Violent video games and aggression

Although video games can teach various skills, violent video games also teach players how to behave more aggressively. Hundreds of studies using different methodologies have shown that violent video games can increase aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior and can decrease empathy and prosociality. Longitudinal studies have found that habitually playing violent video games contributes to the development of aggressive behavior from childhood to young adulthood. Several established psychological theories can explain violent video game effects. Through observational learning, violent video games lead to positive evaluations of aggression and the formation of aggressive scripts. Habitually playing violent video games also leads to emotional desensitization and lower empathy with victims of real-world violence. The General Aggression Model proposes that playing violent games may lead to the learning, rehearsal, and reinforcement of aggression-related patterns of thinking that contribute to the development of aggression as a stable personality trait. Insights are offered for future research on topics such as virtual and augmented reality technologies, individual differences, and contextual factors that may moderate violent video game effects. Promising interventions for reducing violent video game effects are discussed. Suggestions to pediatricians and parents are offered.