Study: First-person shooter games are toxic for emotionally unstable children
A new American study shows that violent video games do not affect the propensity for violence in children with stable personalities—but they have an even greater effect on those who are emotionally unstable.
A new American study shows that violent video games do not affect the propensity for violence in children with stable personalities—but they have an even greater effect on those who are emotionally unstable.
According to a psychological study published in the journal *Psychology, Crime &*, emotionally unstable children are negatively affected by violent video games. To date, scientific studies have yielded contradictory, and often even opposing, results. A small number of studies even concluded that violent video games reduce aggression. The current study involved 125 children—110 boys and 15 girls—with an average age of 14.6 years, who played the first-person shooter game Quake II. Prior to the study, personality profiles were created and the children’s anger levels were assessed. The analysis revealed three distinct groups: The anger levels of 77 children remained unchanged. The anger potential of 22 children nearly doubled. For eight children, the anger level before playing was already as high as that of the 22 children who showed a high level after playing. For these eight children, the anger level decreased after playing, according to Pressetext.de.
According to a psychological study published in the journal *Psychology, Crime &*, emotionally unstable children are negatively affected by violent video games. To date, scientific studies have yielded contradictory, and often even opposing, results. A small number of studies even concluded that violent video games reduce aggression. The current study involved 125 children—110 boys and 15 girls—with an average age of 14.6 years, who played the first-person shooter game Quake II. Prior to the study, personality profiles were created and the children’s anger levels were assessed. The analysis revealed three distinct groups: The anger levels of 77 children remained unchanged. The anger potential of 22 children nearly doubled. For eight children, the anger level before playing was already as high as that of the 22 children who showed a high level after playing. For these eight children, the anger level decreased after playing, according to Pressetext.de.
