An Analysis of Attraction of Video Games and Associated Risks
Keywords:
video games, profile of players, virtual violence, risks, practical implications.Abstract
Since the 2000s, video games have been flourishing, along with acquisitions in the field of information and communications technology. Attraction for video games is a phenomenon that has grown to worrying extents, not only among children, adolescents and young people, but also the adult population. A significant part of the most popular online games have explicit violent content, whereas others include violence in subliminal forms. The results of meta-analyses suggest that violent video games tend to increase levels for cognitive, emotional and aggressive behaviors, as well as physiological excitability. Our paper analyses the complex issue of the attraction exerted by video games and the risks they have to the functioning and development of children, adolescents, young people and adults. Also, there are presented the findings of several studies that have dealt with the delimitation of players' profile. Some practical implications for parents and educators are also suggested.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-5 (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2001). Effects of violent games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scienti?c literature. Psychological Science, 12 (5), 353-359.
Anderson, C. A., & Dill, K. E. (2000). Video games and aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior in the laboratory and in life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78 (4), 772-790.
Bushman, B. J., & Huesmann, L. R. (2006). Short-term and long-term effects of violent media on aggression in children and adults. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 160 (4), 348-352.
Charlton, J. P., & Danforth, I. D. W. (2007). Distinguishing addiction and high engagement in the context of online game playing. Computers in Human Behavior, 23 (3), 1531-1548.
Chiu, S. I., Lee, J. Z., & Huang, D. H. (2004). Video game addiction in children and teenagers in Taiwan. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7 (5), 571-581.
Cohn, L. B. (1995). Violent video games: Aggression, arousal, and desensitization in young adolescent boys. Dissertation Abstracts International, 57 (2-B), 1463.
Comstock, G., & Scharrer, E. (1999). Television: What?s on, who?s watching, and what it means. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Dill, K. E., & Dill, J. C. (1998). Video game violence: A review of the empirical literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 3 (4), 407-428.
Drugas, M. (2014). Educational video games in the middle: Parents, psychologists, gamers. A pilot study. Romanian Journal of School Psychology, 7 (13), 25-41.
Drugas, M. (2010). The immersion in computer games. Romanian Journal of School Psychology, 3 (5), 13-24.
Drugas, M., & Ciordas, D. (2017). Educational video games revisited: Perspectives from parents, gamers, and specialists. Romanian Journal of School Psychology, 10 (20), 68-82.
Egli, E. A., & Meyers, L. S. (1984). The role of video game playing in adolescent life: Is there reason to be concerned? Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 22 (4), 309-312.
Estallo Mart?, J. A. (1994). Video games, personality, and behavior. Psicothema, 6 (2), 181-190.
Feng, Y. G., Yan, X. Y., Guo, X. S., Wong, C. H., Li, Z. Q., & An, B. F. (2003). Behavior problem and family environment of children with video game dependence. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 17 (6), 367-368.
Fischer, P., Kubitzki, J., Guter, S., & Frey, D. (2007). Virtual driving and risk taking: Do racing games increase risk-taking cognitions, affect, and behaviors? Journal of Experimental Psychology, 13 (1), 22-31.
Fling, S., Smith, L., Rodriguez, T., Thornton, D., Atkins, E., & Nixon, K. (1992). Video games, aggression, and self-esteem: A survey. Social Behavior and Personality, 20 (1), 39-46.
Funk, J. B., Buchman, D. D., Schimming, J. L., & Hagan, J. D. (1998, August). Attitudes Towards Violence, Empathy, and Violent Electronic Games. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
Gaetan, S., Bonnet, A., Pedinielli, J.-L. (2012). Perception de soi et satisfaction de vie dans l?addiction aux jeux vid?o chez les jeunes adolescents (11-14 ans). L?Enc?phale, 38 (6), 512-518.
Gentile, D. A. (2011). The multiple dimensions of video game effects. Child Development Perspectives, 5 (2), 75-81.
Gentile, D. A. (2009). Pathological video-game use among youth ages 8 to 18: A national study. Psychological Science, 20 (5), 594-602.
Gentile, D. A., Choo, H., Liau, A., Sim, T., Li, D., Fung, D., & Khoo, A. (2011). Pathological video game use among youths: A two-year longitudinal study. Pediatrics, 127 (2), 319-329.
Gentile, D. A., Lynch, P. J., Ruh Linder, J., & Walsh, D. A. (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance. Journal of Adolescence, 27 (1), 5-22.
Gheorghe, V., Criveanu, N., Dragulinescu, A. (2007). Efectele micului ecran asupra mintii copilului. Bucuresti: Editura Prodromos.
Glicksohn, J., & Avnon, M. (1997). Exploration in virtual reality: Absorption, cognition, and altered state of consciousness. Imagination, Cognition, and Personality, 17 (2), 141-151.
Greeson, L. E., & Williams, R. A. (1986). Social implications of music videos for youth: An analysis of the content and effects of MTV. Youth and Society, 18 (2), 177-189.
