Comm/215: The Connection Between Virtual Violence and Real Violence

The connection between virtual violence and real violence

COMM/215

June 16, 2012

The connection between virtual violence and real violence

Video games have taken on a different appearance since being introduced to the world over 40 years ago. The graphics resemble real life, the speed is a lot quicker, the use of profanity is very common, the games are a lot more violent, and the players are a lot younger. The graphics are so real that the military even uses video games to train soldiers for combat. When I was younger I remember playing games like Pong and Space Invaders, games that were fun and entertaining for the whole family. My goal is to provide evidence in hopes of painting a clear-cut picture to the question, “Are we training our kids to kill?”

After reading the article by Dave Grossman, “Trained to Kill: Are We Conditioning Our Children to Commit Murder?” (Grossman, 1998 ). I agree we are conditioning our kids to kill. In this essay I intend to show documented evidence showing how playing violent video games and watching violent television shows desensitizes the reality of violence in the minds of our youth.

First, we must understand that the mind of a child is very vulnerable and teachable absorbing everything is sees like a sponge. Children are always learning from what they see and hear, but, their minds are not mature enough to handle some things and they need their parent to explain the difference between fiction and reality. Second, a high percentage of violent and sexual crimes committed by our youth can be directly linked to video games of a violent and sexual nature. Third, the abundance and glorification of violence in violent video games are one of the main factors contributing to the desensitizing of our youth. Lastly, when the fictional actions they see being portrayed on these video games are re-enacted the harm caused to others becomes a reality.

Lately the television has become the babysitter leaving kids unsupervised as they engage in inappropriate video games. When our children are spoon-fed violence, they react violently. Grossman explains, “Even though young children have some understanding of what it means to pretend, they are developmentally unable to distinguish clearly between fantasy and reality.” There have been many attempts to downplay the reality of this by saying “the rate homicide and rape is due to, overpopulation in America,” but studies have negated that argument.

Prior to the popularity of violent video games, children’s minds were stimulated academically and their