Rated M for Mature
Friday, November 16, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Works Cited
Anderson, Craig A. "Violent Video Games And Other Media Violence (Part I)." Pediatrics For Parents 27.1/2 (2011): 28-30. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 5 Oct. 2012.
Carnagey, N. L.. "Violent Video Game Exposure and Aggression." Minerva Psichiatrica (2004). Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
Lewis-Hasteley, Helen. "Violent Games Might Be Tasteless, But Are They Dangerous?." New Statesman 140.5065 (2011): 57. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Oct. 2012.
Carnagey, N. L.. "Violent Video Game Exposure and Aggression." Minerva Psichiatrica (2004). Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
Lewis-Hasteley, Helen. "Violent Games Might Be Tasteless, But Are They Dangerous?." New Statesman 140.5065 (2011): 57. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Oct. 2012.
M for Mature. N.d. fronttowardsgamer.comWeb. 12 Nov 2012. <http://fronttowardsgamer.com/2011/08/24/rated-m-for-immature-how-the-esrb-does-more-harm-than-good/>.
Mortal Kombat. N.d. pcmag.comWeb. 12 Nov 2012. <http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/260445/the-10-most-violent-video-games-of-all-time>.
Ratings. N.d. blog.lib.umn.eduWeb. 12 Nov 2012. <http://blog.lib.umn.edu/hutch213/myblog/2012/03/are-violent-video-games-making-our-generation-more-violent.html>.
Violent Video Games Reduce Brain Response to Violence and Increase Aggressive Behavior. N.d. Video. YouTube.comWeb. 12 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAG4uJfunwU>.
Rated M for Mature
We need to face the fact that children experience examples in media every day that they should not be subjected to. The most prevalent and probably the most controversial example would be mature, violent video games. Children can have fairly easy access to these games. Whether they get the games from their older siblings or from their parents buying the games for them without knowing the content of the game, children are still being exposed to images and simulations far too mature for them. Children who play violent video games are ticking time bombs waiting to explode at any second. Violent video games cause aggression to rise in children over time. Outbursts and tantrums are a very common effect from varying violent visuals. Mature video games need to be kept from the hands of children. Video games have an age rating for a reason.
I have a firm belief that children should not be allowed to play mature video games. Perhaps that is because I have seen the results of this issue first hand. A few years ago, my nine year old cousin started playing video games that were a melting pot of death and destruction. After a short while of him constantly playing these games, I started noticing that every little thing would irritate and anger him. He would throw tantrums and punch his older brother and I when we would take the games away from him. We realized that the situation we were in was not a very pleasant one. I saw a problem rising, so I sat his mother down and explained what was happening. Once she realized what he was being exposed to, she took away the games. My cousin stopped throwing tantrums and beating on people when he would become upset with them. Informing my aunt of what was going on really helped us dodge the bullet that could have brought disaster along with it. The best way to avoid a problem is by killing it at the source. That is why violent video games should be kept from children.
Violent video games are known to cause changes in a person’s mental state. These changes that occur are a deadly mixture of lethal toxins and venom. Craig A. Anderson, PhD explains that almost immediately after being exposed to some video game violence, aggressive thoughts increase, aggressive emotions increase, heart rate may increase as well, and new forms of aggressive behavior are learned (Anderson 7).The effects of viewing violent visuals are apparent in both the physical and mental beings of a child. Also, “exposing children and adolescents (or “youth”) to violent visual media increases the likelihood that they will engage in physical aggression against another person” (Anderson 3). If exposing youth to violent visuals causes them to become more aggressive, then why allow them to play violent video games?
Viewing violent media is a very harmful experience for a child to have. The emotional changes that occur in the child’s mind are limitless. For instance, “media violence also produces an emotional desensitization to aggression and violence” (Anderson 10). Usually people have a negative response to aggression and violence. A child who was exposed to media violence would think that real violence is a normal occurrence. These children would have no emotional response to aggression, which is not good. This means that the children could go throughout life thinking that violence is a solution to their problems. This problem is easily preventable, and it needs to be avoided.
People may argue and say, “how can we be sure that it is video game violence causing aggression to rise?” Well, research shows that the emotional responses happen in everyone who is exposed to the media violence. Research also shows that certain types of children are more prone to act on these aggressive emotions. There are certain types of risk factors that that would cause the chances of the child acting on the aggressive thoughts. There can be biological factors, family factors, neighborhood factors, and many others (Anderson 15). The more risk factors a child has, the more likely he or she will act out of aggression. So, violent video games should be kept away from children in order to keep them from developing anger issues.
