Washington: Researchers have warned that children who frequently play violent video games start to think and act more aggressively regardless of age, gender or culture. Douglas Gentile, lead author of the study, said that it is really no different than learning math or to play the piano.
Gentile explained that if you practice over and over, you have that knowledge in your head. When you practice being vigilant for enemies, the thinking arises that it’s acceptable to respond aggressively to provocation, and practice becoming desensitized to the consequences of violence.
When provoked at home, school or in other situations, children will react much like they do when playing a violent video game.
The study followed more than 3,000 children in third, fourth, seventh and eighth grades for three years.
Researchers collected data each year to track the amount of time spent playing video games, the violent content of the game and changes in a child’s behaviour. The length and size of the study made it possible for researchers to detect and test even small effects.
The study is published in JAMA Paediatrics.