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Violent Video Games Relax You, Game Addiction Compared to Autism

by Les Thomas - April 6, 2008, 12:39 pm EDT
Total comments: 16 Source: Press Release

New studies on video game players dispel the violence connection but find neuroticism and lack of extraversion in game addicts.

One new study suggests video game players are less aggressive and even calmer after playing violent online video games. The British Psychological Society presented Middlesex University's findings on video game research this week at their Dublin-based symposium. This is an interesting finding that contradicts the limited studies already conducted.

The University study questioned players before and after hostile game play. Most studies in this field are conducted through questionnaires that measure a player's level of aggressiveness before and after playing video games. The new study found that "There were actually higher levels of relaxation before and after playing the [violent] game as opposed to experiencing anger but this did very much depend on personality type." The researchers also hope this study will pave the way to finding the "personality type" that is more likely to "transfer their online aggression into everyday life." Their aim is a public health policy that addresses troubled young people, not video game players at large.

The study contradicted the general trend of previous studies on the subject. A 1983 Gibb Study questioned players before and after they played games in an arcade. That study found a correlation between aggression and gameplay, but found it insignificant when combined with other factors. As video games became more realistic in their depictions of violence, studies continued to confirm one thing: signs of aggression and anxiousness in players directly after playing violent games. In 2000, the University of Central Lancashire conducted a study that concluded teenage players had "higher ratings on hostility and anger after playing the [violent] games."

This weeks' Dublin symposium also found similarities between video game addiction and Asperger's syndrome, a form of high functioning autism. The University of Bolton and Whitman College claimed, "Our research supports the idea that people who are heavily involved in game playing may be nearer to autistic spectrum disorders than people who have no interest in gaming." The "high engagement" players also shared negative personality traits. The most common personality traits of "video game addicts" match the most common traits of Asperger's syndrome: neuroticism, lack of extraversion, and agreeableness. The researchers agreed these avid game players do not have autism, but they do find it easier to communicate with a machine than other people.

As video games continue to be part of everyday life, the studies will likely continue. The studies thus far should be viewed as exploratory, not scientific, and rely heavily on surveys and qualitative judgments by researchers in defining and measuring what constitutes aggression.

Talkback

One step forward, two steps back... *sigh*

DAaaMan64April 06, 2008

Quote from: Kairon

One step forward, two steps back

and still don't care.

Make your own choice and use SELF-CONTROL

EnnerApril 06, 2008

I see it as more of a step to the side than two steps back.

An addiction of anything always has social consequences so it's not like this is unexpected. Besides, I don't think any of us here could be diagnosed as addicted to video games, right?

animecyberratApril 06, 2008

Quote from: Enner

I don't think any of us here could be diagnosed as addicted to video games, right?

double check peoples post counts and ask again.

CericApril 06, 2008

Addicted... I don't know what your talking about.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterApril 06, 2008

Being a fan and being an addict are two completely different things.

I think most of us fall under the "fan" category. We enjoy playing games, so we read about them, talk with other fans about them, purchase the games and criticize them and play whenever we can. However, we also have other activities like music, reading, movies and socializing that we enjoy just as equally.

Being an addict means that the ONLY thing you do and care about are videogames. If its your sole reason of being, then its a problem.

MarioApril 06, 2008

These studies are a bigger waste of time and money than videogames

NinGurl69 *hugglesApril 06, 2008

Games lead to figurative FAPPING

DAaaMan64April 06, 2008

LOL I like mario's response.

wanderingApril 07, 2008

I don't think "lack of extraversion" is a negative personality trait.

KDR_11kApril 07, 2008

Game addiction is when you tell people that you don't have time because you've got a raid scheduled.

Shift KeyApril 07, 2008

Quote from: KDR_11k

Game addiction is when you tell people that you don't have time because you've got a raid scheduled.

What about if you raid hungover or still drunk?

Bill AurionApril 07, 2008

Quote from: Wandering

I don't think "lack of extraversion" is a negative personality trait.

I don't think "lack of extroversion" is a trait that is brought about by gaming, but those that aren't extroverts are drawn to gaming...A simple causal fallacy brought about by assumption...

animecyberratApril 07, 2008

what about the social gamers? Or the competitive gamers like Madden Challenge or whatever it's called? It's ok to be obsessed with Sports games but anything else is an addiction?

CericApril 07, 2008

A lot of those similar personality traits is just because gaming would naturally appeal to those sort of people.  I don't mind playing games with friends and I don't mind doing activities with a group but, I also rarely go out of my way to do those things and Games are more convenient then trying to get a team together to play Baseball or get a group for DnD, remember the rules for that matter.  *shrug* I'm just non-sociallably lazy.

KDR_11kApril 07, 2008

Quote from: Shift

What about if you raid hungover or still drunk?

Then you upload the result to youtube and your name shall be a battle cry for the following months.

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