Violent Video Games and Aggression OR:

Why can t we all just get along?

Jessica Stahl August 15th, 2011

Disclosure

I am a gamer.

The Question
What causes more aggressive behaviors?
Violent video games OR Research about violent video games

www.ctrlaltdel-online.com

The Key Players

Ferguson, Christopher J. and John Kilburn The Public Health Risks of Media Violence: A Meta-Analytic MetaReview Journal of Pediatrics 2009, Vol. 154, 759-763 759Much Ado About Nothing: The Misestimation and Overinterpretation of Violent Video Game Effects in Eastern and Western Nations: Comment on Anderson et al. (2010) Psychological Bulletin 2010, Vol. 136, No. 2, 174 178 Anderson, et. al. Longitudinal Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggression in Japan and the United States e1067Pediatrics 2008;Vol 122; e10671072 Violent Video Game Effects on Aggression, Empathy, and Prosocial Behavior in Eastern and Western Countries: A MetaMetaAnalytic Review Psychological Bulletin 2010, Vol. 136, No. 2, 151 173

Mudslinging
Texas says: Publication bias No standardized aggression measures Inconsistent best practice qualifications No youth violence rates Iowa says: Small inclusion group Improper selection methods
 No unpublished studies  Limited to after 1995

Trim and fill analysis for correcting factor Redundant metametaanalyses

The Results
Effect size = 0.15
 Small effect size, r = 0.1 0.23  Medium effect size, r = 0.24 0.36  Large effect size, r > 0.37
(Cohen, J (1992). "A power primer". Psychological Bulletin 112: 155 159) 112:

Comparing Effect Sizes

Yes Wii Can!

Nintendo Wii video-gaming ability predicts videolaparoscopic skill (Surgical Endoscopy, 2010)
 20 double-unskilled participants double-

Yes Wii Can!

Use of a Low-Cost, Commercially Available LowGaming Console (Wii) for Rehabilitation of an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy (Physical
Therapy, 2008)

13yr. male with spastic diplegic CP

 Attention deficits  Low IQ

PT 3 x weekly, OT biweekly Wii Sports 11 sessions/4 weeks

Yes Wii Can!

Improvement in: Postural control Visual-perceptual processing Functional Mobility

Figure 3. Ambulation distance with forearm crutches measured during physical therapy sessions. The single peak of walking 150 ft (45.7 m) achieved 21 weeks prior to training was not replicated or sustained until after intervention with the Wii. Iintervention, CS-close supervision, CG-contact guard assistance, A-minimal assistance, Pre-prior to training, Post-after training.

Feel the Burn

MultiMulti-modal distraction. Using technology to combat pain in young children with burn injuries. (Burns 2009)

Or Not?

Prosocialization
Effects of Prosocial Video Games on Prosocial Behavior (Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, 2010)

    

Pilot study: Game validation Experiment 1: Spontaneous helping Experiment 2: Solicited helping Experiment 3: Active helping Experiment 4: Thoughts and spontaneous helping

MMORPG
The effect of social support derived from World of Warcraft on negative psychological symptoms (Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 2009)
 High use = 45-82 hrs per week 45 Low use = 44 hrs or less per week

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.wow.com/media/2008/04/mak_analysispt1_large.jpg

Other Goodness
Psychotherapeutic support Exercise and obesity Rehabilitation
 Hand  Neurologic damage

Brain training Taking medications

Physiology?
Mathiak, Mathiak, et. al., Reward system and temporal pole contributions to affective evaluation during a first person shooter video game. BMC Neuroscience 2011, 12:66 13 Germans playing FPS with fMRI We found no indication that violence events were directly rewarding for the players.

So What?
Amount
 Over 3 yrs: 1hr /day yrs:  Secondary school age: 2 hrs/day hrs/day

Content violent/prosocial/nonviolent violent/prosocial/nonviolent Structure learning environment Context reward systems Mechanics physical gameplay
http://www.drdouglas.org/page_faqs.html

ESRB Ratings
EARLY CHILDHOOD - 3 yrs. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate. EVERYONE - 6 yrs. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. EVERYONE 10+ - 10yrs. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. TEEN - 13 yrs. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. MATURE 17 yrs. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. ADULTS ONLY - 18 yrs. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity. RATING PENDING
http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp

Other Concerns
Attention School performance Addiction

Parent Resources
http://www.whattheyplay.com/ http://www.mediahttp://www.media-awareness.ca http://www.parentshttp://www.parents-choice.org

Extended References
Surg Endosc. 2010 Jan 28. [Epub ahead of print] Nintendo Wii videoEndosc. [Epub videogaming ability predicts laparoscopic skill. Badurdeen S, Abdul-Samad AbdulO, Story G, Wilson C, Down S, Harris A.University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Box 111, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2SP, UK J Pers Soc Psychol. 2010 Feb;98(2):211-21.Effects of prosocial video Feb;98(2):211-21.Effects games on prosocial behavior. Greitemeyer T, Osswald S.School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Pevensey 1, Falmer BN1 9QH, England. t.greitemeyer@sussex.ac.u Burns. 2009 Nov 2. Multi-modal distraction. Using technology to Multicombat pain in young children with burn injuries. Miller K, Rodger K, S, Bucolo S, Greer R, Kimble RM. R, RM. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2009 Oct;12(5):563-6.The effect of social support Behav. Oct;12(5):563-6.The derived from World of Warcraft on negative psychological symptoms. Longman H, O'Connor E, Obst P. H, E, Phys Ther. 2008 Oct;88(10):1196-207. Epub 2008 Aug 8.Use of a low-cost, Ther. Oct;88(10):11968.Use lowcommercially available gaming console (Wii) for rehabilitation of an adolescent with cerebral palsy.Deutsch JE, Borbely M, Filler J, Huhn palsy.Deutsch JE, J, K, Guarrera-Bowlby P. Guarrera-