Introduction
The issue of media violence has been the center of attention for a number of years now especially the effects of violent video games have been and still are being felt all over. Hundreds of studies of the effects of video games violence on children and teenagers have found that children may: become "immune" to the horror of violence, gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems, imitate the violence they observe on television and identify with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers.
Given the reach that video games now have, most people in modern and many developing societies are exposed to it almost from the time they are born. It is important therefore that we understand the different ways in which it might affect them. I believe that video games are one of main causes of violence. This paper will discuss and effects of violent video games.
Video Games and Violence
As an industry worth over 7 billion-dollars, video and computer games are becoming a prime form of entertainment in the home. The video game industry also mirrors radio and television with the amount of criticism it is receiving (Grapes 2000).
Data from 1990 indicated that sixth graders watched 4.7 hours of television per day, and spent some additional time playing video games. One study found that approximately 36% of male students played video games at home for 2 to 4 hours per week; 29% played 4 to 7 hours; and 12 percent did not play at all. Among female students who played video games at home, approximately 42% played 2 to 3 hours and 15% played 4 to 6 hours per week. Nearly 37% of females did not play any video games. The balance of subjects played more than 7 hours per week. Results also indicated that....
