DigitalBattle.com

Recently a study was published from Iowa State University in Pediatrics that claimed to conclusively and definitely link video games to aggressive behavior in children. One of the arguments that proponents of video games have long made is that despite video game playing being a global phenomenon, levels of violence and aggression are vastly different by culture. Violent crime rates in the USA are far higher than those in Japan where gaming is universal.

Craig Anderson, one of the co-authors of this study says that they showed that Japanese children are just as affected by video game violence as American children. While many in the media took the story and ran for the presses, many in the gaming industry as well as the academic world are criticizing the study.

Christopher Ferguson an associate professor of Psychology from Texas A&M wrote a letter to the publication citing flaws in the literature review, methodology and conclusions that in his opinion raise questions about the validity of the study.

“The authors here simply ignore a wide body of research which conflicts with their views … the authors link their results to youth violence in ways that are misleading and irresponsible … if anything it is remarkable how little effect that violent games had on trait aggression [in the study], considering that other relevant variables were not controlled,” said Ferguson.

The study was also condemned by the Entertainment Consumers Association who said that they have been waiting for years to see a study that gives a definite, indisputable answer on this debate one way or another.