Violent video games are poison to a child’s frail mind. The violence portrayed in these types of games causes anything but a good effect. The consequences of exposing children to violent visuals could range anywhere from future emotional problems to actual acts of violence and re-enactments of what they view. Is it really worth allowing children to have some “fun” for a short period of time if the long-term effects are so disastrous? Violent video games need to be kept out of the hands of our children so future generations will not have to suffer the repercussions of our ignorance towards these violent visuals.
Anderson, Craig A. "Violent Video Games And Other Media Violence (Part I)." Pediatrics For Parents 27.1/2 (2011): 28-30. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 5 Oct. 2012.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Annotated Bibliography
Craig A. Anderson, PhD
argues that exposing youth to violent games or television can have negative
effects. He claims that there is a strong connection between violent media and
aggressive acts and thoughts. Anderson develops this claim by first
investigating the different behaviors of children exposed to violence in media.
Anderson describes certain mental tendencies associated with video game
violence. Lastly, the author describes the key points and risk factors commonly
found in aggressive children, media violence being one of the top ones. Craig
A. Anderson’s purpose is to inform people of the dangerous effects from
violence on children in order to provide people with his research and knowledge
of the topic.
Source:
Anderson, Craig A.
"Violent Video Games And Other Media Violence (Part I)." Pediatrics
For Parents 27.1/2 (2011): 28-30. Health Source - Consumer Edition.
Web. 5 Oct. 2012.
Helen Lewis-Hasteley argues that video game violence is
not all that bad. She argues that some people may find video game violence
distasteful or excessive, but it is not mindless. Lewis-Hasteley develops this
claim by first portraying an example of a video game that is not mindless.
Lewis-Hasteley explains how the mission “No Russian” in Modern Warfare 2 is an essential part of a story that depicts what
men will do for their nation. Lastly, the author provides information about a
Huddersfield University study that shows that sports games cause a greater
emotional response than shooter games. Helen Lewis-Hasteley’s purpose is to
persuade people that violent video games are not bad in order to convince
people that violent video games are not mindless.
Source:
Lewis-Hasteley, Helen.
"Violent Games Might Be Tasteless, But Are They Dangerous?." New
Statesman 140.5065 (2011): 57. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Oct.
2012.
N. L. Carnagey argues that violent video games should be kept away from children. He claims that playing violent video games increases violent behavior as well as aggression. Carnagey develops this claim by first investigating the effect of exposure to violent video games on children. Carnagey describes that children who play violent video games are more aggressive than children who do not play these games. Lastly, the author explains that children subjected to video game violence could read aggressive words fairly quickly. N. L. Carnagey's purpose is to persuade people that video game violence is harmful to children in order to keep children from playing these games.
Carnagey, N. L.. "Violent Video Game Exposure and Aggression." Minerva Psichiatrica (2004). Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
N. L. Carnagey argues that violent video games should be kept away from children. He claims that playing violent video games increases violent behavior as well as aggression. Carnagey develops this claim by first investigating the effect of exposure to violent video games on children. Carnagey describes that children who play violent video games are more aggressive than children who do not play these games. Lastly, the author explains that children subjected to video game violence could read aggressive words fairly quickly. N. L. Carnagey's purpose is to persuade people that video game violence is harmful to children in order to keep children from playing these games.
Carnagey, N. L.. "Violent Video Game Exposure and Aggression." Minerva Psichiatrica (2004). Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Animoto
Make your own slideshow with music at Animoto.
N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 13 Sep 2012. <http://www.brightsideofnews.com/Data/2011_6_27/Violent-Video-Games-Given-the-Go-Ahead-by-US-Supreme-Court/Violent_Kid_350.jpg>.
N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 13 Sep 2012. <http://cod4modernwarfare.com/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-10th-prestige-rank-hack-downloadpcxboxps3/>.
N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 13 Sep 2012. <http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/boys_playing_video_games.jpg>.
N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 13 Sep 2012. <http://www2.macleans.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/video-game-kid.jpg>.
N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 13 Sep 2012. <http://videogamekid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/angry-video-game-kid-300x202.png>.
What I Want to Know About My Topic
I chose my topic because I had a personal connection with it. I also chose it because I love video games and I have a firm belief that there is an age restriction for a reason. There are some questions I have about my topic that I will find the answers to in my research. The answers to these questions will give you a better understanding of what really goes on inside a child's mind when they are exposed to content in games that they should not witness. My questions are:
1. How do childrens' mindsets change from playing mature video games?
2. Are girls affected by mature video games as much as boys are?
3. Should children be allowed to play mature games?
4. What if the child were to reenact something from a mature game?
5. Why would children want to copy what they see or hear in the mature games?
1. How do childrens' mindsets change from playing mature video games?
2. Are girls affected by mature video games as much as boys are?
3. Should children be allowed to play mature games?
4. What if the child were to reenact something from a mature game?
5. Why would children want to copy what they see or hear in the mature games?
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