Children Rates

Children spend a great deal of time with violent video games at exactly the ages that they should be learning healthy ways to relate to other people and to resolve conflicts peacefully. Because video games are such good teachers, it is critical to help parents, educators, and policy-makers understand how to maximize their benefits while minimizing potential harms.

Parents Role and Debats

There’s also been a lot of debate about whether excessive video game playing should be considered a mental illness or not. The American Medical Association considered whether it should be considered an addiction but concluded there’s not enough research. Meantime, the American Psychiatric Association is currently thinking about including internet addiction in its new diagnostic manual.
Parents have an important role to play. Psychologists have found that when parents limit the amount of time as well as the types of games their children play, children are less likely to show aggressive behaviors.

Anderson Opinion

Craig A. Anderson, a professor at Iowa State University who has extensively studied video games and violence, is less equivocal. In a FAQ about violent video games on his website, Anderson states that there is a “significant relation between exposure to media violence and aggressive behavior” and the relationship is causal.

He also has some recommendations for parents about video games.

Indicate it is likely that violent video games may have even stronger effects on children's aggression...
(1) the games are highly engaging and interactive
(2) the games reward violent behavior
 (3) children repeat these behaviors over and over as they play

Many people agree, Many people disagree

Many academics and medical professionals say yes, though not all agree. The American Academy of Pediatrics came out with a statement in 2009 concluding that exposure to different forms of media, including video games but also TV, movies and music, “can contribute to aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence, nightmares and fear of being harmed.” The American Psychological Association takes a similar stance in a resolution on violence in video games and advocates reducing the amount of violence in them.