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Violent video games &Violent video games &

videogame addictionvideogame addiction

Jeffrey GoldsteinJeffrey Goldstein

University College UtrechtUniversity College Utrecht

J.Goldstein@uu.nlJ.Goldstein@uu.nl8 December 20098 December 2009

mailto:J.Goldstein@uu.nlmailto:J.Goldstein@uu.nlmailto:J.Goldstein@uu.nl

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PlayingPlaying VIOLENTVIOLENT videovideo

games?games?In violent video games, aggressionIn violent video games, aggression

is often the main goal, and killingis often the main goal, and killing

adversaries means winning the gameadversaries means winning the game

and reaping the benefits. While inand reaping the benefits. While in

real life, murder is a crime, in areal life, murder is a crime, in a

violent video game, murder is theviolent video game, murder is the

most reinforced behavior. Themost reinforced behavior. The

violent video game player is anviolent video game player is an

active aggressorand the playersactive aggressorand the players

[learn] new and varied aggressive[learn] new and varied aggressive

alternatives.alternatives.-- K. Dill & J. Dill. Video gameK. Dill & J. Dill. Video gameviolence. 1998violence. 1998

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Playing violent video games andPlaying violent video games and

AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR?AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR?

Measures of aggressionMeasures of aggression Aggressive play (Cooper & Mackie, 1986)Aggressive play (Cooper & Mackie, 1986)

Hitting a bobo doll (Schutte et al., 1988)Hitting a bobo doll (Schutte et al., 1988)

Childrens interpretations of ambiguous storiesChildrens interpretations of ambiguous stories

(Kirsh, 1998)(Kirsh, 1998) Listing aggressive thoughts and feelings (Calvert &Listing aggressive thoughts and feelings (Calvert &

Tan, 1994)Tan, 1994)

Withholding money from another (Winkel et al., 1987)Withholding money from another (Winkel et al., 1987)

Killing characters in a video game (Anderson &Killing characters in a video game (Anderson &

Morrow (1995)Morrow (1995) Word recognition (Anderson & Dill, 2000)Word recognition (Anderson & Dill, 2000)

Punishing another with white noise (Bushman &Punishing another with white noise (Bushman &

Anderson 2007)Anderson 2007)

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Whats missing from research?Whats missing from research?

Missing from research is any acknowledgmentMissing from research is any acknowledgment

that video game players freely engage in playthat video game players freely engage in play

Playing video games is largely socialPlaying video games is largely social

Video games as entertainmentVideo games as entertainment

Attractions of violent entertainmentAttractions of violent entertainment

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Video games are socialVideo games are social Violent entertainment appeals primarily to malesViolent entertainment appeals primarily to males

in groups. These are social occasions, suitablein groups. These are social occasions, suitablefor male bonding and communicating afor male bonding and communicating amasculine identity. Boys may play violent videomasculine identity. Boys may play violent videogames alone in their rooms, but they are certaingames alone in their rooms, but they are certainto talk about them with their friends.to talk about them with their friends.

Young people bring entertainment to bear onYoung people bring entertainment to bear ontheir concerns with identity, belonging andtheir concerns with identity, belonging and

independence. Nearly all their public behavior independence. Nearly all their public behavior the clothes they wear, the music they listen to,the clothes they wear, the music they listen to,and the games they play has a social purpose.and the games they play has a social purpose.

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The stereotype of the average gamerThe stereotype of the average gamer asas

anan

inactive, overweight, socially isolatedinactive, overweight, socially isolated

adolescent adolescent

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/ga/ul/622006811041/inlineimg/Y/super-computer-nerd.jpg&imgrefurl=http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/34709834/m/314003811041&usg=__8TiOyMB0rN0PQVRH0I5IvM5cKQs=&h=402&w=530&sz=44&hl=en&start=22&tbnid=Zu-OPzWVyeYVoM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomputer%2Bnerd%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/ga/ul/622006811041/inlineimg/Y/super-computer-nerd.jpg&imgrefurl=http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/34709834/m/314003811041&usg=__8TiOyMB0rN0PQVRH0I5IvM5cKQs=&h=402&w=530&sz=44&hl=en&start=22&tbnid=Zu-OPzWVyeYVoM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomputer%2Bnerd%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/ga/ul/622006811041/inlineimg/Y/super-computer-nerd.jpg&imgrefurl=http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/34709834/m/314003811041&usg=__8TiOyMB0rN0PQVRH0I5IvM5cKQs=&h=402&w=530&sz=44&hl=en&start=22&tbnid=Zu-OPzWVyeYVoM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomputer%2Bnerd%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20

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is false on all counts.is false on all counts.

