes--media, rap music, video games, bad schools, bad neighborhood, etc.--but they rarely cite the ultimate cause, which is neglectful parenting. I'm sorry, but if you're doing your job, your kid just isn't going to be playing violent video games at age seven. And if your kid ever does pick up a violent video game as a teen, he'll hopefully be mature enough to handle it because of how you raised him.

Answer 5

No. Violent kids are drawn to violent video games. Parents today just want an excuse for their bad parenting. How else could you explain such a marked spike in ADD cases over the past 20 years? (Environmental toxins aside, since drinking water is generally deemed to be safe)

Answer 6

I think that violent video games do cause their kids to be more violent. It conditions them to react to situations with violence. Alot of the time it is a reaction that is unconcious behavior.

Answer 7

Bad parenting causes violent kids. Good parents wouldn't be allowing their kids to play violent video games in the first place.

Answer 8

If the parents is question believe that, why do they allow their kids to play the games in question? Before every one tells me they can't stop them from playing them at friends homes, my answer to that violates the rules of every website I now of. How the imagination challenged, that means I don't buy your "BLEEP".

Violent kids are attracted to violent games, not the other way around.

Answer 9

I agree that violent video games cause kids to be more violent. Video games allow the kids to INTERACT so they are the ones performing the violence in the VIRTUAL WORLD. This creates mental muscle memory so kids act VIOLENT in REAL LIFE as well because the "muscle memory" triggers.

Answer 10

I totally disagree I think that parents who buy their kids viloent video games cause them to be violent because chances are the parent is in someway violent to purchase his or her kid a game like that. if a parent raised their kids right they wouldn't have to worry about he or she being violent. be involved in your kids life.