Montgomery 1

Alan Montgomery
Round Table Essay
ENG-112-79

Are violent video games the root cause of an increase in violence in America society?
This controversial topic has been brought up many times over the past several years. Almost
every time there is a mass shooting or some sort of violent crime in schools, the news goes crazy
and eventually it comes to light that the criminal was a fan of violent video games. These stories
end up feeding the flames of this controversy. This controversy involves many groups, but the
three most prominent are the politicians, the scientists, and the advocates for violent video
games.
The first voice in this debate is that of the politicians. Politicians are the group of people
who hold seats in government and makes the laws that run this country. Essentially, they are the
ones who will make the laws deciding on what should be done about this issue. They could
essentially outlaw violence in video games if they feel it necessary to do so.
Many politicians believe that violent media, which includes violent video games, is
negatively impacting the lives of young children, and that such exposure is causing children to be
more violent. Politicians have expressed concerns of youth exposure to violent video games.
Shortly after the Columbine school shooting where the shooters were said to be fans of the
violent video game Doom, President Clinton requested that the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) investigate the issue. In the report the FTC said that the video game industry marketed
their violent games toward children and recommended that the industry should improve its selfregulation (Lyons). Since Columbine, there have been several high profile school shootings in

Montgomery 2
which the offenders were linked with violent video games. After each incident, politicians again
addressed their concerns with children playing violent video games and often called for more
research to be done on the issue. They also tried many times to restrict violence in video games.
Senator Rockefeller is one of the biggest opponents to violent video games. He believes that
violent video games have negatively affected children emotionally and mentally (Lyons).
However not much has been passed into law restricting violence in video games. Even after all
this debate politicians themselves seem to be divided on the issue.
The next voice involved in the issue is that of the scientists. Scientists are the scholars
who do the research and study the effects of violent video games. Their research is what most
opponents on either side of the debate base their case on. This group ranges from prominent
professors and institutions to the social scientists; such as, psychologists, scientists who study
and analyze the statistics of violent crime.
Just as the politicians seem to be, scientists are divided on the issue. Many political
figures say exposure to violent video games causes people to become violent themselves, while
others say that this information is not true. One group of scientists has conducted several studies
that they say show a link between exposure to violent video games and an increase in violent
behavior. Dr. Craig Anderson, a leading psychologist on the issue, says that his research shows
that repeated exposure to violent media causes an increase in aggressive behavior over time
(Anderson). Another study conducted by Dr. Yang Wang showed that playing violent video
games altered parts of the brain that are linked to aggressive behavior. Dr. Wang himself stated
that he does not actually know what the alteration means exactly (Gordon). The American
Psychological Association (APA) made a statement in 2005 that essentially said they were
against violence in video games because of its effects on children (Peckham). In 2013, another

Montgomery 3
group of psychologists requested that the APA review and revise their policy. This group stated
that no study had definitively proven that violent video creates violent people, and that linking
violent video games to real world violence is a classic illusory correlation (Peckham). While
scientists are divided on the issue, almost all agree that more research is needed on the issue.
The last voice in the issue is the voice of the advocates for violent video games. This
group includes people who are pro freedom of expression and the game developers themselves.
Many in this group feel that violence in video games is an expression of art that is protected by
the First Amendment, just as violence on television and in books has been protected.
Joan Bertin, an advocate against censorship, makes a comparison between age old stories
and myths filled with violence and violent video games of today. She shows that since the
beginning of time humankind has taught their children about violence, yet now society views it
as a bad thing to teach children about violence (Lyons). Most people in this group use the
opinions of the scientists who say that violent video games do not negatively affect children to
back up their viewpoint that violent video games are not harmful and should be left alone. They
use past court decisions that violence in media is protected under the First Amendment. They
also use data that shows that violent crime has decreased while at the same time violent video
game sales have increased to argue that violent video games actually reduce violent crime
(Violent Crime, Decreased). In the video game industry, some say that after Columbine the
blame shifted from violent lyrics in music to violent video games (Meeks). Many advocates feel
that it should be the parents decision on what their children play, not the government. They
argue that people who blame violent video games, do so out of fear and uncertainty and not
scientific based proof.

Montgomery 4
In the end, almost every group would agree that more research needs to be done before
any decision is made on what should be done about violent video games. Then society will truly
know if violent video games create violent people, or if certain individuals are already violent
themselves and therefore enjoy the experience of a violent video game. One fact to keep in mind
would be that despite what many news reports attempt to persuade people to believe, according
to statistical research, violent crime in America has steadily been on the decline over the past two
decades (DVera).

Montgomery 5
Works Cited

Anderson, Craig A. "Violent Video Games Promote Teen Aggression and Violence." Teens at
Risk. Ed. Stephen P. Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints.
Rpt. from "FAQs on Violent Video Games and Other Media Violence."
www.education.com. 2009. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.

DVera Cohn, Paul Taylor, Mark Hugo Lopez, Catherine A. Gallagher, Kim Parker and Kevin T.
Maass. Gun Homicide Rate Down 49% Since 1993 Peak; Public Unaware. Pew
Social Trends. Pew Research Center. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.

Gordon, Serena. "Violent Video Games Do Not Promote Teen Aggression and Violence." Teens
at Risk. Ed. Stephen P. Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Violent Video Games May Alter Brain Function: Study."
www.healthfinder.gov. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.

Lyons, Christina L. "Media Violence." CQ Researcher 14 Feb. 2014: 145-68. Web. 11 Oct.
2014.

Meeks, Torrey. "Violent Video Games Are Not Linked to Real-World Violence." Popular
Culture. Ed. David Haugen and Susan Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011.
Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Study: Video Games Don't Cause Violence." Blast (1
Apr. 2007). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.

Montgomery 6

Peckham, Matt. "Researcher Says Linking Video Games To Gun Violence Is A 'Classic Illusory
Correlation'." Time.Com (2013): 1. Business Source Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.

"Violent Crime, Decreased as Computer and Video Game Sales Soared, 1996-2004." Teens at
Risk. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.