Verified Document

Video Game Violence And Restrictive Term Paper

It would seem that on the basis of the causation rationale that age restrictions on violent video game content is no more logically justified than other types of overly broad restrictions (Olson, 2004). In the 1950s, several instances occurred where young children watching the original Superman television series fell to their deaths after trying to emulate the star character's leaping takeoff from high-rise building windows. The series was not cancelled or changed to an adult time slot; instead, public service announcements were produced using George Reeves, in character and costume as Superman, expressly warn children not to try to emulate their hero. That approach solved the problem of inappropriate and dangerous behavioral emulation among children too young to distinguish entertainment from reality.

Much more recently, movie theaters began restricting entrance to movies with violent content or expressly sexual themes and imagery based on age; however, those restrictions are flexible enough to accommodate parental decisions. Specifically, restrictions of movies rated "R" admit adolescents with parental supervision. Similar restrictions are not necessarily inappropriate with respect to violent video games, although not necessarily because they are capable of influencing behavior or of increasing the chances that individuals exposed to them will perpetrate violence in real life.

The argument that graphic imagery in video and computer games should be restricted subject to parental approval for other reasons is much stronger than the argument for similar restrictions based on their supposed ability to increase the propensity of young consumers toward actual violence (Olson, 2004). Specifically, responsible parents typically exercise their personal authority over what types of recreational activities to allow their children, as well as over what magazines they may...

Irresponsible parents may exercise no such control, misuse television as a babysitter, and allow their children to play in the street at their peril.
Conclusion

In all likelihood, exposure to violent, criminal, or sexual imagery should be restricted from minors (subject to parental approval) for many of the same reasons that exposure to similar images in film and on television are either restricted outright or capable of being restricted electronically by parents. On the other hand, there does not appear to be a logically valid justification for restricting video and computer games based on violent content out of the specific concern that regular exposure to graphically violent imagery in video-game format increases violent behavior among children and adolescents. If anything, the available literature strongly suggests that exposure to violent video games does not actually contribute to real violence; rather, the anecdotal connection are merely coincidental. Ultimately, violent video-games should probably be restricted from unsupervised (or unauthorized) use by adolescents, but only for the same reasons as other forms of media that may be inappropriate for their consumption without parental approval. They should probably not be restricted based on the concern that they directly contribute to real violence.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) "Media Violence" Pediatrics Vol 108.5

(2001): 1222-1227.

Olson CK. "Media Violence Research and Youth Violence Data: Why Do They

Conflict? Academic Psychiatry Vol 28 (2004):144-150.

Sherman C. "Violent Video Games May Spur Boys' Aggression" Clinical Psychiatry

News Vol 30.2 (2002): 27.

Sources used in this document:
References

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) "Media Violence" Pediatrics Vol 108.5

(2001): 1222-1227.

Olson CK. "Media Violence Research and Youth Violence Data: Why Do They

Conflict? Academic Psychiatry Vol 28 (2004):144-150.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Speed Nfs , the Popular Racing Game That
Words: 1156 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

Speed (NFS), the popular racing game that has arrived, I think, at its eighth version already (without mentioning sidetracks such as Need for Speed Underground). The game is highly successful and it incorporates what we may refer to as "role-playing," although not in the meaning generally associated with another category of videogames. First of all, Need For Speed is not about driving, but about racing, something we all must enjoy

Mayhem the Ancient Romans Had
Words: 2362 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

On the other hand, parents are not the only ones who should feel responsible for the caliber of popular entertainment. At some point, the media industry must look inward and decide what kind of role it can or will take in the society. Because the media will be concerned primarily with the bottom line, we must, however, forgive any industry that chooses consciously to air and market violent media. When

Application of a Pedagogic Model to the Teaching of Technology to...
Words: 60754 Length: 230 Document Type: Dissertation

Pedagogic Model for Teaching of Technology to Special Education Students Almost thirty years ago, the American federal government passed an act mandating the availability of a free and appropriate public education for all handicapped children. In 1990, this act was updated and reformed as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which itself was reformed in 1997. At each step, the goal was to make education more equitable and more accessible to

Impact of School Culture on School Safety
Words: 33592 Length: 122 Document Type: Term Paper

School Culture on School Safety Many studies have been done on safety in schools. Likewise, many studies have been done on the culture of various schools. Unfortunately, there has not been significant research on a link between the two. This is not to say that these kinds of studies have not been done, but rather that there has not been enough of them. Many of the studies that have been

Era of Women's Rights and
Words: 2510 Length: 8 Document Type: Thesis

In Iran, the American-backed Shah had become increasingly unpopular throughout the 1970s. The Shah fled Iran in 1979, finding temporary refuge in the United States. Religious extremist Ayatollah Khomeni easily filled Iran's political and social need for a backlash against American interventionism. Iran's 1979 Revolution had a major impact on its relationship with the United States and with the rest of the world. Whereas the Shah had guaranteed a steady

Federal Gun Control Gun Control
Words: 1835 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

It is essential for the population to become aware of the dangers brought by owning and using firearms and contribute to policies that can better regulate this aspect. It is not about taking away a constitutional freedom; it is about creating a safe environment for every citizen. References: Barth, T. (2013, January 10). A gun culture in America?. Retrieved February 12, 2013, from StarNewsOnline.http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130110/ARTICLES/130119958/-1/editorial?p=2&tc=pg&tc=ar. Bill of Rights. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2013,

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now