Does the Internet Contribute to Aggressive Behavior in Adolescents?

Divided Opinion

• According to research carried out in Taiwan, Internet-addicted teenagers appear to be more aggressive than other teens. This is disputed by Dewey Cornell, professor of education at the University of Virginia, who says that there is no clear link between the two. Cornell admits, however, that other research shows that violent video games may lead to aggressive thoughts, feelings and actions. The Taiwanese researchers state that participating in online chat rooms, playing games online and visiting websites of a sexual nature could give teenagers the opportunity to witness and try out aggressive behavior in an attempt to achieve a positive result, such as winning a game or being admired by peers. Brad Bushman, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, points out that the Taiwanese study does not demonstrate whether the Internet addiction or the aggressive behavior came first; in other words, teenagers may already be prone to aggression before they start using the Internet.

Internet Addiction

• A Kaohsiung Medical University study led by Dr. Chih-Hung Ko quizzed 9,405 teenagers on their Internet use and behavior, before concluding that 13 percent of female participants and 25 percent of males were addicted to the Internet. While some mental health professionals do not recognize the existence of Internet addiction, many rehabilitation centers run treatment programs for it.

Violent Television, Movies and Video Games

• A National Institutes of Health study of teenage boys concluded that violent video clips seemed to blunt brain responses, backing up the theory that repeated viewing of violent television programs, movies and video games could increase aggressive behavior in teens. Dr. Jordan Grafman says that repeated exposure to scenes of violence inhibits emotional reactions to such scenes over time, which could result in more aggressive behavior because the viewers will be more accepting of violence and therefore more likely to commit violent acts themselves. His theory is disputed by Professor David Buckingham, director of the Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media in the U.K. Buckingham states that violence is a far more complex social issue, and instead of blaming the media for aggressive behavior in teens we should be looking at real-life factors.

Tips for Parents

• If your adolescent loves to watch violent movies and play violent games online, the best thing you can do is join her, says Dr. Matthew Chow, clinical director of telepsychiatry at BC Children̵7;s Hospital in Vancouver. Talk to your teen about the games she likes to play and the movies she likes to watch. Parents should be aware of the ratings systems for games and movies, and make sure their teens are watching age-appropriate action. An M-rated video game and an R-rated movie are unsuitable for a young teen. If you have concerns about your teenager's aggressive behavior, by all means keep an eye on her online activity, but take steps to tackle the behavior itself, rather than jump to conclusions about what is causing it. Clinical Psychologist Linda Blair recommends remaining calm and in control when asking your teenager what is wrong with her, giving her space to reflect on her behavior and listening to her views without judging. Counseling may help if you are unable to make progress on your own.