A recent study by Professor Craig Anderson “Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and pro-social behaviour in Eastern and Western countries: A meta-analytic review” has confirmed that young people exposed to violent video games, themselves become more violent.
Researchers monitored individuals ranging from young children to university students and covering a wide range of cultures both in the east and west.
See previous Generation Next blog – Review confirms Violent Video Games increase aggressive behaviour – for an in depth report of this review which was recently published in the American journal Psychological Bulletin.
The Psychological Bulletin found that “exposure to violent video games is a causal risk factor for increased aggressive thoughts and behaviour, and decreased empathy and pro-social behaviour in youths."
Prof Craig Anderson confirmed that "… the effects are that exposure to violent video games increases the likelihood of aggressive behaviour in both short-term and long-term contexts. Such exposure also increases aggressive thinking and aggressive affect, and decreases pro-social behaviour."
This report comes at a time when the government is considering the introduction of R+18 rated games into the market in Australia (many of these games have high levels of violence and sex content).
Kids Free 2 B Kids director Julie Gale, and Generation Next Speaker says parents must take some time to sit and watch video games with their children to really know the kinds of games they are playing.
Adding an R18+ classification means that much more extreme violence and sexualised imagery will be available to young people as a whole.
Julie Gale also recently attended the conference ‘Growing up Fast and Furious’ held by the Australian Council of Children and the Media (ACCM) at Macquarie University where the issues of video game content and classifications were discussed.
Current criteria for video games in Australia
- The highest video game rating is MA15+
- Imported games are modified to meet MA15+ rating, and
- All video games entering Australia must pass through the classification system
The outcome of this debate has been made more precarious by the resignation of Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, who was himself a keen advocate and campaigner for opposing the introduction of video games into Australia with a R18+ classification.
Attorney-General Michael Atkinson made the following points in a letter:
- Despite classification stickers, parents still make “bad choices” in regards to what content their children view
- Our desire for unedited games shouldn’t come ahead of protecting children from inappropriate material
- R18+ content adds nothing to the gaming experience
- Games classification is different to film classification, in that films can be better regulated, and
- Children and “vulnerable” adults should not accept violence as a part of everyday life
The next meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General is held in Melbourne on April 29. It is not yet known whether the introduction of an R18+ games rating will be discussed.
Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.
I find it frustrating that the excuse “parents will still make bad decisions” is used in the argument for continuing the censorship of video games in Australia. Shouldn’t the parents then be educated in the reasons for the classifications rather than making an arbitrary choice for the wider population? I think so, as this would help prevent parents from letting children watch R rated content in general, since, as i understand it, videogames are certainly not the only contributing factor to violence among our youth.
Video games should be treated with the same seriousness as alcohol and tobacco – ID must be shown, serious penalties for retailers continuing to sell R rated content to minors.
Games that are currently MA15+ in Australia that deserve to belong in the R rated category are currently available to 15 year old children because our rating system is capped at 15 years – in effect, adult content is available to children due to a shortcoming in legislation.
Need proof?
Have a look at the content of “Grand Theft Auto IV” or “Modern Warfare 2”. Grand Theft Auto IV in particular depicts extreme use of drugs, trafficking, realistic violence, strip clubs, lap dances, prostitutes, drive bys, execution style murders, mass hit and runs, gang relations and to top it off a very Adult story line.
Surely it cannot be argued that this game belongs in an R rated category with sales restricted to 18+ adults?
Modern Warfare 2 contains a graphic scene (during which you are in complete control) with your character being a double agent in a terrorist cell, where you are required to walk through an airport gunning down literally hundreds of people while watching them scream for mercy.
Personally, I found this scene both disturbing and upsetting, but it was used in such a way to show a grim reality – the ugliness of war. It became a pivotal feature of a saddening story not far from the truth of modern day military conflicts.
This game is rated MA15+. It should NOT be in the hands of minors. Modern Warfare 2 needs an R rating, as does the adult gaming community.
Games like this will continue to be made and allowed for sale in Australia, much in the same way that movies made by Quentin Tarantino are allowed for sale – with one difference – the movies are restricted for sale to people 18+.
In summary, an R rating for games coupled with tightened legislation preventing the sale and use of R rated content to minors and a campaign to increase parental awareness of the effects on children of adult content would be far more child friendly than simply continuing the ban on R rated games.
As a ‘gamer’ I don’t think there are many games that would be rated as R18+ that I would want to play, however there are a number of important points I think need to be taken into consideration when discussing this topic – this Youtube video captures my feelings towards the R18+ issue perfectly, and I strongly encourage anyone who wants to know more about the debate watch it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFnsZAbdcbw
I think R rated games should be banned.
There is too much pressure on parents these days to expect them to police their children not only on video games but the myriad other social problems we have introduced including but not limited to -:
– pornography – freely available everywhere
– drugs
– bullying
– TV violence and sex
– Book violence and sex
– growing number of paedophiles in the community – sometimes hidden as Doctors, teachers, priests
We used to live in a world that was relatively safe and as a parent, was easy to keep kids safe. No more. There is danger everywhere and introducing more violent, sexually degrading video games is just another burden parents have to wear – why should they?
What society benefit is there in introducing these sick games? If there is none, then keep them out.
up the stonecave