How Do Violent Games Affect Children?

When your child begs you for the latest game that features guns, slick sword-work or gory fist fights, you may question what effect this violence has on him. Sixty-eight percent of video games include some form of violent content, according to Common Sense Media. While it would seem like any amount of game-play violence would cause mental or emotional harm to your child, the impact of this content may depend more on his age, how he perceives the violent acts and how you communicate with him about it.

  1. From Swords to Shooters

    • Not all game-play violence is equal. Depending on the game and its story line, your child may engage in or view different types of violence. Lower-key violent games may contain fantasy types of violence, such as non-bloody sword fight between two knights or a prince and a villain. Additionally, super-hero themes in games may include fist fighting or the use of super powers that are violent, but not necessarily gory or frightening to children. More graphic video games may include similar scenarios -- with swords or fist fighting -- that also contain bloody scenes such as decapitations. Ultra-violent games may include guns, bloody shootings, explosions or violence in combination with adult language or sexual situations. The different types of violence that the game portrays may have varying effects on your child, ranging from a fairly benign game to an onslaught of blood and gore.

    Through the Ages

    • Your child's age may play a pivotal role in how she perceives violence in games and how she processes the content. Younger children aren't yet ready to distinguish the fantasy of a bloody video game from the reality of real life, making the content scary or frightening for them. Common Sense Media notes that games containing violence that results in a serious injury or fatality is too scary for kids 7 years old and under. Likewise, 8- to 10-year-olds also can't typically handle ultra-violent games that include bloody death scenes. Although the violence in a video game may make your child fearful, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that children tend to find more violent games more attractive. This makes you, as the parent, key when it comes to stepping in and using the appropriate age ratings.

    It's No Big Deal

    • One of the possible negative effects of frequent violent video game play, according to Ask Dr. Sears, is a desensitization towards the acts and behaviors that the games show. The constant stream of violent images that your child sees in his games may possibly make him less sensitive to the actual violence of the situations. Instead of seeing the blood and gore as shocking, shootings and other violent acts may become the norm for them. Although your child may become less sensitive to violent video game acts, this doesn't mean that your child will necessarily think that violence in real life is the same as what he sees in the games or that it is acceptable in any way.

    Aggressive Acts

    • Although there is no definite proof that violent games cause children to become violent themselves, some experts do feel that this type of content may result in aggressive kids. Repeated violent video game play may condition kids to act out in violent ways, making them quick to show aggression, says Ask Dr. Sears. The American Psychological Association says that consistent exposure to violence in video games can increase the player's aggressive thoughts and behaviors.

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