Griffiths, M. D., Davies, M. N., & Chappell, D. (2004). Demographic factors and playing variables in online computer gaming. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7 (4), 479-487.
Griffiths, M. D., Davies, M. N., & Chappell, D. (2003). Breaking the stereotype: The case of online gaming. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6 (1), 81-91.
Griffiths, M. D., & Hunt, N. (1998). Dependence on computer game playing in adolescents. Psychological Reports, 82 (2), 475-480.
Gr?sser, S. M., Thalemann, R., Albrecht, U., & Thalemann, C. N. (2005). Exzessive computernutzung im kindesalter: Ergebnisse einer psychometrischen erhebung [Excessive computer usage in early adolescence: Results of a scale assessment]. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 117 (5-6), 188-195.
Hansen, C. H., & Hansen, R. D. (1990). Rock music videos and antisocial behavior. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 11 (4), 357-369.
Huesmann, L. R. (1986). Psychological processes promoting the relation between media violence and aggressive behavior by the viewer. Journal of Social Issues, 42 (3), 125-139.
Huesmann, L. R., Eron, L. D., Lefkowitz, M. M., & Walder, L. O. (1984). The stability of aggression over time and generations. Developmental Psychology, 20 (6), 1120-1134.
Johansson, A., & Gotestam, K. G. (2004). Problems with computer games without monetary reward: Similarity to pathological gambling. Psychological Reports, 95 (2), 641-650.
Johnson, J. D., Jackson, L. A., & Gatto, L. (1995). Violent attitudes and deferred academic aspirations: Deleterious effects of exposure to rap music. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 16 (1-2), 27-41.
Ko, C. H., Yen J. Y., Chen, C. C., Chen, S. H., & Yen, C. F. (2005). Gender differences and related factors affecting online gaming addiction among Taiwanese adolescents. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 193 (4), 273-277.
Krah?, B., & M?ller, I. (2004). Playing violent electronic games, hostile attributional style and aggression-related norms in German adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 27 (1), 53-69.
Lo, S. K., Wang, C. C., & Fang, W. (2005). Physical interpersonal relationships and social anxiety among online game players. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 8 (1), 15-20.
McClure, R. F., & Mears F. G. (1986). Video game playing and psychopathology. Psychological Reports, 59 (1), 59-62.
McClure R. F., & Mears F. G. (1984). Video game players: Personality characteristics and demographic variables. Psychological Reports, 55 (1), 271-276.
Moneta, G. B., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). The effect of perceived challenges and skills on the quality of subjective experience. Journal of Personality, 64 (2), 275-310.
Ng, B. D., & Wiemer-Hastings, P. (2005). Addiction to the Internet and online gaming. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 8 (2), 110-113.
Phillips, C. A., Rolls, S., Rouse, A., & Griffiths, M. D. (1995). Home video game playing in schoolchildren: A study of incidence and patterns of play. Journal of Adolescence, 18 (6), 687-691.
Popa, C. (2013). Noi comportamente adictive. Internetul patologic, dependenta de SMS-uri si de televizor. Bucuresti: Editura Universitara.
Provenzo, E. F. (1991). Video Kids: Making Sense of Nintendo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Roberts, D. F., Foehr, U. G., Rideout, V. J., & Brodie, M. (1999). Kids and Media at the New Millennium. Menlo Park, CA: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Roberts, D. F., Henriksen, L., & Foehr, U. G. (2004). Adolescents and media. In R. M. Lerner & L. Steinberg (Eds.), Handbook of Adolescent Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 487-521). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Robu, V. (2012). Violenta comunitara: cauze, forme de manifestare si prevenire. Psihologie. Revista Stiintifico-Practica, 3, 36-53.
Robu, V. (2011). Video game addiction among Romanian adolescents: A profile of characteristics. Romanian Journal of School Psychology, 4 (8), 7-31.
Robu, V., Tcaciuc, E. (2010). Relatia dintre dependenta de Internet, sentimentul de singuratate si suportul social perceput ?n r?ndul adolescentilor. Romanian Journal of Applied Psychology, 12 (2), 67-72.
Rooney, A. (2016). ?n 15 minute psiholog (trad.). Bucuresti: Editura Trei.
Schmit, S., Chauchard, E., Chabrol, H., Sejourne, N. (2011). ?valuation des caract?ristiques sociales, des strat?gies de coping, de l?estime de soi et de la symptomatologie d?pressive en relation avec la d?pendance aux jeux vid?o en ligne chez les adolescents et les jeunes adultes. L?Enc?phale, 37 (3), 217-223.
Tazawa, Y., & Okada, K. (2001). Physical signs associated with excessive television-game: Playing and sleep deprivation. Pediatrics International: Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society, 43 (6), 647-650.
Tejeiro Salguero, R. A., & Bersab? Mor?n, R. M. (2002). Measuring problem video game playing in adolescents. Addiction, 97 (12), 1601-1606.
Wood, R., Gupta, R., Derevensky, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2004). Video game playing and gambling in adolescents: Common risk factors. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 14 (1), 77-100
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant this journal right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work, with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g. post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g. in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as an earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
