Video Games and Violence

The number of studies of video gaming on aggression is impressive and with one exception all in agreement: like violent movies, violent video games encourage aggression and antisocial behavior.   But unlike movies, the player's identification with a violent character is aggravated by repetition.  A lack of real consequences combined with virtual reinforcement means that kids with existing problems are much more aggressive.  One paper points to crimes where the killers openly identified Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto as sources of behavior.  More links when I am not working through a cell phone.