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Video game addiction?Video game addiction?

No official medical diagnosisNo official medical diagnosisof video game addictionof video game addictionfrom the AMA, APA, or WHOfrom the AMA, APA, or WHO

Estimates of how manyEstimates of how manyplayers might be addicted toplayers might be addicted to

video games vary from 1%video games vary from 1%of players up to 30%of players up to 30% VG addiction is usuallyVG addiction is usually

measured with a modifiedmeasured with a modifiedscale from DSM-IVscale from DSM-IV

World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraftis playedis played

by more people than theby more people than thepopulation of Denmark andpopulation of Denmark andNorway combinedNorway combined

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addictionaddiction

Core symptoms:Core symptoms: withdrawal (negative effects after cessation)withdrawal (negative effects after cessation) relapse and reinstatement (resumption afterrelapse and reinstatement (resumption after

abstinence)abstinence) conflict (with others or self)conflict (with others or self)

behavioral sallience (dominant activity)behavioral sallience (dominant activity)

Peripheral symptoms: (engagement)Peripheral symptoms: (engagement) tolerance ( increase in activity over time)tolerance ( increase in activity over time) euphoria (emotional, physiological consequences)euphoria (emotional, physiological consequences)

cognitive salience (think often about the activity)cognitive salience (think often about the activity)

-- Charlton & Danforth. 2007.Charlton & Danforth. 2007. Computers in Human BehaviorComputers in Human Behavior

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The Game Addiction ScaleThe Game Addiction Scale(Lemmens 2009)(Lemmens 2009)

How often during the last six months:How often during the last six months:

did you think about playing a game all day long? (did you think about playing a game all day long? (SalienceSalience)) did you spend increasing amounts of time on games? (did you spend increasing amounts of time on games? (ToleranceTolerance)) did you play games to forget about real life?did you play games to forget about real life? ((Mood ModificationMood Modification)) have others unsuccessfully tried to reduce your game use?have others unsuccessfully tried to reduce your game use? (Relapse)(Relapse) have you felt bad when you were unable to play?have you felt bad when you were unable to play? ((((Withdrawal )Withdrawal ) did you have fights with others (e.g., family, friends) over your time spentdid you have fights with others (e.g., family, friends) over your time spent

on games? (on games? (Conflict)Conflict) have you neglected other important activities (e.g., school, work, sports) tohave you neglected other important activities (e.g., school, work, sports) to

play games? (play games? (Problems)Problems)

Response options were: (1) never, (2) rarely, (3) sometimes, (4) often, (5) very often.Response options were: (1) never, (2) rarely, (3) sometimes, (4) often, (5) very often.

from Lemmens, Jeroen S., Patti M. Valkenburg, & Jochem Peter.from Lemmens, Jeroen S., Patti M. Valkenburg, & Jochem Peter. (2009). Development and validation of a(2009). Development and validation of agame addiction scale for adolescents.game addiction scale for adolescents. Media Psychology, 12,Media Psychology, 12, 77-9577-95

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7,000 online players of7,000 online players ofEverQuest2EverQuest2 were found to bewere found to be

physically more healthy, but to suffer from morephysically more healthy, but to suffer from more

depression than the general populationdepression than the general population

The main motives for play were achievement,The main motives for play were achievement,immersion in the game, and socialimmersion in the game, and social

Playing video games may be a coping strategyPlaying video games may be a coping strategy

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Making the connectionMaking the connection

What behavior is reinforced when playing a violent videoWhat behavior is reinforced when playing a violent video

game? Media effects researchers say it is aggressivegame? Media effects researchers say it is aggressive

behavior. (Although players are not actually aggressive.)behavior. (Although players are not actually aggressive.)

The behavior that is reinforced is PLAY, andThe behavior that is reinforced is PLAY, and

therefore the tendency to play grows stronger withtherefore the tendency to play grows stronger with

play experience. This results in engagement, a prerequisiteplay experience. This results in engagement, a prerequisite

for addiction.for addiction.

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Further information:Further information:

L. Kutner & C. Olson.L. Kutner & C. Olson.

2008.2008.Grand Theft ChildhoodGrand Theft Childhood..

Simon &Simon &

Schuster.Schuster.