Violent Video Games Controversy

The controversy over video games and teenager behavior problems has strengthened in popularity in the past few years. However, the controversy was first brought up around the time a game called Mortal Combat, the first violent video game, was released in 1992. Many people believe that violent video games encourage immoral behavior in teens. On the other hand, many people also believe that the video games do not affect teen’s behavior. Evidence can corroborate that violent video games do no cause immoral behavior in teens. There are many studies that show how violent video games are linked to bad behavior. Many of these studies are erroneous and inaccurate. These studies express that aggression is increased while these video games are being played. While this is true, how does the increase in aggression while

Since the 1980’s juvenile violent crime rate has decreased 32%. (“Juvenile Arrest Rate Trends”) “The overall juvenile arrest rate was 32% lower in 2011 than in 1980.” (“Juvenile Arrest Rate Trends”) Astoundingly, since the peak in 1994 juvenile violent crime rate has decreased 59%.(“Juvenile Arrest Rate Trends”) In saying that video games, which were brought to public attention in the 80’s, cause bad or violent behavioral problems in teens is basically fallacious. Since the first actual violent video game in 1992, excluding the spike in 1994, violent crime rates in juveniles are lower than that of 1980. In these violent video games there is a large number of shooting or slashing other players with in the gameplay. If games such as this were to cause a change in a teens overall behavior then the teens would be more violent and ultimately imitate the game by killing or harming others. By looking at the statistics previously mentioned, we see that the violent crime rate has gone down which in turn does not support the idea that violent video games cause bad behavior