People will say that video games desensitize players to real life violence. When in someone's opinion they will think that they only affect someone only if they have an existing brain disease. Some argue that video games the youth to act violently, however, kids under the age of 17 should be able to play Mature rated games because there is no conclusive link between video game violence and violence in youth.
Some would argue that video games cause violence in youth because of increase reports of bullying, increased violent tendencies and violent video games desensitize the youth to violence. An increase reports of bullying can be partially attributed to violent video games. A few studies by various psychology groups have concluded increased amounts of bullying in situations where kids play video games. One of the most common criticisms of video games is that they increase violent tendencies among the youth. After a study in 2008 about the video game Grand Theft Childhood, said that 60% of boys under the age of 17 have played Mature rated games. This could have been a big part of increase bullying reports. In a 2005 study, violent video game exposure has been linked to reduce P300 amplitude, in the brain, which is associated with the desensitization to violence.
Some would argue that kids under the age of 17 should be able to play Mature rated games because juvenile crimes have been declining, no conclusive link has been found and playing violent video games help reduce aggression in kids. Violent juvenile crime in the U.S. Has been declining as violent video game popularity has increased. The arrest rate for juvenile murders has fallen 71.9% between 1995 and 2008. Studies by groups have shown no conclusive link between video game usage and violent activity. The Harvard Medical School Study Center for Mental Health has done many test on video game violence and has found no link. Playing violent video games reduce violence in adolescent boys. Playing video games allows a release in aggression so they don't have to express physical harm to those around them.
Kids should be able to play violent video games because there is no link. Most of the people that play violent video are all emotionally balanced and have never expressed physical violence to others. Kids should be able to play violent video games because we will eventually be exposed to it and we might as well experience it now. What do you think?
Sources for my Research:
http://videogames.procon.org/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_in_video_games
