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Violent Video Games and Increased Aggression Essay

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"Get over here!" The angered and scratchy voice bellows from deep within the strong, mean-spirited ninja. The ninja throws forth a blade that is fastened to the end of a long, black rope. The sharp point of the spear pierces the skin and takes root deep within the stomach of a screaming, young woman. Blood splatters from the impact, and the ninja forcefully retrieves the blade by pulling on the rope to which it is attached. The shrieking, young woman is lurched forward, attached still to the steel blade and without the ability to defend herself. Currently, she stands paralyzed and helpless at the hands of her attacker.

Who could be behind the red, faded mask of this ninja? What human being could be so cruel as to put …show more content…

There has been much debate on this subject, largely between researchers against the media's availability and possible influence and the game players who feel the connection simply doesn't exist. To answer the question, we'll look at both sides of the issue, and hopefully come to a middle ground. We will begin by looking at the arguments that support increased aggression in children as a result of these violent games. After that, a look at the other side, the side that many young gamers support themselves. It's going to be difficult to reach any common ground between the drastically different sets of opinions, but it's time to begin nonetheless. If you're ready, "Press start to continue..."

For decades, the media has been accused of being a bad influence on the nation's children. Everyone has heard stories of little kids jumping off of their decks and hurting themselves after viewing the old black and white episodes of Superman. Years later, and there could possibly be a link between kids playing video games and those same kids later murdering their fellow classmates. Possible links such as this one continue to fuel the research supporting the idea that video game violence increases aggression in children.

Gil Noam, a professor at Harvard feels the link has to do with an impulse-control problem (Lacayo, Rainert 2). Noam says that young children do not think about the possible consequences to their actions. They act

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