Introduction
Craig and Bushman (2002) conducted a study that confirmed studies performed previously regarding the effects of media on aggression and the behavior of children. Studies conducted from 1975 onwards suggest that violent media generates both long and short-term effects that tend to affect the socialization of individuals.
Recent investigators observe that aggression increases tremendously among individuals who play violent video games for over three times consecutively. Whenever such individuals play violent games, they are exposed to aggressive behavior and their expectations tend to be hostile as well. In particular, playing violent games result to short-time violence, aggressive behavior, and nervousness.
Scholars compare playing violent games to smoking. It is factual that just one cigarette cannot cause cancer, but continuous intake would probably increase the chances of contracting cancer. This implies that incessant exposure to sadistic video games might perhaps have a cumulative effect on hostility. Even though video games play a critical role in educating the young people, they affect the behavior of individuals in their entire life in case they are not employed carefully.
The correlation between aggression and violent media is often disputed since many people expect the results to be instant whereby an individual is expected to watch the violent video and shoot another person the next minute. Since this cannot happen, Craig Anderson and other scholars explain the relationship between the violent media and aggression. Craig suggests that a collection of cells in the mind is charged with the role of detecting the occurrence of something new in the environment.
Responsible body organs activate cells anytime something new is experienced. If two things happen at the same time, they are wired together meaning that the body will always link the occurrence of violence to the violent media (Craig, 2004). This paper looks at the three major effects of violent games. An individual’s biological, social, and psychological processes are affected whenever a child plays or watches violent media continuously.
Effects of Violent Media on Aggression
Conclusion
Violent media has a tremendous effect on the life of an individual in society. Biologically, violent media interferes with the heart rate and sleep among children. Research shows that watching aggrieve movies and playing violent videos cause sleep difficulties and heart challenges. Psychologically, an individual suffers from stress and anxiety if he or she is continuously exposed to violent media. From a social perspective, violent media interferes with the socialization of the individual, as he or she tends to develops aggressive behavior.
References
Craig, A. (2004). Violence in the media: its effects on children. Issues in Parenting Education, 1(2), 1-15.
Craig, A., & Bushman, B. J. (2002). Media violence and the American Public revisited. American Psychologist, 57(1), 448-450.
Griffin, T. (2013). The Individual in Society (2nd ed.). North Ryde: McGraw-Hill.
Krahe, B. (2012). Report of the Media Violence Commission: Media Violence Commission, International Society for Research on Aggression. Aggressive Behaviour, 38(1), 335–341.
Nauert, R. (2012 December 11). Negative Effects of Violent Video Games May Build Over Time. Technology News, p. 1.