Are Video Games Making Your Child Violent?

Video games have become commonplace in most homes the last twenty years, yet government statistics show that violent crimes have gone down steadily the last two decades. I’m not saying games are responsible for the shrinking crime rate (though an argument could be made that they are), but they’re certainly not causing it. Logic would dictate crimes would be skyrocketing if that were the case. I mean, which game systems were popular a couple hundred years ago when public hangings and beheadings were seen every day? Which violent game characters were hits with the kids when they were raping and pillaging neighboring villages? What violent game was Hitler playing when he decided to obliterate an entire race of people?

Let’s be serious people. Video games do not cause violence. In the many years these studies have been done, only one thing has been found true: There is absolutely no proven link between violence in entertainment and violence in the real world. Games have become an easy target for people refusing to take blame themselves. It’s much easier for the parent of a violent child to make games the scapegoat instead of taking responsibility for poor parenting, or even acknowledging that their child may have a problem.

Then there is the argument that games are too mature for children, and that games should be for kids. Guess what? The average age of the gamer is 35. Do you think your average 35 year old wants to play Dora the Explorer? Probably not. Would you be happy if every movie in theaters and every show on prime time television was animated and rated G? Probably not. There is a rating system in place for games, just like the movies. Was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre responsible for making Jeffrey Dahmer kill all of his victims? No. So why should Doom be responsible for the Columbine incident? Video games are just another form of media, no different than cinema. Would you, as a responsible parent, let your 7 year old child watch Saw? No? Then why would you let them play Grand Theft Auto? Be responsible and know what your child is playing. The ratings are right there on the box. “I didn’t know my third grader was dismembering police and having sex with prostitutes in a game.” should never be an excuse.  

More so than just monitoring what your child is playing, why don’t you join them? There are plenty of games out there where you can play co-op with your kids. Games like Portal 2 and New Super Mario Bros. not only help encourage problem solving and cooperation, you get to spend time bonding with your kids! What a novel idea.

Not only are video games not responsible for creating monsters, they also help your child learn strategy, alertness, quick reaction time, and hand-eye coordination. Studies have also proven that games help pilots and surgeons perform their jobs better, as well as help everyday drivers avoid accidents due to their mental alertness. Multiplayer games help children collaborate and cooperate, and as they get better, promote leadership skills.

The average citizen in this country should be expected to know the difference between fantasy and reality. If your child is of the age to comprehend such a thing, but doesn’t, either you have done something wrong as a parent, or a medical condition persists. In the case of the latter, it is then your responsibility to identify the problem and get the appropriate treatment for your child. I don’t ever want to hear that God of War made your child beat up another kid in school. It has never been a valid excuse, and it never will be.

If you're a fan of geek culture, be sure to check out Michael Coppolecchia every week at Super Podcasto Magnifico, a weekly podcast and geek news site.