Introduction
Violence in video games has long been a contentious issue in modern society. Some claim it has little impact on young people, while others claim it might be dangerous. Numerous scholars have been performing studies on the topic, with varied results, and the discussion continues. However, with the introduction of new video games, less strict regulations and restrictions, and more methods of acquiring the games, more children are exposed to scenes of violence.
According to many studies of adolescents, both the mental and physical well-being of minors can be jeopardized, as well as the well-being of those around them. Four such studies are used in this paper to show how teenagers’ brains are ruined due to video game violence. Therefore, despite the contradictory results, the problem of violent video games must be considered. Notably, it is essential to pay attention to how violence in such media causes changes in brain functioning and affects adolescents’ perceptions and attitudes. It can be claimed that video game violence negatively impacts the teenage brain, leading to changes in brain activity, increased aggression, decreased empathy, and desensitization to violence.
Changes in Brain Activity
The first aspect, which is worth noting, is that video game violence affects the teenage brain in terms of its activity. Research shows that adolescents who play violent video games might have alterations in how their brains function. They showed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain involved in impulse control and decision-making (Hummer et al. 11). This may result in impulsive and wrong actions, and an adolescent may cause harm to themselves and others.
The study also discovered that adolescents who engage in violent video game play often become more desensitized to violence, which makes it more challenging for them to sympathize with those who have experienced it (Hummer et al. 11). The inability to build healthy relationships as a result of this lack of empathy may ultimately have detrimental impacts on mental health. Their brains’ prefrontal cortex becomes less active, leading to poor decision-making and emotional control, while emotions become more aggressive. If this process is not controlled, these brain changes can lead to severe mental issues and behavior changes, which will be described in the next three points.
Increased Aggression
Another way in which video game violence affects the teenage brain is through increased aggression. Some studies focus on ways in which playing violent video games manifests in gaining more aggression. For example, as per the research conducted by Verheijen et al., adolescents who played violent video games over a prolonged period exhibited more aggressive behavior than those who did not (1). This suggests that because of the images and behavioral patterns they see, young people who play violent video games are more prone to engage in violent behavior.
The desensitization of the players to violence and the integration of violent behavior as a means of reward in the games are both responsible for this phenomenon (Verheijen et al. 2). Adverse consequences of violent video games include a decrease in prosocial behavior and empathy, in addition to an increase in aggression. As a result, it is critical for parents and other adult caregivers to limit teenagers’ access to violent video games and to be aware of their potential detrimental impacts in terms of a child’s interpersonal relations.
Decreased Empathy
Furthermore, stemming from changes in brain activity and increased aggression, adolescents can experience decreased empathy. In these terms, video game violence has been shown to affect adolescent brain function in both the aggressive and the empathic domains. Based on the research conducted by Kimmig et al., violent video games have been found to lower teens’ empathy levels, hindering their emotional development (2). Therefore, such children cannot develop healthy personalities and may suffer from mental illnesses in the future. The mentioned study sheds light on the possible harm that violent video games may do to young people’s ability to develop empathy, a quality that is essential for effective communication and successful relationships (Kimmig et al. 2).
In addition, empathy prevents destructive behavior by enabling a teenager to feel others’ pain and understand which actions are wrong. As their brain activity changes and it is harder for them to perceive others’ emotions, their behavior may worsen significantly. Thus, parents and other caring adults need to see what kinds of video games their teenagers play and restrict their exposure to violent games, particularly those that show extreme violence and aggressiveness.
Desensitization to Violence
Finally, it is crucial to remember that exposing teenagers to violent video games can have a significant impact on them in terms of desensitization to violence. In addition to losing the ability to perceive others’ feelings, they become more tolerant of cruelty and similar behavior. It happens when a person gradually becomes less sensitive to a stimulus, which is one of the main concerns.
Teenagers may become less sensitive to violent images and behaviors as a result of playing violent video games, according to studies that have shown this to be the case (Miedzobrodzka et al. 2). It is interconnected with the previous point of empathy loss, and together they can have catastrophic implications. It has been suggested that teenagers who play violent video games may eventually grow desensitized to violence and even become prone to violent behavior. For instance, research by Miedzobrodzka et al. indicated that exposure to violent video games could reduce emotional reactions to violent images (8). Thus, in order to avoid exposing teenagers to material that could cause desensitization or other adverse consequences, it is crucial to carefully control the quantity and nature of video games they play.
Conclusion
Hence, adolescent brains are adversely affected by video game violence, which results in altered brain function, increased aggression, decreased compassion, and desensitization to violence. The teenage brain’s activity is impacted by video game violence, which is the first feature that is important to note. Teenagers who play violent video games may have changes in their brain chemistry, leading to poor decision-making and increased hostility. Over time, aggressive conduct was higher in such teenagers compared with those who did not play. Additionally, due to altered brain activity and increasing aggression, teenagers may experience a decline in empathy, while empathy is a crucial part of social and emotional growth.
Finally, it is crucial to keep in mind that exposing teenagers to violent video games might significantly affect their desensitization to violence. Playing violent video games may make teenagers less sensitive to violent imagery and actions. Consequently, it is essential to pay attention to what games the children are exposed to and what effects they might entail.
Works Cited
Hummer, Tom A., et al. “Decreased Prefrontal Activity During a Cognitive Inhibition Task Following Violent Video Game Play: A Multi-Week Randomized Trial.” Psychology of Popular Media Culture, vol. 8, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-18. Web.
Kimmig, Ann-Christin S., Gerda Andringa, and Birgit Derntl. “Potential Adverse Effects of Violent Video Gaming: Interpersonal-Affective Traits are Rather Impaired Than Disinhibition in Young Adults.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 9, 2018, pp. 1-11. Web.
Miedzobrodzka, Ewa, et al. “Insensitive Players? A Relationship Between Violent Video Game Exposure and Recognition of Negative Emotions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 12, 2021, pp. 1-13. Web.
Verheijen, Geert P., et al. “Friendly Fire: Longitudinal Effects of Exposure to Violent Video Games on Aggressive Behavior in Adolescent Friendship Dyads.” Aggressive Behavior, vol. 44, no. 3, 2018, pp. 257-267. Web.